Maurice Clarett - No Regrets For This Youngstown Boy

On December 14, 2013, after the Heisman Trophy presentation, ESPN will televise its "30 For 30" series, focusing upon the story of former Ohio State stalwarts Maurice Clarett and Jim Tressel, in "Youngstown Boys".  Below is a trailer previewing the episode...



On December 9, 2013, a buddy of mine named Jay Kimball, an Ohio State alum living in New Jersey, had the opportunity to meet Maurice Clarett at an advanced screening of the program.  Jay e-mailed me during the day, asking me if I had one question for Maurice Clarett, and I had a very obvious, but important question ~

What Is Your Biggest Regret?

Below are Jay's comments from an e-mail reply he sent to me, and a picture of Jay with Maurice Clarett.  I hope you enjoy Jay's comments, and I am looking forward to watching "Youngstown Boys" at 9pm EST on ESPN on December 14th.  Go Bucks!

This was a screening of the ESPN 30 for 30 called "Youngstown Boys" which premieres on Saturday night after the Heisman show.  It was at my high school Paramus Catholic just for the kids.  I got a call this afternoon to stop by.  He did a Q&A after.  His answers were not scripted and seemed honest.  I think he has great potential as a public speaker but he needs a little work on his delivery.  I asked him about his greatest regret.  I prefaced it by stating that he was Mr. Football in Ohio 2001, Big Ten Freshman of the Year 2002 and National Champion 2002.  I graduated in '89 and but for my Freshman year we were in the woods until Tressel came in, then Clarett, etc.  So he was a great source of pride and then to hear about a robbery occurring in an alley right behind the bars on High Street and then prison was a great source of shame.  He had the opportunity to set himself and his entire family for life with an NFL contract.  What is your biggest regret?

His answer was something to the effect that he didn't have any regrets.  That when he was involved in drugs and robbery he thought he was doing what he should be doing.  Was he in the right frame of mind, absolutely not.  I thought that response was a little off but he went on to talk more about how he came around in prison and what he was doing with his life now.  So it wasn't a bad response but I think he needs to work on it.  Again, I thought he was being honest and the obvious message of trying to get kids to avoid people places and things that will get you in trouble resonates and he speaks from experience. “