Okay, I am very curious about what people think about a rapist being given a football scholarship.

The article is an opinion piece but there is an embedded link that offers the details of the rape case. That link is in the second paragraph of the story and is in PDF format so I cannot link it here.

So, is this the second chance he and so many people feel all are entitled to or is it another case of a criminal who can play sports get away with it?

I am a sports nut. I love hockey and football but if it were my money I'd rather take a pass. I'd rather the scholarship went to someone who wasn't a criminal.


Paul Finebaum: Maybe Tennessee did the right thing in signing Daniel Hood despite rape case
Posted by Paul Finebaum, Sports Columnist May 12, 2009 1:59 AM

When the story first surfaced the other day about Daniel Hood signing a scholarship with the University of Tennessee, I reacted the same as most of you -- with rage and revulsion.

How could a school be this desperate to allow someone with Hood's background within 500 miles of the UT campus?


It's been well documented that when Hood was 13 he participated with a 17-year-old friend, in the rape of Hood's 14-year-old cousin. Like many of you, I was nauseated reading the gruesome details of the case.

But the more I reflected, my outrage simmered and I began to wonder whether the school was perhaps doing the right thing.
Columnist Paul Finebaum: If Daniel Hood had signed with Alabama and Nick Saban stood up for him, how would you feel then?

Instead of casting away Hood, now 19, they are giving him a second chance. What I really like about Tennessee's handling of this case is the transparency -- so refreshing in today's cloak and dagger and deceptive world of intercollegiate athletics.

Unlike so many other schools who keep everything under wraps to gain some sort of competitive advantage, UT has made the young man available for interviews -- which he has passed with poise. The school has not run away from the controversy and perhaps, some good can come out of this family tragedy.

For starters, Hood has not been in any trouble since the incident and even the harshest cynics would have to agree the overwhelming fault in this case was on the friend, who is now serving a 10-year prison sentence. Had Hood been older, the case would be dramatically different. And while we can debate ad nauseam the maturity of a 13-year old, I think Hood was clearly not able to handle the situation. Would you have been at 13?

It doesn't really need to be said that there will be zero tolerance at UT for Hood, whose future behavior will be closely scrutinized. But unlike many of his new teammates, the young man has excelled in school (3.8 GPA) and has been a model citizen at Catholic High School in Knoxville. The high school's administration has staked its reputation on its high recommendation of Hood.

Was he the star player on a high school team that won the state? Sure. But Hood has talked of his newfound faith and unlike many who use this as a crutch or a means of convenience, he appears sincere and genuinely remorseful.

Someone said to me the other day he would have less of a problem with Hood being accepted at Tennessee if he had committed murder. Clearly, rape is a heinous crime. However, in a murder case, the victim would not have been around to write a letter on his behalf -- which was the case here. Obviously, the victim's letter carried significant weight.

"I know ... Daniel on a personal level and believe that he has been very remorseful towards me," said the letter, which was published in the Knoxville News Sentinel. "He is a very caring individual. We are now working on rebuilding our relationship. Hoping to become a family like before. He is becoming a very mature adult and will be a great asset to any college and to society as a whole."

Of all of the impromptu and bizarre things that Lane Kiffin has said and done in his short tenure at Tennessee, at least this one seems well thought out. Is he doing this because he really cares about Hood or because lineman is a position of need? Who knows, but at least Kiffin and UT are willing to take a chance and give a second chance.

It's also worth pointing out that scores of schools wanted Hood. Well, that was until Hood's past caught up to him. Even former coach Phil Fulmer bailed on him until Kiffin showed up.

And if we're honest with ourselves, does the fact that UT and Kiffin are involved affect how we feel?

If Hood had signed with Alabama and Nick Saban stood up for him, how would you feel then? Some wouldn't be swayed. But I think many of us would be influenced by that fact and would be applauding instead of bashing Tennessee.

I don't know what the odds are of this story having a happy ending or whether the reward for Hood and UT outweigh the risk being taken. It chaps me when coaches coddle players when they get into trouble. That only enables the star athlete to believe he is bulletproof. When you factor in reports that one in three NFL players has had some brush with the law, you know the lack of discipline in college (and before) rarely results in a positive ending.

But this case isn't about the arrogance of a Michael Vick or a Pacman Jones. This is about a young man who participated in a gruesome crime and paid a price by being in state juvenile custody for several of his teenage years. Perhaps, not the price you would have doled out, but a price nevertheless.

The story here isn't that the University of Tennessee has given him a second chance. The real story is what he does with the precious gift and opportunity. Ultimately, that will determine whether this was the right call.

(Contact Paul Finebaum at finebaumnet@yahoo.com His column appears on Tuesdays in the Press-Register.

http://blog.al.com/press-register-sports/2009/05/paul_finebaum_tennessee_hood_rape.html#comments

i would like to comment on your posts but they are so long i dont feel like reading through to give my input sorry!

I have heard people saying...they did their time and deserve a chance. the problem with rape....it's about power and control and most of the time they aren't rehabed. I'm not sure I know of anyone that has shown a rapist can change. they may show change but mentally...not sure they can change....but that is just my thought.

i met a registered sex offender on another site and even though he spent 15 yrs in jail...sorry...don't want him near me

i'd like to reply but well i'd probly get in trouble if I said what I thought of him lol.

he was 13 and under the influence of an older person

is what happened ok === absolutely not

as a 13 yo he was a juvy

upon reaching adult age those things are to be put behind them

it may have been a dif story if he continued to get in trouble

but it seems he has excelled in being a positive citizen

to refuse him the opportunities he has worked so hard to achieve

would probably do more harm than good

why would you want a bitter 19yo b1tching about being mistreat for something he had done when he was 13 [which could cause a criminal to come forth](there dif are juvenile punishments for a reason)[there minds a not as developed as should be and are too easily persuaded to do thing by older persons in their life) does this excuse what he did absolutely not

and the article sounds like he will be watched closely so go dude stay good and make something of yourself

Ah yes...reading...such a hardship...but..it doesn't just stop at reading.

Once you've read something you have to digest it and form your own thoughts.

Why bother? Really? When there are so many people who are happy to tell you what to think about everything from your diet to world events.

My thoughts: it happens all the time, why "just" the outrage here? That being said, he was 13. According to the article, he seems genuinely remorseful and it seems he has turned to follow a different path. At 13, you are highly influenced by your peers and at the same time, while you know what you are doing may be wrong, your sense of the true nature of what you are doing is not fully formed yet.

Do I think he deserves a second chance? In theory, yes. Would I be willing to run the risk, personally? Not sure.

Hell I remember being 11 and 12 and I absolutely knew right from wrong, pear pressure or not. It upsets me to hear people making excuses for his age, he was not 6, he was 13.

His new found faith? Don't they all get God 'after' the fact, hell even politicians use that one...

Quote: ''upon reaching adult age those things are to be put behind them''

Let's hope the young girl put it behind her!! No mention of how she is doing, or did I miss something.

Are we worried how he would react if he was to be turned down? Guess we'd find out just how sorry he really is, huh?

The whole thing disgusts me, but then I know what rape is.

I don't think anyone is making excuses. And many of us do know what rape is, as unfortunately most people in this world will be affected by it either directly or indirectly in their lifetime.

At 13, you know right from wrong, of course, but most kids that age are incredibly vulnerable to peer pressure (which is why, of course, it's such a problem) and most kids know it's wrong, and care that it's wrong, but they don't have the brain capacity to really think consequences through, not only for themselves but for others. That is something that comes with age and maturity and does not always develop for many people. Could be this kid WAS/IS just evil with no conscience, I don't know, I don't know him. But, giving a kid who at 13 made a HUGE mistake in both action and judgment a second chance? Yeah. I think people should. How would you feel if it was your OWN child? You'd want that 2nd chance for him/her, right?

If this kid is going to school on a scholarship to play ball he is going to school at the expense of donors and the tax payer. Seems like there are other non-criminal football players that could use the money.

Boo brings up a good point. What about the girl who was raped. Wonder if she got a scholarship to go to school? How has this affected her life long term?

I wonder if this kid was say an English major would his criminal past keep him out?

well lets just throw out the juvinle court system then and charge all as adults

either you follow the rules of the systek or you get the system changed

maybe if it was a 13 yo that one of you had person relationship the thought may be different

the rules are what they are follow them or change them (legally)

at this point i stand by my earlier post per the rules as they stand

adj is right. rapists at any age get released from prison. maybe they do deserve a 2nd chance....but from what I have learned...the mind set doesn't change for most. but as I have been told "they paid their debt"

As usual, I agree with Rose. Where I disagree with many is that rapists and child molesters do not historically stop their behavior and should be put to death when caught. I think of if as allowing a mad dog to roam a children's playground. Just put them to sleep.

I think it's appalling. This is a great illustration of what is wrong with college athletics. Not to mention a reflection of what UT stands for.

i was merely talking about the sentence that they are given now. if I remember correctly...I read a study once where it showed that most (can't say all since all weren't evaluated) didn't change mentally. they either rape again or do another violent crime to someone.

I am glad that we have the sex offenders registry (for those that are caught at least) because that is how I found out about a guy I met on another site. he was acting weird so I checked him out. he had just gotten out of prison after 15 yr sentence. his mentality hadn't changed and he stalked me until friends and family let him know not to come around ever again

from op



if the victim is ok with it who is anyone else to b1tch about it

my problem (yes maybe the boy is remorseful) but the girl has a life long sentence. even if she gets help...she still has to live with it.

guess I don't know the answer. on one hand...the kid served his time. on the other...the girl is still serving hers

from the victim

Rape is not necessarily a "life long sentence." I'm not saying it doesn't shape who you become but with help and time, you don't have to be a victim to it forever. Many of us, and yes I said us, have managed to grow and learn and forgive and to gain strength from the experience. I do not consider myself, nor do many of my friends who have gone through a similar experience, to be living any kind of "sentence."

I do not know this girl or her motivations for writing her letter. So I do not presume to speak for her, as others shouldn't presume to speak for her or others. The "life long sentence" victim mentality is a stereotype, true for some, very far from the truth for others.

I am one of the us as well. I didn't say they can't forgive or learn to get passed it...but it does stay with them one way or another. it's something that can't be replaced. people can grow from it and forgive...but it's still there