Clarett's season is in doubt

The troubled star faces a long suspension, coach Jim Tressel said.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State may have to defend its national title without Maurice Clarett.
The tailback is no longer practicing with the team, and athletics director Andy Geiger said Tuesday night that he doubts Clarett would play this season.
"I'm not optimistic about any number of games at this point," Geiger said.
The announcement by coach Jim Tressel earlier in the day that Clarett would no longer practice with the second-ranked Buckeyes until questions about his eligibility are answered was an abrupt reversal from 10 days earlier when the Youngstown native and Warren Harding graduate was allowed to work out with the team.
The coach also acknowledged that Clarett would miss much of the season.
"It appears ... the suspension is going to be significant. It's going to be long," Tressel said.
Misled investigators
Clarett was suspended from the team Aug. 22. However, he was allowed to practice while the NCAA and an Ohio State panel looked into off-the-field problems and charges of academic fraud.
Clarett watched Saturday night's 28-9 victory over Washington from the bench.
Geiger said Clarett was suspended for multiple games because he misled investigators, a violation of NCAA Bylaw 10 that deals with ethical behavior by student-athletes.
"We put great stock, as does the NCAA, in forthrightness and straightforward answers to questions that are bathed in truth. We have yet to get there, which is distressing," Geiger said.
Geiger also said Clarett violated NCAA's Bylaw 12, which deals with amateurism, "improper benefits and all those kind of things."
Background
The NCAA and Ohio State began an investigation in July into Clarett's claim that more than $10,000 in clothing, CDs, cash and stereo equipment was stolen in April from a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Clarett had borrowed from a local dealership. Clarett later said he exaggerated the value of the items stolen.
Geiger said if Clarett had told the truth from the beginning, "This might have been over in July."
Clarett's attorney, Scott Schiff, did not return telephone messages seeking comment.
Response to allegations
Ohio State officials are in the process of responding to several pages of NCAA allegations dealing with Clarett. Geiger said the response could come as early as today, although he was troubled because the investigation kept uncovering new problems.
Clarett set Ohio State freshman records by rushing for 1,237 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns last season as the Buckeyes went 14-0.
Tight end Ben Hartsock said Tressel and Ohio State officials had been very patient with Clarett during the investigation, but the time had come for the team to move forward.
"There's a point when being patient with an individual starts to be detrimental to the team," Hartsock said.
Tressel said he spoke to Clarett on Tuesday to tell him he couldn't practice.
"He was disappointed because people want to be a part of the group," Tressel said. "But that's what we're going to do right now."