I say good for the University of Tennessee. All we know is that he was an accomplice to rape at 13 (a child)that's all we know. I'm sure the University of Tenn. knows loads more information to about story and about the young mans life since that act and how he's changed his life. This is what needs to be encouraged.

Wow. Talk about a textbook case of anti-social behavior. I'm a little surprised the university is overlooking this.

It's one thing to give him another chance and let him get a college education, and another to give him a scholarship! There are several hard working kids out there in the need of a college scholarship, why did they have to pick him?

Exactly, bgorgeouss. If he's truly rehabilitated then he does deserve a second chance, but don't hand him an education on a silver platter.

if the court decided that he's a free man, then he's free.

Rape is vile and unacceptable. It should be harshly punished and offenders need to be held accountable. That said, the fact that the victim wrote a letter on the players behalf, that he was an "Accomplice", and that he was 13 at the time of the incident, makes me think he deserves a second chance. I remember doing some seriously stupid things at that tumultuous, and pubescent, age. I bet you do too. Rape should never be condoned, but forgiveness and empathy is a virtue our culture could use more of.

I was torn on this one. I don't think he should be in jail, he was only 13 after all. But at the same time i'm not sure he's the most deserving of a college scholarship.

I respectfully disagree he's been prosecuted served a punishment for his deeds. I say let him earn what he's earned. If he's changed his life and busted his @$$ to get as far away from that negative part of his (childhood) allow him the reward for his achievements and doing what is right and what is expected of him because it only serves to reinforce further good behavior and achievements. I don't jut say this as a matter of good reasoning I also say it as one who was raped at the age of 19.

I agree with Hypno, he deserves a second chance.

It still seems like he got away with something horrible. I know people deserve second chances but I mean, the 17-year-old accomplice is serving jail time, and this guy gets free ride through college? I guess it's not fair for me to make that call. I suppose he has moved on, as has his victim.
He better be a damn good football player.

it isn't like he is getting a scholarship to enter the priesthood. I'm sorry, but not all pro or damn near pro athletes at big schools are that honorable.

I'm a little confused by this, but whatever the case, he shouldn't receive a scholarship for this. He was convicted in a court of law for kidnapping and raping this girl with a toilet plunger! I don't care how old you are, that is absolutely ridiculous for any PERSON to do to another PERSON. And it's not like at 13 years old you're completely naive and stupid to THAT extent. I'm pretty sure he knew what he was going along with was very wrong and probably reprehensible - but he decided to do it anyway. Sure, he hasn't had any problems since then, but that is a SERIOUS offense regardless, and it probably will [and I think should] follow him for the rest of his life - but won't it get expunged when he turns 21 anyway? So it will be like it never happened when he finishes college/wants to play in the NFL?

And the linked article made what I think is a very important point, that I'll reprint here (emphasis mine):

"Were he not a football player, he would probably be stuck in a dead end job with no respect, no college scholarships, and no opportunities. (Not optimum, by the way. Just truth.) *If he were a young man of color, well, we all know that his punishment would have looked far different.* Instead, he's a white guy with a natural talent for throwing a pig skin, and as a result, he'll get a free college education and, quite possibly, could make millions in the NFL. All that money and glory will make the heinous sexual assault of his youth seem like a bad dream. "

*Real talk:* I don't know what's going on here, but this guy is DEFINITELY getting some preferential treatment. I doubt that they are this lenient with everyone who has committed a heinous crime in their past that wants to play college football. Everyone needs to be treated *equally* if they're going to play this game.

By all means, let this guy go to school and better himself, he can even play football. He still shouldn't get any rewards [like the scholarship] to do so. He's got enough rewards already [such as: not being IN JAIL FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE - like most people would have been in the same situation, being able to finish school and apply to college, obtain the support of his victim, and has the opportunity to better himself].

He was a minor... the case is closed.

wow. sickening.

No second chance. No scholarship.

I am torn. What he did was horrible, there is no question in that. But, if this is someone who honestly made a stupid mistake while young, then I believe he deserves the chance to have a good life. If he is just another loser who didn't learn his lesson, well I hope he proves he's a dirt bag before the money is spent.

"There are several hard working kids out there in the need of a college scholarship, why did they have to pick him? "

Because he's a good football player. I think most of the people who get football scholarships probably got them before other students who are more academically deserving, that's just the way the system works. They're not handing them out based on character.

I believe that 13 is old enough to know whats right and whats wrong. But I also believe that he's had some sort of punishment for his crime and should be given the chance to have a college education. But giving him a scholaship is a bit over the top. He may be bright as can be, but there are other students out there who will work their rears off for the chance to have a scholarship. I think this guy should be denied the scholarship not because other kids need it, but because to me, it looks like favouritism. Favouring the guy because he's rehabilitated and needs a fresh start.

I was raped by 2 guys that were 20 when I was 16. Rape ruins lives....no second chance!

Give the scholarship to the rape victim.

It's not like this guy stole a car or bought drugs...he violated a 14 year old in a heinous fashion, and should not be rewarded for it, I don't care how old he was at the time. Sorry, but 13 year olds today are not the same as they were 30 years ago.

If he turned his life around, bully for him...but he shouldn't get a free ride for it.

@hyno-i don't give a damn if he's the served the punishment for his crime. for some reason sexual offenders have one of the highest reoffending and recidivism rates but have some of the most leinient sentences, particularly juveniles. who knows if this is an isolated incident? i personally wouldn't want him on a college campus with unsuspecting vunerable young women where's there a lot of drinking and drugs, who knows what kind of sh*t he might pull? and there are a lot of hard working kids out there who didn't get together in concert with an accomplice to rape a young girl with a foreign object. if he got into the school fine, but he shouldn't be allowed in co-ed dorms and he shouldn't be getting a scholarship.

since he was so young, it seems as though he deserves a second chance. perhaps we're not getting the whole story. maybe the 17 yr old was the mastermind and he just got sucked in. who knows. maybe it was consensual. yes, i know underage kids can't consent, but maybe they thought it was ok. you can't be so quick to judge without all the facts. he didn't go to jail for a reason i'd like to think. in saying that, i certainly do not think he should be handed a scholarship and a chance at football. i think that scholarship should go to a kid that hasn't been convicted of rape. he should be allowed to walk-on though. or maybe a partial scholarship until he proves himself. i'm not saying he shouldn't have a chance, it just shouldn't be handed to him.

Wow, I'd feel really safe as a woman attending that university, or as a parent sending my child there.

I think what the UT rep meant by "he is a bright young man..." is that "he's a great football player and we want to win so we will look past rape, theft, cheating and any other offenses he or our other players commit."

Yes, he was young and PROBABLY (though we don't know) not the instigator of the attack, and maybe he should be given a second chance, but that doesn't mean getting a free ride just because you can play football. Or hey, maybe I'm wrong; maybe they are just preparing him for the pros where if you're a good athlete, there are no negative consequences to rape. So are rapists getting academic scholarships too, or do they have to play sports?

i chose the no answer but i dont think he needs to go back to jail, i just think there are more dserving people looking for scholarships.

Wonder if he is a sex offender?

I know we don't know the whole story or even the true story, but I still don't see how this is right. At 13 he should have known better than that. I agree that he deserves a second chance because of his young age I do not think a free college education is in order. As someone who graduated in the top ten of my class at a large high school and had good sat scores, I received less than $1000 in scholarships. So I do not think these scholarships should have been awarded.

sloene220 I can certainly understand your concern but again (we)no nothing about the details of his actions or the case. What we do know however is that the victim herself endorsed this decision as someone else stated in an earlier comment and reason would have it that his history has been gone over with a fine tooth comb taking into consideration the information that again (we) are not privileged to and his record of commitment to change for the good. I choose to side on the side of reason and it is certainly your prerogative to side on the side of fear.

*we (know) nothing.... Argh word use..word use

"I can certainly understand your concern but again (we)no nothing about the details of his actions or the case."

If you read the article, it links to another article with some disturbingly detailed descriptions of what happened. It involves duct tape, a toilet plunger, and Kool Aid. I was a lot more understanding of this guy before I read what actually happened.

he was just 13 he deserve another chance!

@hyno don't include me in your ignorance, because you were too busy being an apologist for a rapist that you couldn't click on a link to find out what happened to this poor girl. well because you don't seem to know what you're talking about i read the articles and he and another raped that girl with a foreign object. and maybe unlike you, when there's a violent crime involved, which has a high reoffending rate, i'll err on the side of caution rather than "reason", although i don't know what facts you used to form a reasonable opinion considering that you obviously didn't read the article easily found by others detailing the horrors inflicted upon this girl.

I can't believe UT. That's unforgivable.

Just to play devil's advocate, it is a known fact that ex-felons cannot get any kind of financial aid from the government. So for those of you who say he should get a second chance, but he's not deserving of a scholarship, what do you say about the situation now with this extra addendum of information.