UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
CLARETT TO GRAMBLING?: The biggest news in college football this week was that
Maurice Clarett, the star running back from Div. IA national
champion, Ohio State, will not be allowed to play this season for
the Buckeyes and has received advice from Hall of Fame
running back Jim Brown to to transfer to Grambling State
and play for Head Coach Doug Williams. According to a story
on ESPN.com Monday night, Cleveland's WJW-TV
reported that Ohio State completed its investigation and has decided
not to seek reinstatement for Clarett after uncovering that
he received "extra benefits worth thousands of dollars."
Clarett was suspended from the team and prevented from
practicing after misleading investigators that were looking into some
of his off-field activities. That included Clarett's reporting
of the theft of thousands of dollars in clothing, cash, CDs
and stereo equipment from a car on loan to him from a
local dealership. Williams said Monday that he has received
no call from Clarett or anyone representing him and said
any talk of the young man coming to Grambling is premature.
If he is released from his Ohio State scholarship, it is
thought that he could enroll at GSU in time for Spring 2004
practice and be ready to play next season. "I think what he would
have going for him is himself, Doug Williams and
Grambling," said Williams. "A lot of NFL scouts come through here."BET GAMES: A five-game schedule of black college football games was announced late last week
by Black Entertainment Television (BET), beginning its
22nd year of such telecasts. The games begin Saturday
with Memphis's Southern Heritage Classic and involves
four other high profile Classics on the 2003 schedule.
George Johnson will handle the play-by-play with former
NFL speedster Qadry Ismail providing color commentary.
Southwest Airlines will serve as presenting sponsor for a
sixth year. The schedule:
September 13 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT (Live)
Southern Heritage Classic: Tennessee
State vs. Jackson State
Liberty Bowl -- Memphis, TN
September 20 at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Same Day Coverage)
Ohio Classic: Hampton vs. Tuskegee
Cleveland Browns Stadium -- Cleveland, OH
September 27 at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Same Day Coverage)
Whitney Young Classic: Morgan
State vs. Hampton
Giants Stadium -- Meadowlands, NJ
October 4 at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Same Day Coverage)
Circle City Classic: Jackson
State vs. Florida A&M
RCA Dome -- Indianapolis, IN
October 18 at 7 p.m. ET/PT (Same Day Coverage)
67th Tuskegee vs. Morehouse Classic:
Morehouse vs. Tuskegee
Memorial Stadium -- Columbus, GA
LLOYD TO HALL: Earl Lloyd, the CIAA star at West Virginia State who was the first African-American to play in an NBA game, be an assistant coach and head coach in the league, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., last week. Lloyd, 75, broke the so-called "color barrier" when he competed for the Washington Capitols against the Rochester Royals on Oct. 31, 1950.
© 2003 Azeez Communications, Inc.