[jwplayer lMQ5URp1-XNcErKyb]
If a Wolverine and a Buckeye end up at a bar, there’s a strong likelihood that a fight would break out, right? While that might be an overstatement — key word, ‘might’ — the two fanbases aren’t terribly aligned in much.
Until now.
While Ohio State fans and sympathizers — or let’s face it, a lot of college football fans who love to hate on Jim Harbaugh– have been taking to social media to mock his new series of proposed ideas that he shared on Thursday to reinvigorate the current system to be more in favor of the student-athlete, he received support from an unlikely source: a prolific running back who once wore scarlet and grey.
[lawrence-related id=24083,24073,24042]
Maurice Clarett had but one season as a Buckeye, but it was a fantastic one. He rushed for 1,237 yards with 18 touchdowns and helped OSU beat Miami (FL) to win the national championship following the 2002 season. However, he got into some trouble after that season and thus didn’t play in 2003. He sued the NFL to attempt for inclusion into the 2004 NFL Draft, but he failed in his attempt, and what was set to be a promising career all but vanished into thin air.
Despite wearing a rival uniform and playing for a team that cares most about the demise of the maize and blue, Clarett believes Harbaugh is onto something with his proposal, noting that it could be ultimately beneficial to a group that has to just take what is given in the current circumstances.
Spoke with Maurice Clarett @ReeseClarett13 today about the proposals Jim Harbaugh shared and the former OSU RB hopes @CoachJim4UM is able to keep people talking about the issue: “The problem is, student-athletes don’t have a union or voice of any sort."
— Larry Lage (@LarryLage) May 8, 2020
Regardless of the troubles that have faced Clarett throughout his life, he has a point. Student-athletes should get a say in their careers, beyond choosing a school. After that, until they finish a rookie contract in the NFL, they have little say as far as how their careers transpire. It’s quite different compared to the normal populace.
No matter what now, Harbaugh has gotten the college football world talking. Certainly there’s a chance that it will have an impact, but with how slow the NCAA and NFL can move, it could be some time before anything happens.
However, it’s a start either way.
[vertical-gallery id=24009]