CL, April 21, 2005

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050421/SPORTS030104/504210375/1097

USM prospect defends right to be on team

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@clarionledger

HATTIESBURG — Marcus Raines understands the questions and controversy his presence can generate.

A felon after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, Raines says he has been offered a scholarship to play football for the University of Southern Mississippi. And though some might say a felon has no business receiving a scholarship to play collegiate football, don't expect Raines to back away from trying to better himself.

"Am I not supposed to want to do that?" Raines asked. "Shouldn't I feel like I should be encouraged to do that?"

...USM President Shelby Thames confirmed that Raines visited the campus last weekend but would not comment further. Wednesday night, however, the school released a statement through its public relations office that appeared to address the situation.

The statement said it was not aimed at "a particular student," but it addressed the question many have asked since this news broke Monday.

"A public university has many objectives that relate to its educational mission, and building character and providing young people with the tools for dealing with life are important parts of that mission," said the statement. "From time to time, we have an opportunity to provide a student with a second chance, and student athletes are no different ... We must look beyond mistakes they may have made as a teenager, and while not ignoring their past behavior, we examine their character and their potential."...

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CL, April 21, 2005

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050421/COL0504/504210340/1097

Right or wrong? Answer will come from Raines

By Rick Cleveland
rcleveland@clarionledger.com

THE words in Wednesday's front page headline seem so stark, so startling: Felon says he will play for USM.

The story says Californian Marcus Raines, convicted three years ago of involuntary manslaughter, has visited Southern Miss and has agreed to play football there beginning this fall.

It sounds so wrong, so clearly wrong — but there it is, on the front page, in black and white. Only in Raines' case, there's so much gray....