COLLEGE FOOTBALL Clarett reaction locally is harsh

Most agree that the Ohio State standout has to grow up.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
The Mahoning Valley's Ohio State fans love their Buckeyes.
But judging by some reactions to Friday's announcement of Maurice Clarett's suspension, Bucks fans here prefer OSU to showcase a clean program.
Ron Wilson of Poland said he thinks Clarett "is a disgrace to college football. He's made a total mockery out of it. School means nothing to him.
"It's just a shame. It would be even more of a shame if [Coach Jim] Tressel puts up with it," Wilson said. "They've got [Maurice] Hall, they've got [Lydell] Ross. They don't need Clarett."
Clarett, a sophomore running back for the Buckeyes, was suspended for "multiple games" by the NCAA on Friday.
OK with him
Norm Audi of Austintown, who has attended every Buckeyes home game since Tressel became coach, said he has no problem with Clarett being disciplined.
"I honestly think whatever decision that Ohio State renders as far as discipline goes, I'm 100 percent for," Audi said.
"If they are going to suspend him, it should start with the Big 10 season -- that's as severe of a penalty there is," Audi said. "The only thing I'm disappointed about is that it took so long for the NCAA to just make a decision.
"Coach Tressel and his athletes have too much class to be affected by the whole thing," Audi said. "I wish Maurice luck in the future, but I feel he has to grow up a little bit.
James DeGregory of Girard also believes Clarett lacks maturity.
"He has a lot of growing up to do [so] he should just take it," DeGregory said. "He'll get his money. He'll have his time in the limelight. Hopefully, the NCAA will make it a fair suspension. I do believe he does deserve to have some kind of suspension."
DeGregory said Ohio State's silence on what Clarett did or did not do is puzzling.
Would like answer
"I would really like to know if he skipped out on an exam," DeGregory said. "How many normal students would be able to skip out of a midterm and then be able to finally take an oral exam?"
As for the penalty, DeGregory said, "I think two or three games [is sufficient] -- I can't see why they would keep him out of six. We'll see what happens."
Dave Crawford of Austintown said, "I don't know a lot of the details [so] I have to trust the NCAA and Ohio State to evaluate the situation with all the details and make the best judgment that they feel is most appropriate.
"Does [what Clarett did] happen all over the [NCAA's jurisdiction]? Maybe, Maybe not," Crawford said.
"Is Ohio State under a microscope? Absolutely. They've got to do things above and beyond standard now," Crawford said. "I think Tressel will handle the situation well."
Joe Lukz, assistant principal at Liberty High and former assistant football coach at Warren Western Reserve, said, "Anytime you're in a situation in collegiate athletics and the rules that people have to deal with today, you have to be very careful and you have to be above board.
Expectations
"It doesn't matter what school it is, they'll come after you," Lukz said. "They want you to be upstanding students and if they're not they are not going to be there and they shouldn't be.
George Gulgas, athletics director at Liberty, said, "Everything that's happened to him [Clarett], he brought on himself. When you're an athlete, especially in a school like Ohio State, you have to be aware of everything you do and say. He's got nobody but himself to blame for whatever happens to him."