OSU FOOTBALL Geiger, Tressel defend program

An ESPN executive took exception to the athletics director's comments.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- In a lengthy, sometimes angry response, Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger and coach Jim Tressel defended the football program Tuesday against charges that players were paid by boosters and coddled academically.
In particular, Geiger had harsh words for former tailback Maurice Clarett and for ESPN, which he said has led an attack against the school by providing a forum for Clarett's allegations.
An NCAA investigator was on campus Monday to look into accusations that Tressel helped Clarett get a loaner car and that he and other players were paid for bogus summer jobs and received improper help in class.
"I'm not concerned at all," Geiger said of the investigation. "I think Jim runs an honest program and tells me the truth."
Background
Clarett, who made the charges on ESPN last week, led Ohio State to the national championship in 2002. Under the current circumstances, Geiger said he did not believe Ohio State's title might be lost.
"Unless and until there would be found an institutional violation, I don't think it's in jeopardy," Geiger said.
Mark Shapiro, executive vice president of programming and production at ESPN, said Geiger's attacks on the network "are blatantly misguided."
Clarett was suspended after his freshman season for lying to investigators during another NCAA probe of allegations that he received improper benefits from a family friend. He then lost a court challenge of the NFL's rule preventing players out of high school less than three years from being drafted.
Family members say Clarett is working out with a trainer at an undisclosed location in preparation for next spring's NFL draft.
Shapiro said ESPN's reporting was objective and balanced.
Quotable
"For anyone to accuse us of having an agenda against Ohio State is absurd," he said.
"I feel good about how we lead this program and the intentions and the ways that we do things," said Tressel, who is in his fourth season. "I understand the rules of the game, the rules of the NCAA very, very well and have great confidence that we follow them to the T."
Geiger, who discussed the allegations for nearly an hour with reporters, said Ohio State requires all athletes to go through a seminar on NCAA rules. Staff members and all booster groups also are instructed on the rules regarding benefits for athletes.
If any players received improper compensation or help with their classwork, Ohio State had no knowledge of them, he said.
"It was not something that the institution should have or did control," Geiger said. "That's the litmus test."