Florida State accepted wide receiver Randy Moss after Notre Dame had pulled his scholarship because he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge for his role in a high school fight. But the Seminoles had to dismiss Moss after he admitted to smoking marijuana in violation of his probation. He ended up having great success in a third chance at Marshall and in the NFL.
Jay Bilas, an analyst for ESPN and a practicing attorney, has no problem with coaches taking chances on players.
"I think you have to look at the character of the individual and whether that individual fits what you're trying to do and your mission and go from there," he said.
Bilas noted the success at Duke of Shelden Williams, who was kicked off his high school team after being accused of sexual assault (he was never charged).
Coaches say it's important not to lump together all players with legal questions in their records.
Towson coach Pat Kennedy said it would be unfair to equate his former player, Neal, with Evans or others who've been convicted of crimes.
"He had no past history of anything, and he was found innocent of all charges, so what other conclusion could you reach but that he deserved a chance?" Kennedy said.
Neal had already enrolled at Towson, so when Kennedy decided he wanted the player in his program, he referred the case to the school's administration. After a panel investigated the charge against Neal, he was allowed to play.
Kennedy said that he's a firm believer in granting second chances to players with past discipline and academic troubles.
"If you give these kids the support they need, a lot of times you end up with great stories," he said. Kennedy noted that many students have troubles in their past and that athletes are often singled out.
The college coach must gain a complete understanding of the player's personality and circumstances, said AAU coach Boo Williams, who has mentored Iverson and hundreds of other gifted players from Virginia's peninsula cities.
Williams had known Iverson since he was 10 years old and like many, believed the bowling alley brawl was a complex, racially charged situation that did not reflect the player's nature. He was impressed that Thompson took the time to understand Iverson, the incident and all the people around him.
"I didn't consider it a risk, because I knew the kid," he said. "And Coach Thompson wanted to know everything about him. You've got to know the kid. It's a feel that you develop."
