'It's Stupid!' Ex-Ohio State RB Clarett Defends Harbaugh

Originally posted on FanNation Buckeyes Now
By Caleb Spinner | Last updated 10/30/23

The Michigan Wolverines received support from an unlikely source: former Ohio State Buckeyes running back Maurice Clarett.

The ex-Buckeyes star posted a long message on social media over the weekend, supporting Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh.

"I can go back and forth with the Michigan and OSU banter," Clarett said. "It’s fun and comical on lots of levels. I can take the jokes about my past and all of the above…. In all honesty, I think the investigation into Michigan for the hamburger, sign viewing or whatever it is is another reason for everyone to be mad at the NCAA. I’ve spoken up for Michigan in both cases."

"It’s actually stupid. Good scouting gets you all of the signs and signals you want. Michigan is a good football team and it’s actually healthy to have wins/losses go both ways. In all of this… realize who we all should be mad at and it’s the NCAA and its silly rules."

Clarett's comments were spurred by the Wall Street Journal's recent report that Michigan rescinded a contract extension to Harbaugh, which would have made him the Big Ten's highest-paid football coach.

The former Buckeye then compared Harbaugh's treatment during the scandal to that of Jim Tressel, before he was forced to resign from Ohio State.

"I don’t like this thing going on with Harbaugh," Clarett said. It feels like the Michigan version of Tressel and the tattoos. Ruining or trying to defame these coaches after work put in to build these programs isn’t cool. The rivalry is cool to joke around with and have fun with but I wish there was a time when more coaches/public would just be vocal about how silly some of this stuff is."

Tressel resigned as coach of the Buckeyes in May of 2011 after five of his players were suspended for receiving cash and discounts a local tattoo parlor.