It was fitting, albeit tragic, to watch highlights of Ohio State's romp over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl just as the Buckeyes' former star, running back Maurice Clarett, was surrendering to police in Columbus after charges he robbed two people with a gun. For Clarett's case is a true tragedy - where a previously great and powerful man is brought low by poor decisions and circumstance.
Clarett was the darling of the state's legions of Ohio State football fans during his freshman season in 2002. He ran for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns during what was arguably Ohio State's greatest season, a 14-0 campaign that produced the team's first national title since 1968. Despite suffering various injuries during the season, Clarett rushed for the winning touchdown in the title game. xt>Clarett was already showing signs of erratic behavior off the field
however and was suspended the following season after NCAA violations and a run-in with the law. Clarett was on ESPN's Sportscenter seemingly every night for all the wrong reasons and he never played for OSU again. He also turned on the OSU program
alleging NCAA violations in a November 2004 issue of ESPN Magazine
although he never talked to NCAA investigators. After fighting - and failing - to enter the National Football League draft early (the case reached the Supreme Court)
Clarett was drafted in the third round in 2005 by the Denver Broncos after two idle years. He was cut in August; it is doubtful many tears were shed for him in Columbus.
