Friday morning update: I have posted a new entry that looks at the national reaction to this story, so if you have already read the post below, click on over to the new one and check out what others are saying.
Former USC assistant head coach, Lane Kiffin, who is now the head coach at University of Tennessee, has made headlines and ruffled a few feathers so far this season with his recruiting tactics – but his latest foray in to the national recruiting scene might just take the cake.
On the surface, his latest commit looks like a solid player – good grades, solid measurables – but when you dig a little deeper, you see where the trouble begins.
You see, Daniel Hood has what one might call a “checkered past.” When the 19-year-old defensive end and tight end was just a 13-year-old boy, he committed a rape of his cousin with the aid of a 17-year-old friend.
Now, this is not the place to go in to details about what happened, but the NCAA fanhouse blog has more on the story, including some court transcripts – warning: mature language used.
I am not saying one way or another, but am instead deferring to you.
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Before you vote, read the story. What he did is vile…it made my stomach turn. To allow that to be done to anyone, especially a family member, speaks volumes about his character (or absence of any). The fact that so many schools pulled their scholarships while Kiffin awards one also points to character.
— RJJ 05/07/2009 01:25 PM #
This is not like he smoked marijuana, or burglarized something. This is sick and twisted. He should be in an institution somewhere.
I don’t believe he would do this again, but he needs to pay for what he did. He should not be granted a scholarship to play college football. He shouldn’t be granted admission to a college period. That poor girl is going to live with that the rest of her life. He needs to pay for this.
This is an extreme case and the answer is no for him. However, I do believe most crimes can be written-off as just being young. Unless a kid is just a habitual offender, the past can be overlooked. Just not in this case.
— russ 05/07/2009 02:44 PM #
if by some chance this kid makes ANYTHING of himself I say most of his money goes to the girl…better yet he should be in jail
— michael 05/07/2009 06:40 PM #
Please do not take this as condoning his actions. I too feel that he should not have been given the scholarship offer. But just to set the record straight, the victim (his cousin) wrote a letter in support of him getting the scholarship.
— Chris 05/07/2009 07:51 PM #
Let me see – Catholic High School – In the South – last name Hood
well given the alterative could be molesting young boys as a catholic, or as they do in the south having sex with your sister, being a hoodlum is not so bad.
On a serious note, Hakim Hill had a similar back ground and he got kicked off the ASU football team. I don’t think this guy will last either.
Finaly I was not expecting a white guy in the story. His picture is indicative of his IQ.
— Devils666 05/07/2009 10:19 PM #
I would be pissed if Arizona offered someone like this a scholarship.
— Button Salmon 05/07/2009 11:51 PM #
Save you Catholic bashing for a blog dedicated to Godless idiots. No doubt you’ve found those Devil666.
Tax dollars in the form a an athletic scholarship should not be supporting this kid’s second chance. Let him walk on, make the team and prove he is worthy of the support and adulation that comes with being a big-time college football player. Providing him a scholarship over any other decent kid that can play ball is simply sending the wrong message and condoning illegal behavior.
— Colorado Mark 05/08/2009 06:52 AM #
Colorado Mark –
If your pontif protects child molestors by helping to relocate them and cover it up, see John Paul II, then I a proud to be Godless.
Actually I like Sinead O’Connor. She seems to get it too…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYw8JR1N90o
— Devils666 05/10/2009 03:20 AM #
I can’t believe some of you clowns in this town wanted this kiffin guy to take over at the U of A.
— Pimp K 05/25/2009 01:36 PM #