www.mercercountysports.com

This article is a little sickening, but you guys and gals tell me if this kid deserves a second chance.

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/0 ... d-chances/

Looks like the second chance has already been decided. Hood was on the roster for 2009 and redshirted. He is expected to contribute to the Vols this year either at center or elsewhere on the offensive line. New Coach Derek Dooley is apparently satisfied that this matter is put behind Hood. Hood's bio in the Tennessee media recalls his high school football honors but makes no mention of his teenage difficulties. A couple of fans on a Vol's forum claim that they read the court transcripts and that Hood was "only" an accessory to the crime. This is not what the fanhouse.com article relates.

Second chances seem to be the norm when talented athletes violate the law. Currently, Pitt starter Jabaal Sheard faces his day in court for the serious matter of felony assult. Meanwhile, his coach awaits the outcome, not wanting to "pass judgement".

Hood was recruited and signed under Kiffen's watch, but UT has had it's grand share of athletes in both basketball and football following trouble. I recall Dustin Colquitt with 2 DUIs and 3 public intoxications still playing under Phillip Fulmer during an era of no discipline/no consequences. More serious and closer related to Hood's situation was the dorm rape charges against Vol players in 2003.

Current media keeps the public informed, maybe over-informed today about all things related to athlete's misjudgements. Many times the police submit a handful of charges against the person, this is reported in the news, and the actual charges that can be proved beyond doubt are whittled down by court time. This doesn't suggest taking a light approch to crime, to the reporting of crime, or the excusing of athlete/criminals because of their physical skill. Although the article about Daniel Hood was very explicide, I'd need to know more about this kid's makeup, how he handles himself, etc to make some judgement about whether a second chance is justified. Hopefully, he has himself turned around and can contribute positively not only for his team but for society in general. He seems to have those in the know on his side.

if the police routinely file trumped up or unprovable charges, how it is the media's fault for reporting, accurately, what the charges are? Don't blame the messenger.

As for the athlete in question here, the story notes that his little transgression included that "At the age of 13 he was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and the rape of his first cousin with a toilet plunger after covering 70 percent of her body with duct tape. "

Oh, well. Boys will be boys, you know. Surely it was all a misunderstanding, just a little harmless fun. The media should be ashamed for reporting such trivial things, right?

Sounds like he's perfectly suited to become a revered athlete. A couple of kids from Greenville a few years back would be great as teammates. Bet he always wanted to be like Big Ben, too.

SICK

" This doesn't suggest taking a light approch to crime, to the reporting of crime, or the excusing of athlete/criminals because of their physical skill. "

You need to read a bit better and a bit closer, hickory jock. The above quote from my post doesn't in any way reflect the type of criticism that you level against it. I ask that you go back and re-read my post, very slowly to see if you can capture the flavor of my thought. Also, I don't understand your injection of kids from Greenville into this story. Misbehavior is not limited to the bounds of any particular community, and is certainly not a reflection upon the citizens and school of that town. Hickory has had its share of bad actors for sure, as does other schools in the area. Your point is not well taken.

Again, I will say that this was a terrible incident for all involved. It certainly required an investigation, an arrest, and a court decision. From what I gather, things have moved on and the accused is now at Tennessee. I doubt that anything this bad was swept under the table. I would need to personally know the kid to make any call on whether a "second chance" should be granted. Even that call would be just my opinion, one open to disagreement. Since the original link was in itself old, I'm sure that the decision has been already made by those involved.

i dunno, you said the media keep the public overinformed about "an athlete's misjudgments" and that often charges are trumped up and thrown out, therefore we shouldn't rush to judgment. I don't think there was any dispute about the ugly facts in this kid's case.


Why? Have other local school districts also tried to downplay broom handle hazing incidents, too? It's a similar offense and germaine to the story/player being discussed. If one of them deserves consideration of a second chance, then the other one was also just a bit of horseplay, too.


I'm thinking the teenage cousin at the receiving end of the duct tape and broom handle treatment hasn't quite been able to "move on" and probably never will.