Dozens of stories are out there. Here's one:

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/8397416

Southern Miss to give LB Raines 'second opportunity'
 
April 18, 2005
By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer

Troubled junior college linebacker Marcus Raines has committed to Southern Mississippi.

Raines went from top 15 linebacker prospect at Pasadena (Calif.) City College to pariah after word spread in recruiting circles about his role in the May 2000 death of a high school student in Palmdale, Calif. Raines originally was charged with second-degree murder after Christopher O'Leary died following a scuffle at a party. Instead of going to trial, Raines eventually accepted a plea bargain to involuntary manslaughter.

He served one year in a juvenile institution and two years in a boot camp. Raines has not signed with Southern Miss yet but told CBS SportsLine.com on Monday that the school has offered a scholarship and he intends to sign at some point. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Raines saw all offers dry up after Kansas State publicly stopped recruiting him on Dec. 3. When that happened, Raines' past became more widely known among recruiters even though his situation had been widely covered in Los Angeles.

"They believed in my character and decided to scholarship me," Raines said of Southern Miss by phone Monday from Pasadena, where he is still attending junior college. "They asked me a lot of questions, but they believed in me."

Raines met with Southern Miss president Shelby Thames, who signed off on his recruitment.

"He didn't hide anything from us," said Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini. "He deserves a second opportunity. He's dedicated his life to being a positive mentor, helping people like him."

Raines' phone remained silent from Dec. 3 and as the Feb. 2 national signing day came and went. Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower began recruiting Raines in the past two months. At 6-feet-3, 230 pounds, Raines was considered one of the best junior-college linebackers in the country. Before Dec. 3, at least four schools were recruiting him -- Marshall, Arkansas, Washington State and K-State.

One East Coast coach who lost his entire linebacking corps told SportsLine.com he couldn't offer a scholarship because of Raines' history.

Frustrated, Raines' mother, Cynthia Evans of Sacramento, Calif., began writing schools to publicize her son.

"She's so excited, she's beside herself," Raines said. "The people at Southern Miss are outstanding. I had a chance to give my side of the story. People can do you any kind of way. They got it."

The details of the case have been debated since O'Leary died. Raines might have decided to plea bargain when O'Leary's former girlfriend testified that Raines kicked O'Leary in the head. That was after O'Leary reportedly had been punched and fallen to the ground.

In June, Raines lost a civil suit brought by O'Leary's family. The judgment was for $775,000.

It is believed that Raines will sign a scholarship agreement with Southern Miss that does not bind him to the school until he enrolls.

Southern Mess...where scholarship is a verb...

quote:

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Originally posted by: Angeline
"Another link: http://www.fanblogs.com/southern_miss/005126.php Well, maybe USM is the last place of opportunity for sports figures who committed transgressions in the past - part of the born-again "forgive and forget" attitude?  Or maybe Shely and Richard are idiots - time will tell soon enough."

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Key quotes from above link:

Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini (Richard.Giannini@usm.edu) confirmed as much.

"He didn't hide anything from us," said Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini. "He deserves a second opportunity. He's dedicated his life to being a positive mentor, helping people like him."

According to CBS SportsLine.com, Raines will sign a scholarship agreement with Southern Miss that does not bind him to the school until he enrolls.

I'm all for second chances. Maybe Southern Miss should look into giving Christopher O'Leary a second chance. Oh wait, they can't. Marcus Raines kicked him in the head like a football and he died.

Southern Miss - wake up and pull this scholarship offer right now.

quote:

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Originally posted by: info

Raines met with Southern Miss president Shelby Thames, who signed off on his recruitment.

"He didn't hide anything from us," said Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini. "He deserves a second opportunity. He's dedicated his life to being a positive mentor, helping people like him."

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"He's dedicated his life to being a positive mentor, helping people like him."

Huh???

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Originally posted by: The Longest Yard
"


I noticed this line from the above story:

" Raines committed to Kansas State in December, but the scholarship offer was rescinded after booster backlash resulting from Raines's criminal record."

I'm sure USM alums and booster won't care if he's a murderer or not. What happens when he does this again to a USM undergrad after some party?"

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Shelby doesn't have any problem with criminals or criminal activity. All he cares about is winning--on the football field and against anyone who opposes him. What does the guy mean, he got to "tell his side of story?" His side of the story is that he killed someone. The dead guy can't tell his side of the story.

Today's HA is out and there is not indication on their website of a story on this. Will they turn their heads away from it?

And if it goes badly it will be Jeff Bowers' fault, right? He's in a no-win situation here. I'd be really surprised if this was his idea at all.
(I don't usually comment on sports, but somebody called my name earlier.)

quote:

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Originally posted by: Lo
"SFT & Co seem to have an insatiable appetite for bad publicity.  Where are you Robert Campbell, Invictus, LVN, et al?"

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I'm amazed. First, I'm amazed that Jeff Bower isn't quoted in the article anywhere. Second, I'm amazed that he signed off on it. (Remember, Bower would've had to have brought this to Gianninny & thence to Thames.)

Just musing, but I wonder how many kids enrolled at USM right now have manslaughter convictions... I bet it would shock most folks. But the twist is that most instructors would have absolutely no idea...

With apologies to the "politically correct" crowd who don't like those pictures of "USM's own Miss Mississippi." Personally, I think she's a real cutie & USM should use her picture instead of Shelby's whenever possible!

I've been telling you guys that Giannini is BAD, BAD news (with his wife as his spokesperson). This is the last straw. No more tickets to anything for this former fan.

EagleTalk will get its collective act in order very shortly.

Read this & the follow-ups ...

... and this

Short & very much to the point. If the choice comes down to supporting the decision to offer an athletic scholarship to a convicted murderer or supporting the faculty, well, a significant number of EagleTalkers are going to go with that "four-star" linebacker.

Raines doesn't even get a story on the Athletics site. The spinmasters must be working really hard, trying to figure out what to say. Here are the current headlines from "the official site of Southern Miss athletics":

4/19/2005 - Lady Eagle Basketball Team Adds Junior College Signee
4/19/2005 - Softball Looks To Stay On Winning Note At McNeese State
4/18/2005 - WJNT To Remain Jackson Home For Southern Miss Sports
4/18/2005 - Willcutt Named To SEBaseball.com’s Midseason Team
4/18/2005 - Women's Golf In Fourth After Opening Day Of C-USA Women’s Golf Championship
4/18/2005 - TCU Jumps out to Big Lead at C-USA Men's Golf Championship; Southern Miss Stands Eighth Overall
4/18/2005 - Baseball Faces Intrastate Rival Ole Miss Tuesday In Jackson
4/18/2005 - Lady Eagle Tennis Team Adds Signee
4/18/2005 - Lady Eagle Volleyball Team Adds Two During Spring Signing Period
4/18/2005 - Ezell Named Conference USA Co-Pitcher of the Week


http://www.southernmiss.com/releases.asp

quote:

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Originally posted by: usually silent
"Just remember that one night should not define a person...what they do after a night like this is of much greater importance."

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I'm sure that there are several guys on Death Row at Parchman who agree with you.

Sure, this Raines kid needs to get on with his life. Whether USM ought to pay for his college education & what he hopes will be a career in the NFL is the question. Of course, it appears to be a done deal...

This shouldn't be surprising. After all, we are Southern Miss-- ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. We will offer an athletic scholarship to anyone from anywhere, regardless of any time served in prison.