The stolen laptop Cameron Clear used to surf the Internet when campus police arrested him didn’t travel far, court records show.
The laptop came from a weekend burglary of five fellow University of Tennessee athletes’ dorm room at Gibbs Hall just down the street, according to police records released Wednesday.
The 19-year-old sophomore tight end faces a felony charge of theft up to $10,000. Clear remained free Wednesday with bond set at $2,500.
He was sitting at the entrance to Neyland Stadium on Tuesday when UT police caught him online on a MacBook Pro that belonged to freshman baseball pitcher Brandon Zajac, according to an arrest warrant.
Four other freshman baseball players — all neighbors of Clear in Gibbs Hall — reported they’d been burglarized at the same time as Zajac.
Clear might be out of jail, but he’s off the football field — at least for now. Football coach Derek Dooley suspended Clear “indefinitely” on Wednesday, said Jimmy Stanton, UT associate athletic director for communications.
He gave no other details, wouldn’t discuss the other thefts and wouldn’t say whether other athletes have reported similar thefts.
“All I know is he’s been suspended indefinitely,” Stanton said. “At this point, that’s all.”
Clear logged into a jail cell Tuesday after police traced the laptop’s Wi-Fi signal to Gate 2 at the stadium around 1:30 p.m., UT police Cpl. Ben Doty wrote in the arrest warrant. Clear was still at the keyboard when officers walked up, according to the warrant.
“Upon my arrival, I saw Mr. Clear sitting with a silver MacBook in his lap,” Doty wrote. “Once he saw the officers, he closed the laptop.”
The laptop’s serial number matched the MacBook stolen from Zajac, Doty wrote.
Zajac and the other four baseball players — first-baseman/outfielder Richard Carter of Brentwood, Tenn., who’s no longer on the team; pitcher Robbie Kidd of Fairfax Station, Va.; infielder Will Maddox of Gainesville, Ga.; and pitcher Connor Mahan Stevens of Raleigh, N.C. — reported a burglar had hit their dorm rooms Saturday.
UT officials released a copy of the initial burglary report to campus police after a series of public records requests by the News Sentinel. The report lists all five victims and lists Clear as a suspect but doesn’t list what was stolen.
UT officials refused to give that list, even though other police agencies routinely include such details in incident reports, which are public records under state law.
The players couldn’t be reached Wednesday.
Kidd’s father, Scott Kidd, said his son’s Sony VAIO laptop and a small flat-screen television were stolen.
“Luckily, he had an iPod in the room, too, but it was covered up by dirty clothes,” the father said. “I guess it was a good strategy.”
Other players’ families couldn’t be reached Wednesday night.
Zajac’s laptop set off an electronic alert when Clear used it to log into the university’s wireless network Tuesday, according to court records. He logged into a jail cell hours later.
Clear, who’s 6-foot-6, 283 pounds, ended spring practice as the backup to starting tight end Mychal Rivera. He caught only one pass last year as a freshman but was expected to play a more prominent role in the offense this season.
Clear was one of the most heralded signees in UT’s 2011 recruiting class. In his senior season at Memphis Central, he caught 18 passes for 250 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 60 tackles and eight sacks on defense.
Staff writers Hayes Hickman and Lance Coleman contributed to this report.
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Comments » 103
baldingalum writes:
Unbelievable talent. Unbelievably dumb.
Supersayin1 writes:
FREAKING Idiot!!!!! He was our 2nd Best Tight End and was gonna wreck shop this year!! phooey!!
Huttdawg100 writes:
No excuse for his actions. Honestly, I just don't see how he can remain on the team. I think he's forced Dooley's hand.
With that said, I'm not sure about Clear's financial background or the well being of his family, but I think this is yet another reason to pay these athletes. Or at least allow them to work and make money to buy a laptop. College football is now a multi-BILLION dollar industry. These tv contracts and salaries for these coaches are growing at an exponential rate. The SEC network will be HUGE. However, these guys get nothing? How is that fair or ethical?
etu_vol_fan writes:
This could be pretty widespread and Clear will wind up in jail. Dooley won't have a decision to make on this deal. The legal system and the university will make it for him.
jack4444 writes:
This was not Clear's first offense, right? He's already apologized to the team for a prior offense as I understand.
He's gotta go given the existing facts if all this is as accurate as it seems.
He's just gotta go.
Voluvr writes:
Goodbye Clear or Goodbye Dooley.
underthehill writes:
It is not fair or ethical..the players should be paid an agreed amount on a national basis..based on the amount of revenue generated by the school..the parasites (Athletic Directors, coaches etc) should not be getting the amounts they get..
suttree writes:
Did he just haul all the stuff down to Charlie's Super Pawn?? I'm guessing more folks are involved here . . and hopefully they do not suit up on Saturday's.
I get that none of us are completely who we are at 19 . . but not all of us get the chance at free education. Let the smoke clear here, but if its warranted bring the hardline.
Powder keg here with Memphis recruiting and the tie to other UT programs. Give me the good ole days when our guys just stole cheeseburgers.
VOLS_SEC_RULES writes:
Just something familiar about that name Cam... and a laptop...hey, maybe we found another Heisman winner.
GerryOP writes:
Hmmmmm? You noticed that too? Is Clear setting himself up to go to Auburn and win a Heisman?
FanNotSheep writes:
Once the transition to four superconferences is complete and the NCAA is replaced by whatever they call the new major college football league, paying football players might happen. Right now it would be impossible unless the money came directly from TV revenues. Too many smaller NCAA schools lose money on athletics -- especially football -- for it to work.
And I don't see how they could ever pay athletes outside football and basketball. Of course you would have Title IX issues too. You already have more women's sports than mens because of the higher number of football players. For many lesser sports, the players don't even get full scholarships.
FanNotSheep writes:
Dooley may go at the end of the season. Or not. In the meantime, don't you have someplace to be?
Even Saban and Miles have these issues from time to time.
not_guilty writes:
You can't fix stupid!
voloffaith writes:
Were you expressing that to 'greatest' ?
JBVols1698 writes:
This realllllly sucks. Clear has a lot of potential... and here is where things get tough from a coaching stand point... if you kick him off the team a la cam newton he just ends up being given another chance by another good school possibly in the SEC so you either let him stay and draw criticism for it or you let him go and get beat by him later... what to do?
vol4good#206163 writes:
They didnt at first!
JBVols1698 writes:
The players are already paid! last time i checked going to college isn't cheap... they get everything paid for.. everything and they even have money left over from things like living expenses.
Rookie2 writes:
Huh huh.., "logged" into a jail cell.., he "logged" onto the computer and then got "logged" into jail. I see what you did there. So funny you had to write it twice in the article to make sure nobody missed that little jewel of cleverness. Hahahaha, great stuff right there... "logged".
tennrich1 writes:
You may not be the "greatest" but you're definitely the sweetest.....man, yo easy...
GloryDays writes:
I think Derek Dooley's biggest problem is that he is very arrogant. He has accomplished very little and has lived off his daddy's name. I heard he was at a basketball game and he was cussing like a sailor. It's difficult to be a leader when you are arrogant. He gets beat by Kentucky and acts like its no big deal and starts this blame game stuff. Leadership leads by example. I know its nearly impossible to control 95 players in the 18-23 year old group but when you are humble and work your tail off and don't blame others, then most of the players will follow you to greatness.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
I wondered about the Sunseri as coach thing too. That would be a nightmare. IF...IF we have to replace Dooley, I do think John Chavez is more than a qualified candidate. JMO.
thevoice writes:
What happened to the guaranteed student loan program?
therightstuff writes:
JC couldn't get the HC position at East Carolina so how and why would we hire him? Remember 'third and Chavis'.....
BigOrangeFreak writes:
Very nice. I thought that was a bit of grandstanding myself.
BigOrangeFreak writes:
Two words.
Memphis - Central.
Nuff said.
BigOrangeFreak writes:
Gotta get rid of this kid.
JBVols1698 writes:
UT fans should stop trying to alienate Memphis.. If you want Memphis athletes stop speaking of it like it's a 3rd world country. There are plenty of us here in Memphis with ties to Eastern Tennessee, Family in Eastern Tennessee, and a lot of Vols fans here in Memphis so shut up with that cr@p. Not to mention the UT Medical school is here in memphis. Last time I checked its the University of Tennessee not the University of Eastern Tennessee or the University of Knoxville! STOP ALIENATING MEMPHIS!
volthrunthru#658770 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
BigOrangeFreak writes:
Memphis is alienating itself. "We" in ET, don't have to do any work on that account.
And we do like getting the athletes. We just wish they had better character.
You do have the Med School though...
JBVols1698 writes:
I have not once been on this website and seen someone from memphis bashing Knoxville or Eastern Tennessee in general... I have seen it the other way around too many times to count.
I will be a Volunteer for life despite the way plenty of Eastern Tennesseans talk about my home town. If you loved the State of Tennessee like I do you wouldn't talk bad about its largest city or its smallest... not to mention a lot of the stuff said is racially charged whether or not the people saying it realize it
Razzle writes:
Everyone says that you're the perfect idiot. Well you're not perfect but you're doing all right.
BigOrangeFreak writes:
Point taken, JB. I'll reign it in. Its obvious you feel very strongly about this. We do tend to act like we're in the bubble here in ET.
Not as if there isn't plenty of crime in Knoxville either.
JBVols1698 writes:
I appreciate this response. And it's not like I don't love Eastern Tennessee because I do. I love all of Tennessee I am from every part of it if you ask me! We should all be one and we should act as if we are! My Brother lives in Cleveland and so did my grandparents from my fathers side before they passed. I love this state. And I know it is a 2 way street but I feel like the negativity geared towards memphis from Eastern Tennessee is just that.. negative! its bad for Memphis, its bad for Knoxville, its just bad for the Entire state! We may not have beautiful mountains and great places to go trout fishing but we sure could go a long way towards filling some rosters if we could change the attitude!
BigOrangeFreak writes:
We'd be fillin rosters on both the Basketball and Football teams. (Not to mention keepin those recruits away from Arky, Ole Miss, LSU, and BAMA.)
born2ride writes:
Another Memphis Thug.
JBVols1698 writes:
why don't you say what you really want to say and replace Memphis with black?
Classof72 writes:
VFL: Vol Finds Laptop
DwayneElizondoMountainDewHerbertCamacho writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
orangecountyvols writes:
RockyMountainVol, and fellow Vols,
Especially accurate comments and the "greatest"toad.
What Cameron Clear did was very wrong, we know. And, suspension may not be enough.
As for the kid, the 'great' obnoxious punk, toad. Suspension for him isn't enough either.
He, along with his fellow troll-Sammy Jeff, are just chronic complainers about everything. Whatever the endeavor, all you'd ever hear from them would be griping and monotonous repetition.
FLVOL_79 writes:
Their tuition is free, that is their payment plain and simple. Paying them won't fix a broken culture.
shipperman#280095 writes:
tHEY ARE STUDENTS, WITH A FREE EDUCATION, THAT IS QUITE FAIR
VolsFanInNC writes:
Exactly what I was thinking JB. I would say let them work in the offseason, but of course someone would end up paying them more than the average employ or something.
UT-on-3 writes:
I agree with JBVols1698....
Doesn't show big character from us (ET) to constantly say these things...point taken.
GO VOLS!
Huttdawg100 writes:
You're right. College isn't cheap. But they do something that 1000s of fans are willing to spend a lot of money to see. Not to mention the time they invest behind the scenes: the hours in the weight room, the hours conditioning, 7 on 7, film study. That's a full-time job. And think about the toll on their bodies. What about guys like Inky and the kid from Rutgers? They got hurt and never saw an NFL dollar. And now the NFL and the NFL players association decide to stick it to the rookies entering the league: rookies out play their contract, but they're stuck making the league minimum for years. Football is too complexed and requires too much not to pay these guys.
volinlm writes:
Once again, let's have the hanging AFTER the trial, not before. Maybe he did it, or maybe he is in possession of stolen property. A problem either way, but the facts, not emotion, should lead it where is goes. Then, some of you can get on with blaming Dooley for teaching his players to steal.
Vo2Vol writes:
No, Greatest, you are the dilusional fraud. It takes no guts to be a bottom feeder and look for the negative in everything. Where you hold yourself and where you live do not match.
Bubba_Knows writes:
Keep your laptop clear of Clear.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vo2Vol,
Nice try friend. The toad/fraud is simply starving for attention. Too cowardly to take his rear end over to the campus to feebly confront the man who owns him.......Derek Dooley. Instead, he puffs himself up here in front of his little keyboard.
Thank goodness Tennessee sports is not in the hands of trolls like this. As I said, chronic gripers.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
If an alabama fan said it, it must be true, since they are all couch potato coaches. (response to comment # 50)
Huttdawg100 writes:
I don't know about a farm system... That would destroy college football. The best athletes are going to bypass college and go straight for the money.
Or... The farm system is already in place, we just need to tweak the system slightly.
These guys are risking their bodies for our entertainment. Inky Johnson can't hug his kids... Was his tuition worth his arm?
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