Lane Kiffin Signs A Convicted Rapist

Those of us at the OSG HQ have gotten a good laugh from Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin since he was hired. Whether it's getting under rival Urban Meyer's skin or telling a recruit he would be pumping gas if he went to South Carolina, Kiffin has provided us with some knee slappin' humor. Let's face it, he can be a bonehead and poking fun has become a rite of passage in the OSG break room. The latest Kiffin capade is not a laughing matter.

In an era where universities want "good character guys" representing their athletic teams Lane Kiffin is taking a chance on a kid with a criminal record that involves rape. The Vols signed TE/DE Daniel Hood from Knoxville Catholic High School who is a convicted rapist.

At age 13 Hood was tried as a juvenile and according to court records a jury found him to be delinquent “on the basis that he had committed the adult offenses of kidnapping and aggravated rape.” The victim was Hood's at the time 14 year old cousin. A co-defendant, who was 17 at the time of the assault, is currently serving a 10-year sentence for the same crime.

Duct tape, a plunger and cellophane were used in the attack. You can read the gruesome details here.

Court documents state that Hood little remorse for his actions but he told the Knoxville News-Sentinel in a recent interview that he is sorry.

“I know people are going to form their opinions about me,” Hood told the Knoxville News - Sentinel. “Everybody’s entitled to that. The only thing I can do is prove who I am now. Every day is a new battle. There’s a new person I can meet. They may have a prejudice set up against me. But I have a chance to prove who I am every day and not only to be a witness to some of the correctional facilities and the jobs they’re doing of putting out rehabilitated people, but more directly be a witness for Christ for the sake of his church.”

Kiffin defends his decision saying in a statement, “We didn’t go about this lightly,” Kiffin said in a statement Tuesday. “We spent a lot of time researching the issue and talking to a lot of people who are well-respected in the community. Everyone spoke very highly of Daniel. He’s a very bright young man who wants to move past this incident and be a good representative for the team, the university and the community.”

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton statement defends his coaches decision of offer Hood a scholarship. “Daniel made a terrible mistake a number of years ago and was involved in a very bad thing. He’s very remorseful and has worked hard to turn his life around. Catholic High gave him a second chance, and he lived up to expectations. We feel like he has earned the chance to continue that.”

The victim wrote a letter urging UT to admit him. The higher ups at Knoxville Catholic High School gave a recommendation as well. Hood did carry a 3.8 GPA.

It's a moral dilemma for the University of Tennessee especially in this day of intense media scrutiny and political correctness. There are those who believe that Hood deserves a second chance and that he learned a lesson. There are those who want this kid to pay dearly for an bad early life decision.

If Hood has clearly learned his lesson and is very remorseful then yes he deserves a 2nd chance. Know this, he will live under zero tolerance his entire career at UT. I wouldn't recommend attending any frat parties.

Photos Courtesy: Knoxville News-Sentinel