This morning, The Sporting News has a piece from Matt Hayes — one of my favorite college football columnists — suggesting that Ohio State (my other alma mater) should expel Maurice Clarett for the following incidents…

1. Clarett’s seemingly anti-social sulking after the Fiesta Bowl.

2. Clarett’s brief argument with running back coach Tim Spencer after Maurice was pulled from the Northwestern game after fumbling three times.

3. Publicly chastising Ohio State for not allowing him to return home from the Fiesta Bowl to attend the funeral of a friend when Clarett failed to fill out the NCAA-required paperwork.

4. The current academic fraud investigation.

5. The current NCAA investigation of Clarett’s overestimating his losses in a theft of materials from a Chevrolet Monte Carlo that he was test driving.

As a proud alumnus and rabid Buckeyes fan, my response to Matt Hayes would be “maybe, but not just yet.”

Incidents #1-3 listed above admittedly show a certain immaturity and self-centeredness. But the kid is 19. I was even worse when I was 19.

Incident #4 would seem to be the weakest of all. The involved professor claims that that great bastion of journalistic integrity, the New York Times, severely misquoted her. And the original accuser who sparked the Times interest in Columbus has since been entirely disaccredited (and accused of a felony, I believe). I would be surprised if this investigation turns up anything. But if it does, sure… toss Clarett out. And fire the Prof too.

Incident #5, though, does seem to be the real thing. So punish him. As Kirk Herbstreit noted on WBNS Radio, Columbus, yesterday, the standard NCAA penalty for such an action would be a one or two game suspension. So suspend him already.

But don’t throw away this kid’s entire football career and education when all he deserves is a suspension. Well… at least not just yet… The next time he screws up bad enough to potentially warrant an expulsion, maybe toss him then to protect Ohio State’s integrity and image.

Of course, test driving as ugly of a car as a Chevrolet Monte Carlo is pretty bad… The Pontiac Grand Prix has the same basic hardware and looks a whole lot better.

Yes, there is a growing segment of Central Ohio that has enough of Clarett. And I understand their frustration. I’m pretty tired of his act too. So get ready to kiss him goodbye, but don’t pucker up just yet.

Hail to Ohio State Winning the Big Ten Again, hopefully With a Reformed Clarett