Clarett started classes on Monday, after the university allowed him reentry, an Ohio State spokesman said in a statement released Monday evening. "Maurice Clarett has been granted reentry into The Ohio State University, following a review by the College of Education and Human Ecology," said Jim Lynch, director of media relations for Ohio State. Clarett will attend classes for the second half of OSU's summer quarter.Obviously, after having been drafted into the NFL, he's ineligible to play again for the Buckeyes (not that most of you would want to see that anyway), but from a getting-your-life-back-on-track perspective, it's a positive move out of the most talented freshman to start for OSU in the last 25 years. Here's hoping for a better ending than the last time he was on campus.
Maurice Clarett Re-Enrolls at Ohio State
Former tailback and hero to some, villain to many, Maurice Clarett is back at Ohio State:
Comments
2 Thumbs up!
Good luck Mo
Good for him. As long as he doesn't try to get into the NFL again..would just send him back tumbling down.
The Beast as one of the most talented in the past 25 years, yes, but as far as the most talented, I'll have to part ways with you there and stick with Orlando Pace
Where's anything on your blog about Spielman getting into the college football hall of fame?
Love the topical news about Clarett and I hope he gets his life back together, but dude, Spielman, please!
Good for him. MoC can become a story of redemption instead of a cautionary tale. The greatest vision and timely playmaking of any frosh I've ever seen
Mo Clarett was a kid who was enabled by almost everyone around him to think he was special...that the NCAA rules (and indeed those rules the rest of society abides by in the outside world) didn't apply to his personal conduct. Several years ago he was a danger to himself and anyone he came in contact with, but he seems changed. I read quite a few of his blog entries when he was incarcerated and he seemed like a guy who used his down time to think over the poor choices he made in life. Clarett is young man with a daughter he needs to provide for, and I wish him well on his second go around at TOSU.
never mind. I'm in some sort of time warp. saw something from Gee today and..
uh, never mind
Yeah, we didn't cover his induction itself outside of a link in GS, but when he was named, we were all over it:
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/...
Hard to argue with the Big O.
The strip of Sean Taylor gives Mo the slight edge in my eyes, though. And Pace was much more dominant as a soph and junior than he was as a frosh.
For those wondering how his admission to the university worked (and if anyone affiliate with the university wants to correct me, feel free), but as I understand it, once you've taken a class at Ohio State, you're always free to come back (including after graduation) so long as you're not dismissed for academic purposes. Clearly as a new applicant he'd be unlikely to be admitted, but I'm proud the university is willing to give him a second chance at a new lease on life.
good for him. go mo!
Excellent.
I wish him the best. Would be a great thing for him, the university, and by extension all of us fans, if he can pull it all together and get his degree and move forward with his life.
Good for him , and good luck , wish him the best in all his future endeavors !!!
Where did he get the money to go to college, for Pete's sake?! He just got out of jail for three and a half years.
I'm afraid this is going to give more ammo to the Buckeye haters. My nephew, a Misheegoon fan, can't think of anything else to say except, "did Maurice get out of jail yet?" Every time i see him(probably 5 times a year, total).
Then I have to tell him how Rich Rod and Mo are going to be sharing a cell, eventually.
No, seriously. I hope he learned his lesson(MoC).
One other thing, I do hope Maurice keeps his word, and keeps a "low profile." Otherwise, it could become a distraction for the present team. They don't need that.
In-State, lowest income bracket possible, and rehabilitating ex-con. Wouldn't be surprised if it's damn near free.
That takes some guts on his part. Good for him. I'm hoping for that Bachelor's degree for him.
So in other words, I'm paying for it, you're paying for it, etc.
What a way to get college paid for! Forget about the G.I. Bill/plan.
break out the #13 jerseys
I'd bet my life that Orson Swindle is furiously crafting some overwrought, Microsoft painted, highly-intricate blog post on Mo-C's return to OSU. Should be interesting to see EDSBS in the morning.
Imagine having Maurice Clarett in your lab group etc. Unreal.
i want him on my intramural football team lol
I too hope he keeps a low profile and it is not a distraction for the team. After reading some of his blog over the years, I am very hopeful that he can have a happy ending.
No matter what the naysayers pipe up about, I think this is a good day for tOSU -- Giving a second chance is just as special as getting one.
... I'm rootin' for you Mo!
Soooo, when does the on-line degree prpgram start? I've been waiting since'96.....
Seriously though, good to hear. Let's hope he makes it through this time.
Considering how much money Maurice made for OSU, I think he's earned the tuition.
Honestly, who cares what kind of ammo, if any it gives to those out there who don't like Ohio State. Mo served his time and obviously is trying to make the most out of his second chance. I think that it's awesome that the university is helping him out with that.
I was there at his first game against Texas Tech. He caused us so much pain but I have never been more excited about a freshman after watching that game. Good luck Mo. Stop lying and be a regular human being.
I agree, this kid was one of the most fun college players I have ever had the privelege of watching. He made some horrible mistakes but I would like to see nothing more than for him to succeed this time. Also, it takes alot of courage on his part to finish his education at a school which he has such a mixed past.
Welcome home, Mo. I wish him nothing but the best. It's pretty awesome how he's trying to fix his mistakes- it takes a true man to admit and correct his shortcomings in life.
Good Luck MoC!!! Hope it works out this time for him. He'd be a hell of an addition to some intramural team!
I'm glad tOSU let him back in. Everyone needs a second chance at some point in their lives.
State. School. In my opinion it should be damn near free for everyone anyway.
Good for Mo.
Tressel should invite him to come speak to the team, especially the freshman and give a symposium on how NOT to screw up an opportunity of a life time and what a privilege it is to play football for The Ohio State University.
It's a great opportunity for the guy to turn his life around. Another positive is, we can have someone who was potentially a cancer to Ohio State become a great ambassador. This guy is ratings gold and if he turns his life around and it comes out he had help from Tressel, it has feel good ESPN stories written all over it.
Like ESPN who published his pack 'o lies will do a feel good story about this.
The media likes to talk about this guy, I really think they will. He could go from a PR nightmare for Ohio State to a PR gem in my opinion. If nothing else he can end up being a great example to guys like Jamel Turner and even to guys like Duron.
Only replying because every comment I've read has been upbeat and positive. I hope that this story continues in the same direction. I wish him the best and hope that this opportunity is not lost upon MO C.
Now to throw salt in the eyes, I am concerned about the image of our school. You all have heard the saying about the leopards and their spots right? Having firsthand knowledge of plenty of "Leopards", I hope that Mo is one of those guys that actually did learn a lesson and contributes to society. The % of the truly remorseful and truly reformed is very low.
HEC REPRESENTIN!
I think any buckeye fan who is honest with themselves would disagree with your assumption that we wouldn't want him playing again. I for one would love to see him on the field again since I'm pretty sure he'd be better than any of the current backs we have within 3 months. Maybe thats just me though.
@Nick I had Jake Ballard in my lab group...
then again Jake Ballard isn't on the nation's radar as a (former) dangerous convict. I truly hope for the best for Mo. This could make for a storybook ending someday and demonstrate not only what not to do, but also what to do if you did decided to do the thing(s) that shouldn't have been done in the first place.
Bring it home Mo-C.
the image of our school? you would rather have our school slam the door in the face of a former student? the guy made mistakes and he's trying to correct him and you're going to try and deny him that opportunity? shame on you for standing on such a pedestal that you're ready to condemn someone without giving them a 2nd chance. you've never made a mistake in your life where you needed a 2nd chance? go ahead and cast the first stone and while you're at it look up the story of the prodigal son. The Ohio State University is a family and should always allow its members a 2nd opportunity- especially one who is as contrite and remorseful as Maurice. It'd be horrible image of our school should it not allow him re-entry. WE ARE ALL BUCKEYES, FOREVER.
Mo becoming some sort of counselor would be awesome. Could you imagine that? MoC going around the country talking to D1 players that are getting arrested or finding themselves in trouble? What better guy to learn from than someone who has hit rock bottom before?
Common. I think you're getting carried away a bit. Yes, we all hope he's learned his lesson, but he is an ex-convict.
I don't think he should be giving any speeches anywhere for a while, but especially not to the athletes. He JUST GOT OUT. He needs to adapt to life outside the Pen before he starts the "talk show circuit."
Man, yous guys seem awfully naive to me.
What next? The "Maurice Clarett Story" on Lifetime @ 8pm. I just don't buy it.
YOu can take a kid out of the 'hood, but you can't take the 'hood out of the kid. We'll see how he's doing a year from now.
Edit: Comment excised for political content.
Jesus! Maybe he could take Gee's spot when he retires! Or Gene Smith's. Incredible.
I guess I better go to a different post, because I feel like I'm really out of step with 99% of Buckeye Nation on this one. Must be in a parallel universe.
I don't think a belief in redemption or the power of forgiveness should ever be chastised.
He is also an ex-football player for Ohio State, one who is truly qualified to talk about the dangers of believing your own hype. I fail to see how I am getting carried away, I know he JUST GOT OUT. I didn't say anything about him talking to the team next week anyway.
And you sound cynical, judgemental and quite frankly, racist. Mo is not a kid, he is a 26 year old man who has not lived in the "hood" for a long time Yes, indeed lets see how he is doing a year from now.
Highlights from what Tressel said today:
"We've been working for about the last three months trying to get the I's dotted and the T's crossed and get him back in and moving toward a degree. In fact, he just told me today, after his first day of class yesterday, he said he woke up at 4:30 and he grabbed his book and just started studying. He was excited, he says he's going to do well and he said it's just so neat for him to be back in the classroom."
On whether Tressel believes in the phrase, "once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye:"
"Oh absolutely. Anytime someone is part of your life, even if it doesn’t go well, when you try to get it squared away, you’ve got to continue to be there for him. That’s just the way we do things."
On whether it's rewarding to see Clarett taking a positive step:
"It's what you hope for. We all make mistakes, and some are different mistakes than others, but there are always consequences for whatever the mistake is. And if you take care of that, usually the world is a forgiving world and gives you an opportunity -- if you'll do the right things -- to move forward, and that’s what he's trying to do."
Amen.
You probably should sit this one out.
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.c...
How this for our school's image?
I am a Christian man and believe in forgiveness. I'm just saying that I'm skeptical. The prisons are full of innocent men and women, don't you know?
Anyway, I hope he proves me wrong. I hope he learned his lesson.