Ohio State Academic informer outed

[Leonidas]

All

The Akron Beacon Journal today has the "other side" of the whole Maurice Clarett/Ohio State academic scandal. Looks to me like the New York Times continues on its "impressive" run of "fine" reporting.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/6363883.htm


Baseless information dangerous
By Terry Pluto

The anonymous source in the New York Times story about Ohio State's football program finally has a name.

She is Norma C. McGill, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

How do we know this?

McGill contacted the Dispatch, which had been trying to reach her ever since a July 13 story by the Times implied Buckeye football players received special academic treatment, and hinted at outright fraud and cheating.

Turns out McGill contacted the Times, which began that investigation at her request. She did so after she was fired from her job as a graduate assistant.

Turns out McGill never actually saw any cheating. ``I don't know how true the story is, I just knew something wasn't quite right and I wanted it to be investigated,'' she told Columbus reporter John Futty.

Turns out McGill said she got her information from Clarett.

Turns out McGill says she's homeless, and the Dispatch reported there is a police report saying she failed to pay a bill at the Columbus Hyatt.

Turns out she did indeed spend some time this year in a hospital for depression, and also was hospitalized with the same problem in the early 1990s.

Turns out she might not be the most reliable source, and this might not be the finest piece of journalism ever to be published in the New York Times, especially because the paper knew of the woman's psychological history.

Let's not be naive. Star running back Maurice Clarett received a nice break in his African studies course, being allowed to take an exam orally rather than on paper. But the professor said she also did this for other students who she believed needed help.

It's her class, and she can pretty much run it as she chooses, assuming no ethical boundaries are shattered.

That's all we really know.

Everything else in the New York Times story is open to question, which happens when your main source is someone with their own troubles. The Times story said McGill and the professor -- Paulette Pierce -- suspected tutors were doing work for football players, but they had no proof.

It is outrageously easy to cheat because of the Internet, where term papers are available at the click of a few keys and a valid credit card number. Let's not be naive and assume every Ohio State football player is a Rhodes Scholar who belongs on a church window.

But this does not appear to be a football program out of control, especially when 27 players made the Big Ten All-Academic team, the most in the conference. Since Jim Tressel was hired, player behavior has improved. The days of constant personal fouls and never-ending trash talk during the end of the John Cooper Era have ceased.

It's too bad that Tressel hasn't been able to address these charges of academic problems, either by his own decision or that of the administration. His voice needs to be heard.

The interesting part is that the 43-year-old McGill said her information about cheating came from Clarett.

She didn't see Clarett or any other players cheat. She didn't say she received this information from any player but Clarett.

Would Clarett say this?

Who knows, because he's not talking.

``Maurice in the past has tried to shift pressure off himself,'' ex-Buckeye defensive back Donnie Nickey told the Beacon Journal's Marla Ridenour after the Times story came out.

Is that what happened here?

The Times reported that receiver Chris Vance handed in an outline that appeared to have been written by someone else. It appears McGill also was the source of this. Vance has denied it.

Once again, who knows?

That's the problem with this story. So little is actually known, and the more information that comes out leads to more questions than answers.

[Easy Mac]

SO because she was depressed amd homeless, she can't be trusted.

Well then, its obvious Kobe didn't commit rape either.

[John Galt]

"Turns out McGill says she's homeless, and the Dispatch reported there is a police report saying she failed to pay a bill at the Columbus Hyatt.

Turns out she did indeed spend some time this year in a hospital for depression, and also was hospitalized with the same problem in the early 1990s."

It looks like the Akron Beacon Journal has its own problems maintaining high journalism standards. I agree with Easy Mac, reporting that someone is homeless and has been depressed is just mean, irrelevant, and a bad ad hom attack. That it occurred in an article criticizing another paper's work is embarassing.

[Balldog]

She's just pissed because she got fired.

[scooper]

Originally posted by John Galt

It looks like the Akron Beacon Journal has its own problems maintaining high journalism standards. I agree with Easy Mac, reporting that someone is homeless and has been depressed is just mean, irrelevant, and a bad ad hom attack. That it occurred in an article criticizing another paper's work is embarassing.

That's pretty much what it is. It's a nice example of the homer attitude carried throughout much of this state.

[Easy Mac]

If you read this article, no where does it say her allegations are wrong, it just attacks her. Crack journalism.

[MylesKnight]

No way the mighty Ohio State University could be doing this.. Right OSU Fans? I'm sure you all have your minds made up already.

I agree with Easy's comments.

[scooper]

Originally posted by MylesKnight
No way the mighty Ohio State University could be doing this.. Right OSU Fans? I'm sure you all have your minds made up already.

I agree with Easy's comments.

You said it wrong. It's THE Ohio State University. Don't let tOSU fans see you missing that. They might think you are confusing them with the great Ohio University.

[Butter]

Originally posted by MylesKnight
No way the mighty Ohio State University could be doing this.. Right OSU Fans? I'm sure you all have your minds made up already.

Was this really necessary? I am a big Ohio State fan, but I am not naive enough to assume that they have never engaged in recruiting violations (I keep waiting for Cooper to get nailed for it) or academic violations. I do think that nearly every major collegiate sports program in the country has some level of academic fraud being committed, from as simple as favoritism (as is all that is being levelled against Clarett) to students missing most/all of their classes to students having term papers written for them.

I don't understand why everyone assumes that Ohio State's fans are exceptionally arrogant. Every OSU fan would like to believe that the school has done nothing wrong. Every OSU hater would like to believe that the school is rampant with fraud. Stories as one sided as the New York Times one and this one do nothing but strengthen my belief that the truth lies somewhere in between.

And before we go making blanket statements, perhaps we could consider that just because one person is a fan of a great football team that you are not a fan of, it doesn't mean the other person is a total dimwit?

Except for Nebraska fans... they're all idiots. :D

[MylesKnight]

Butter, just doing my best to show everyone that the "Choir Boy/Cookie Cutter" image of OSU Football under Jim Tressel may in fact be nothing more than a giant mirage. In actuality, this program may have more in common with the Miami teams of the early 90's and the Nebraska teams of a few seasons ago than any other recent Champion.

Who knows? All I know is that these Newspaper Articles don't just create themselves.. Someone out there had something to say.

And by the way, I have no real like or dislike of OSU, they hardly ever even cross my mind. This just seems to very possibly be another case of a program that achieved a Championship but in doing so gave away any integrity it may have had in the process. We've had many of these over the years.... Miami, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Alabama, and on and on...

[Butter]

Originally posted by MylesKnight
Butter, just doing my best to show everyone that the "Choir Boy/Cookie Cutter" image of OSU Football under Jim Tressel may in fact be nothing more than a giant mirage. In actuality, this program may have more in common with the Miami teams of the early 90's and the Nebraska teams of a few seasons ago than any other recent Champion.

With all due respect, it sounds like you (and others) have your mind made up already as well.

[scooper]

Originally posted by Butter_of_69
With all due respect, it sounds like you (and others) have your mind made up already as well.
And how does that differ from your blanket statement that all programs do it?

[MylesKnight]

Originally posted by Butter_of_69
With all due respect, it sounds like you (and others) have your mind made up already as well.

Possibly, but note the use of the word "may". :)

[MylesKnight]

Originally posted by scooper
And how does that differ from your blanket statement that all programs do it?

That's a good point.. I don't see UCF doing these types of things. Hell, take a look at how many players won't be suiting up for the Golden Knights in '03 due to not taking care of business Academically.

Granted UCF is hardly on the elite level of a Ohio State, but still..

[Butter]

Originally posted by scooper
And how does that differ from your blanket statement that all programs do it?

If you'd really like to argue semantics, we can, but I prefaced my statement by using such words and phrases as "I think", "nearly", and "major". What constitutes major college programs may be different in our opinions. I would consider top schools in the BCS conferences as "major". This is my opinion.

I should also say that if many other schools are doing it, it doesn't make it right. Just makes the spotlight shine more harshly at Ohio State because they have the biggest star in college football right now possibly involved after a national championship season.

[MylesKnight]

Don't worry though Butter, I've still got lots of love for ya. ;)

[scooper]

I really wasn't trying to argue semantics. You seemed upset that people had made up their minds that OSU was guilty but then rationalized it by saying all programs are guilty. From the surface, it seems no real rules were broken. My initial beef in this thread was with the article above. It really comes across as a petty slam job from a homer paper that is dragging the accuser through the mud without giving any real facts about the Clarrett incident. It's simply shoddy, irresponsible journalism.

[scooper]

I also want to add that in spite of OSU's championship, I don't think the spotlight really shines any brighter on them than Miami, FSU, ND, etc. In fact, I think the light shines brighter on those schools because, 1., the first two have a history of problems and no program is hated more than ND.

[Butter]

Originally posted by scooper
I really wasn't trying to argue semantics. You seemed upset that people had made up their minds that OSU was guilty but then rationalized it by saying all programs are guilty. From the surface, it seems no real rules were broken.

I agree that my response sounds like a rationalization. It should not be, because I don't think any academic fraud of any kind should be acceptable. That was my fault.

And, MK, you know I love the Knights, baby.

[RendeR]

SO we have a few points that we are at thsi time all but certain of:

A) the original informant was fired from her position as a TA at the school

B) the same informant has mental and emotional issues, which may or may not have any bearing on the situation. (I add this because from personal experience I know that depression issues blur your ability to think rationally about things going on in your life.)

C) there is an unmistakeable history of major schools helping their student athletes academically, wether fair or foul. It happens. It may not happen everywhere, but it does happen.

D) Maurice Clarett, the center of the controversy, has not shown anyone, including his coaching staff and tutors that he has the personal conviction to avoid falling to these mistakes.

E) the staff at the school from Clarett's preofessor to a number of other faculty have given strong indications of POSSIBLE wrongdoings

F) No one, not the papers, not the disgruntled ex-employee, not the players, not the coaches, NOONE, has any proff of anything the times or this other paper have reported.


so what can we get from all these pretty much factual items?

not a god damned thing.

The Times writer was ignorant for even submitting such an article without proof. He also should have researched his informant a bit to make sure there weren't any mitigating circumstances (her recent firing) that could lead to misinformation.

DO I think they help the players? fuck yeah, I honestly believe that every school does in some way or another, in ways that are illegal by the NCAA rules. Do I believe anything should be done about it at this point? No, the story broke without evidence, everyone is in an uproar about it and any evidence that may have existed will have been destroyed by now. SO how do you prove anything to punish anyone for?

You just can't.

I love Ohio State. I've been a Buckeye fan since I was 8 or 9 years old (and yes that a long GD time ago....) but unless someone comes out with hard evidence of tampering or illegal assistance with grades, they ought to just leave it alone.

just my opinion, I could be....no fuck that, I'm right for a change...

[MylesKnight]

Why didn't Clarett just go pro? It's not as if he'll ever even sniff a OSU Diploma or anything.

Talk about your extremes.... Krenzel to Clarett.

[Easy Mac]

You have to have been in school 3 years (or the equivalent) to go pro. Clarett was there for 1.

[MylesKnight]

Originally posted by Easy Mac
You have to have been in school 3 years (or the equivalent) to go pro. Clarett was there for 1.

Agreed Easy, but we all know very well that it's only a matter of time before that "Rule" is overturned by a court of law.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised to see Clarett not go ahead and contest it this past winter.

[kingnebwsu]

If he's healthy ALL year, I think he'll try and challenge the rule.

As an insanely huge OSU fan, it's great watching Clarett in a Bucks uniform...but I dunno if all the off-field activity is worth it.

[Leonidas]

I agree that some of the things said were unnecessary but...

The Times did a story on a single source, who admits she never saw any of the things she claims, and in fact she claims her source is the very person she rips on. Would Clarett really go up to someone on the faculty and tell them "Hey, we all cheat." Seems pretty far fetched to me. I thought this article showed the Times was very, very irresponsible in printing their story in the first. Used to be journalists wouldn't print something like that without some form of corroboration. This article had ZERO corroboration.

Now I can say for a fact college athletes get certain privileges other students don't get, and it's entirely legal and even condoned.

Consider, an athlete on a full scholarship is not allowed to have a job. His/her scholarship covers tuition, books, a place to stay, and meals. Nothing about clothes, leisure time, or any of the other things we who work and earn a living take for granted. Plus they work out 20 plus hours a week in addition to going to school full time.

I ran track for a division one school many years ago (one of the smaller, much weaker football schools). I got a free tutor, and I really needed it. Yes, I saw some very interesting things going on. Like the school I went to had pretty high academic standards. All regular incoming freshmen had to take calculus and physics. This University had set up a "special" school that was 80 percent filled by athletes that had what looked to be like a high school curriculum. They took algebra, geometry, etc.

There was also an awful lot of loose weight room talk from football players about steriod use, plus I know for a fact certain football players were doing drugs in the dorm despite the fact all athletes were subject to drug testing. Needless to say these guys were never caught. The coaches also gave all the athletes the name and number to a certain high official in the local police department as a "get out of jail" kind of thing. And this was one of the small, nothing programs. I could only imagine what goes on at big schools like Ohio State.

So my point is, if you want to take a legit, in depth look at any major college program you're bound to find something. My beef is the Times article was very poorly researched and based on hearsay from a very questionable source. If they wanted to take the time to do a real investigation and report it properly that would be something else.

[scooper]

I agree with you on the times article, but two wrongs don't make a right and the Akron article was bad.

[Balldog]

I can't wait for Maurice to leave, nothing but a big pain in the ass.