Ohio State Refutes Clarett’s Allegations

Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett accused Coach Jim Tressel, his staff and school boosters of arranging for him to get passing grades, cars, and thousands of dollars, including for bogus summer jobs, in an interview with ESPN The Magazine.

Athletic Director Andy Geiger denied the claims on Tuesday.

According to the magazine, Clarett said members of Tressel’s staff introduced him to boosters who slipped him thousands of dollars in cash -- the better he played, the more he would receive.

“When you’d leave, [the booster] sets you straight,” Clarett told the magazine. “They say, ‘You got any money in your pocket?’ They make sure your money’s straight.”

Clarett also said Tressel set him up with a loaner car. Geiger said Tressel did try to help Clarett buy a car through the dealership that leases cars to several Ohio State coaches and administrators. But Clarett and his mother did not meet with the dealer to make arrangements to buy the car, and the dealership came to Columbus several days later to repossess it.

Clarett said Tressel’s brother Dick, a member of Ohio State’s coaching staff, arranged to get Clarett a job working for a landscaper. Clarett said he was paid even though he did not show up for work. Clarett also alleged that the football staff arranged an academic advisor who set him up with professors who would pass him even if he skipped class.

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Former UCLA quarterback Matt Moore said that he has accepted a scholarship to Oregon State and will enroll in January after completing his A.A. degree at College of the Canyons. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining. He is one of the first athletes to take advantage of a new Pacific 10 Conference rule that no longer requires students to sit out two seasons when transferring within the conference.

Moore, a standout quarterback at Newhall Hart in 2001, won the starting job at UCLA last season, was injured in the Bruins’ season opener, regained the starting spot, then was benched in favor of Drew Olson.

“I’m excited and ready to get out of here,” he said.

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Georgia quarterback David Greene returned to practice after recovering from a 24-hour virus. Greene lost about seven pounds but said he should be at full strength for Saturday’s game against Auburn.... Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton (hip pointer) said he was “50-50” for Saturday’s game against Ohio State.... Miami’s Antrel Rolle and Auburn’s Carlos Rogers are among 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to college football’s best defensive back. The only Pac-10 player on the list is Oregon State’s Mitch Meeuwsen. The winner will be announced Dec. 9