Clarett accusations find new support
By Adam Jardy
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Published: Friday, November 12, 2004 [/font]
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aragraph[0] = 'The continuing saga of former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett took some twists yesterday with new testimony from another former Buckeye and insight into coach Jim Tressel\'s time at Youngstown State.
Two separate articles on ESPN.com spotlight two former players: ex-OSU running back Robert Smith and former YSU quarterback Ray Isaac.
Isaac, who quarterbacked Tressel\'s 1991 National Championship team, discussed his time under Tressel. He said that Tressel introduced him to boosters who provided him with money and cars - allegations strikingly similar to ones made by Clarett this week.
Isaac took money from booster Michael "Mickey" Monus, chairman of the university\'s board of trustees and chief executive officer of the Phar-Mor discount drugstore chain. According to the article, Isaac made somewhere around $10,000 and had the use of various cars during his football career.
"I got a call from Mr. Tressel," Monus told a jury while on trial for corporate fraud crimes. "I believe the call was that he wanted me to be introduced to (Isaac) and to work out some kind of job for him."
Tressel reportedly denied knowing about any improper benefits his players earned while playing for him at YSU, as he has done at OSU. The NCAA imposed minor scholarship cuts on YSU after the institution admitted to a "lack of institutional control," according to ESPN.
The former quarterback had a chance to testify against Monus in court, and called Tressel for advice. Upon starting to tell him what he knew, Tressel quickly cut him off.
"I don\'t want to know what you know," Tressel told Isaac. "Just tell them the truth."
Ex-OSU running back Robert Smith told ESPN he believes Clarett is telling the truth - somewhat.
"Absolutely I think (Clarett being paid by boosters) happened," Smith told ESPN. "But there\'s a difference between fans providing it or members of the university. I don\'t believe members of the university provided for him."
But back in Columbus, Smith said boosters gave his teammates money but he had personally never taken anything. Smith refused to specifically name the players or boosters who had participated.
"I know players who played there who talked about it," Smith said to ESPN. "It\'s not the kind of thing that was seen, but I know players I played with that talked about it."
The article came on the heels of a day of Clarett-related buzz that surrounded the city after the disgruntled running back accused OSU of providing him with illegal benefits including cars, money and false academic grades. In the article, Clarett accused head coach Jim Tressel of "setting him up," and claimed to have "taken the fall" for OSU.
Smith said that while money being given to the players was not an everyday occurrence, it could have happened.
"I think that if players are looking for that kind of thing they can find it," Smith said.
He went on to add that he was viewed as a "whistle-blower" and therefore was not approached by boosters. Smith, who excelled as a Buckeye tailback from 1990-92, played professional football for the Minnesota Vikings for nine seasons. He led OSU in rushing for two years, and majored in pre-med.
Myke Clarett, Maurice\'s father, said Tressel is turning a blind eye to what is going on.
Not all players are siding with Clarett, however.
"I never really noticed anything," senior defensive end Simon Fraser said. "I didn\'t see a big jet plane landing in the Woody Hayes (Athletic Center) parking lot."
"I think there are a lot of positive things people can look at and should focus on," Fraser said.
"I don\'t know what his motive is for the things that he is saying, but we\'re just trying to stay focused on our team," senior running back Maurice Hall said.
The most damaging aspect of the news this week is the fact that Tressel has a record of problems with boosters that stretches back to his days as head coach at YSU, according to several former players from both institutions.
"Do I think I didn\'t work hard on trying to be cognizant of Maurice or anyone else?" Tressel said. "I think we\'ve worked very hard on it. It\'s a difficult task."
Edward Mauler contributed to this report.
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The continuing saga of former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett took some twists yesterday with new testimony from another former Buckeye and insight into coach Jim Tressel's time at Youngstown State.
Two separate articles on ESPN.com spotlight two former players: ex-OSU running back Robert Smith and former YSU quarterback Ray Isaac.
Isaac, who quarterbacked Tressel's 1991 National Championship team, discussed his time under Tressel. He said that Tressel introduced him to boosters who provided him with money and cars - allegations strikingly similar to ones made by Clarett this week.
Isaac took money from booster Michael "Mickey" Monus, chairman of the university's board of trustees and chief executive officer of the Phar-Mor discount drugstore chain. According to the article, Isaac made somewhere around $10,000 and had the use of various cars during his football career.
"I got a call from Mr. Tressel," Monus told a jury while on trial for corporate fraud crimes. "I believe the call was that he wanted me to be introduced to (Isaac) and to work out some kind of job for him."
Tressel reportedly denied knowing about any improper benefits his players earned while playing for him at YSU, as he has done at OSU. The NCAA imposed minor scholarship cuts on YSU after the institution admitted to a "lack of institutional control," according to ESPN.
The former quarterback had a chance to testify against Monus in court, and called Tressel for advice. Upon starting to tell him what he knew, Tressel quickly cut him off.
"I don't want to know what you know," Tressel told Isaac. "Just tell them the truth."
Ex-OSU running back Robert Smith told ESPN he believes Clarett is telling the truth - somewhat.
"Absolutely I think (Clarett being paid by boosters) happened," Smith told ESPN. "But there's a difference between fans providing it or members of the university. I don't believe members of the university provided for him."
But back in Columbus, Smith said boosters gave his teammates money but he had personally never taken anything. Smith refused to specifically name the players or boosters who had participated.
"I know players who played there who talked about it," Smith said to ESPN. "It's not the kind of thing that was seen, but I know players I played with that talked about it."
The article came on the heels of a day of Clarett-related buzz that surrounded the city after the disgruntled running back accused OSU of providing him with illegal benefits including cars, money and false academic grades. In the article, Clarett accused head coach Jim Tressel of "setting him up," and claimed to have "taken the fall" for OSU.
Smith said that while money being given to the players was not an everyday occurrence, it could have happened.
"I think that if players are looking for that kind of thing they can find it," Smith said.
He went on to add that he was viewed as a "whistle-blower" and therefore was not approached by boosters. Smith, who excelled as a Buckeye tailback from 1990-92, played professional football for the Minnesota Vikings for nine seasons. He led OSU in rushing for two years, and majored in pre-med.
Myke Clarett, Maurice's father, said Tressel is turning a blind eye to what is going on.
Not all players are siding with Clarett, however.
"I never really noticed anything," senior defensive end Simon Fraser said. "I didn't see a big jet plane landing in the Woody Hayes (Athletic Center) parking lot."
"I think there are a lot of positive things people can look at and should focus on," Fraser said.
"I don't know what his motive is for the things that he is saying, but we're just trying to stay focused on our team," senior running back Maurice Hall said.
The most damaging aspect of the news this week is the fact that Tressel has a record of problems with boosters that stretches back to his days as head coach at YSU, according to several former players from both institutions.
"Do I think I didn't work hard on trying to be cognizant of Maurice or anyone else?" Tressel said. "I think we've worked very hard on it. It's a difficult task."
Edward Mauler contributed to this report.
