OSU FOOTBALL With Clarett on the sideline, Bucks' brass mulls response

Clarett will not dress for Saturday's opener against Washington.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Maurice Clarett took a handoff and ran through a hole -- usually a good sight for Ohio State fans.
But instead of his usual No. 13 Buckeyes uniform, Clarett had a purple No. 24 on his jersey so he could mimic Washington tailback Rich Alexis later in the scout-team workout against Ohio State's defense.
Clarett can practice with the second-ranked Buckeyes even though he's serving a "multigame" suspension for his role in an exaggerated car theft report.
While Clarett practiced, university officials worked on a response to the NCAA's allegations of financial misdeeds by the star running back.
Clarett will not be in uniform for the defending national champion Buckeyes' opener Saturday night against No. 17 Washington.
"The only people who will dress for the game are the ones who will be eligible to play in it," coach Jim Tressel said.
Snagging passes
Clarett jogged through high humidity and temperatures in the 90s at Woody Hayes Athletic Center, snagging passes thrown by running backs coach Tim Spencer and occasionally chatting with teammates.
Clarett was suspended last Friday by Ohio State at the same time he was permitted to rejoin the team for practices. He had not been working out with the Buckeyes while his eligibility was being investigated by the NCAA and an Ohio State academic panel.
Athletic director Andy Geiger said last week that he hoped to have a response to the NCAA allegations on Monday or Tuesday. But Ohio State spokesman Steve Snapp said the response was not completed.
Asked when it might be sent to the NCAA, he said, "They're working on it."
Negotiations pending
In the response, Ohio State will propose a penalty that the NCAA can accept or refuse. The two sides would then negotiate how long Clarett will watch games from the sidelines.
Tressel said he knew nothing about progress on the response to the NCAA. He said he was busy working 16 to 17 hours a day to prepare for Washington.
"I'm assuming there'll be that moment when we sit down and talk about that but I don't know that I'm going to be a big part of lots of discussions because there are big tasks for me right now," he said.
Geiger did not return a phone call requesting comment Tuesday.
Clarett came onto the field from a side gate and did not speak with reporters.