OHIO STATE FOOTBALL Clarett won't practice, yet

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett admits exaggerating the value of items he reported stolen from a car he was driving. As the NCAA investigates, school officials announced Clarett will be held out of preseason practice.
"Clarett will not participate in preseason football camp until, and unless, all issues related to his eligibility regarding his amateur status have been resolved," athletic director Andy Geiger and coach Jim Tressel said in a news release.
The NCAA has investigated a police report filed by Clarett claiming cash and thousands of dollars of stereo equipment owned by him were stolen from the car he was driving.
Apology
The school's release included an apology from Clarett in connection with events related to the theft, and a statement from Clarett's attorney, Scott Schiff, said the car was a borrowed vehicle and that Clarett exaggerated the value of some items reported stolen from it.
Despite numerous injuries last season, Clarett set school freshman records with 1,237 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.
The Buckeyes, the defending national champions, open the season Aug. 30 at home against Washington.
In the release, Schiff said Clarett used a borrowed vehicle to attend a morning workout on April 17, and the vehicle was broken into.
Upon learning of the break-in, Maurice filed a theft report with campus police.
"Many of the expensive items identified in the report did not belong to Maurice, but belonged to the vehicle owner," Schiff said in the release. "Maurice did exaggerate and inflate the values he placed upon the reported items."
Clarett said in the statement, "I genuinely and sincerely apologize to my teammates and to The Ohio State University for any embarrassment this incident may have caused."
The police report says thieves stole two built-in television monitors and stereo equipment worth $5,000, $800 in cash, $300 in clothing and 300 compact discs.
None of the stolen property has been found, and Ohio State police have closed the case.
The vehicle
The license plate on the car is registered to The Car Store Inc., a small dealership on the city's north side, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. It was not clear who owned the vehicle then. Messages were left by telephone and at the dealership for owner Jacob Chapa.
Clarett has been under investigation by the NCAA in recent weeks, and the April police report was the subject of meetings NCAA officials had with Clarett earlier this month, Geiger said.
The stolen property is just part of the investigation, Geiger added.