Utah State's Morrill is quite the coach

whizonthegriz · Post by **whizonthegriz** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:07 pm

Utah State has 8 JC transfers and, not surprisingly, a bunch of older kids who have returned from Mormon missions. BUT, that isn't the noteworthy part. Their starting point guard (David Pak) is 29 years old...because he spent eight years in prison for raping a neighbor at knife point...he is a registered sex offender in Utah.

Does that mean that it would be okay to bring back Frank Brown? What a joke. It is one thing to allow a rapist on campus, it is totally unacceptable to allow that person to represent your college. Here is the article:

Paola Boivin
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 17, 2005 12:00 AM

BOISE, Idaho

In whose world does redemption equal forgiveness? Yours? Mine?

Are we supposed to watch point guard David Pak today against Arizona and forget that he served eight years in prison for rape? This is the unspoken request of Utah State University, which, remarkably, has managed to keep the junior's presence a dirty little secret. advertisement

Outside of Logan, several Internet message boards and Orange County, where Pak was raised, few know of his dark background.

Now that the NCAA Tournament has thrust the team under a national spotlight, word will spread and questions will be raised about the line that separates second chances from bad judgment. About whether universities should be applauded or scolded for opening their doors to rehabilitated felons. About whether rape should be treated differently from other crimes.

"I've gotten good letters and I've gotten hate mail," said Aggies coach Stew Morrill, who gave Pak his opportunity to play Division I basketball. "But I guess I've become older, stubborn and have gray hair. Those who don't like it ... to hell with them."

Pak is 28 now. As a troubled 17-year-old, he and a friend entered a neighbor's house in Orange, Calif., by climbing through a second-floor window and threatened a 23-year-old woman with a knife, according to court documents. Pak sexually assaulted her and left. Three days later, he was pulled out of El Modena High School by police and arrested.

He pleaded guilty to one count of forcible rape and one count of forcible rape with a deadly weapon and was sent to a California Youth Authority prison in Whittier.

A counselor, Derek Hamaguchi, was worried the penal system would eat Pak alive. He introduced him to the sport Hamaguchi also coached at the youth facility - basketball - and Pak was hooked.

Prison offers few moments of peace but for Pak, basketball was it. During the inmates' one-hour daily recreation break, he would shoot free throws incessantly. It gave him something to embrace, even though he had never played organized basketball, just a few pick-up games in the park. With prison as a backdrop, and intimidating inmates and guards sharing his stage, basketball was the closest thing to freedom inside the barbed-wire fences.

He became good. So good that an employee of the Herman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility in Chino, Calif., where he had been moved, called Bill Brummel, a coach at nearby Saddleback Junior College, to see whether he would consider giving Pak a look.

The employee came clean about Pak's background.

Was Brummel skeptical?

"That would be fair to say," Brummel said Wednesday.

Pak enrolled at Saddleback, but Brummel kept the player's background quiet. The coach regularly checked in with teachers, counselors and academic advisers to gauge Pak's behavior and commitment, and all reports were glowing.

Pak was good enough to make the team, but Brummel still told no one.

"I probably should have said something to save my (behind) in case he did something wrong," Brummel said. "But I wanted him to be judged on his behavior now, not his past."

Only after Pak had made strong impressions on Saddleback's administrators did Brummel share the truth. Because Pak had grown into the model student, there were no repercussions.

"There was never a problem, never an incident," he said. "Not one. There was nothing about him that suggested his past, except maybe the tattoos."

Brummel has had a long, fruitful relationship with Utah State, having sent several players there, including former point guard Mack Brown and current Aggies guard Marques Crane. He contacted Morrill about another possible candidate, providing full disclosure about his background.

Morrill has been around long enough - six-plus seasons at Utah State, 18 in coaching - to not worry about scrutiny from the administration. When Brummel told him he truly felt Pak was heading down a positive path, Morrill met with Utah State President Kermit L. Hall and said he wanted to give Pak a scholarship.

"People forgive in this state," he said. "They look forward, not back."

Before this season, Pak met with his teammates and told them the truth, teammates say. He admitted to the crime. He admitted that jail was hard. And he insisted he would be nothing but the model student-athlete.

Pak wouldn't speak Wednesday before practice for today's game against Arizona, but his teammates did.

"I'm sure this means a lot to him," junior forward Nate Harris said. "He still acts like he's 16, catching up on the life he missed. He fits in great. He's unselfish and has been positive all year long."

Morrill said Pak has been the model student-athlete. He's averaging 6.2 points and three assists and had a breakout game against Long Beach State recently, scoring 19 points.

For someone who didn't play organized basketball until he was 25, he has become a solid player. As a freshman at Saddleback College, he made first team All-Orange Empire Conference. As a sophomore, he was conference MVP.

Utah State fans have embraced Pak. The refer to him as Two-Pak, not as a reference to a rapper, but as a commentary of a man getting a second chance.

Aggies fans seem to have forgotten his past.

For the rest of us, it's not that easy.

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:26 pm

I guess I'd rather him be going to school than out on the streets with no prospects, but I can't imagine what the victim feels.

Lots of pros and cons on this one. I'm interested in how the story broke as juvenile records are supposed to be sealed, at least in Montana.

jagur1 · Post by **jagur1** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:09 pm

Whitetrash, I'd like to go on record and say that's very short sighted and narrow minded on your part. I have no problem giving the guy a second chance. Now if he was a repeat offender than you have an argument.

Grizlaw · Post by **Grizlaw** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:18 pm

jagur1 wrote:Whitetrash, I'd like to go on record and say that's very short sighted and narrow minded on your part. I have no problem giving the guy a second chance. Now if he was a repeat offender than you have an argument.

I have mixed feelings, but would like to point out that Whitetrash has not posted on this thread...

jagur1 · Post by **jagur1** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:36 pm

My mistake WhizontheGriz at a glance I thought it was WhitetrashGriz

lifeloyalsigmsu · Post by **lifeloyalsigmsu** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:41 pm

jagur1 wrote:Whitetrash, I'd like to go on record and say that's very short sighted and narrow minded on your part. I have no problem giving the guy a second chance. Now if he was a repeat offender than you have an argument.

Perspective my friend.......what if the victim was known to you or if you know someone who's been through the same ordeal?

From this article, this is one of the times when the criminal seems to have changed himself for the better.

DaCats · Post by **DaCats** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:43 pm

I don't have any mixed feelings about this - it is totally wrong! I will give you three reasons why I feel this way. 1) This was a violent, armed offense he committed. It might be one thing if the crime was unarmed theft or something of the misdemeanor offense. However, violent sexual predators have a high percentage of committing a similar offense. 2) From the sounds of the article, he was given a scholarship for goodness sake! Give him a second chance, but make him a walk-on and earn it like everyone else. What makes this kid better than the one who busts his butt off at school, gets good grades, but comes from a low-income home and can't afford a higher education? 3) I have two daughters and I am alarmed at not only the frequency of sexual attacks against women in our society, but more so of the casualness others approach it with. Let's get it together America and lock these predators away for good!

Grizlaw · Post by **Grizlaw** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:47 pm

Yeah...I can see both sides of this one, actually. On the one hand, I generally do believe in second chances, and if the guy truly has reformed his life, then I'm glad he's getting a chance to become a productive member of society.

On the other hand, I am a little bit inherently skeptical of "reformed" sex offenders -- that's a personal bias that I try to see past, but it's hard sometimes. I hope he truly has reformed, but statistically, sex offenders are fairly likely to repeat their past crimes, so I hope everything possible is being done to keep those around him safe.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:48 pm

I'm torn on this sort of thing as well. But to me, if a guy does 8 years of time, he has paid his debt to society. The victim will never be made whole as a result of his punishment, as that is impossible, but we can't and shouldn't damn a person for their entire life if they turn themselves around and are no longer a threat to society. If playing basketball is the best path for this guy to get an education and make something positive out of his life, I can't fault anyone for giving him the chance.

There is an element of forgiveness that our society has built into it (as we don't cut off hands, etc.), and this appears to be a perfect example of positive things that can happen when that approach is given a chance.

I just hope he never willfully makes another mistake like that again, for so many reasons.

NavyBlue · Post by **NavyBlue** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:00 pm

I would like to chime in on this. As a USU alum it DOES bother me alot that this guy represents MY SCHOOL, I will not lie. But to some extent, people can change I guess so I am torn. I do know that Pak met with his victim and she forgave him, and she is glad he is making something out of himself.

He is married to one of the USU women's basketball players Jessica Freeman.

http://utahstateaggies.collegesports.co ... ica01.html

I am glad he is a senior and as USU fans we will not have to endure the "Pak story" again next year. BTW, that article is a year old.

This is being discussed on the USU board here is the link.
http://mb4.scout.com/futahstatefrm3.sho ... 6638.topic

Go Scats Go · Post by **Go Scats Go** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:31 pm

Whiz

Just wondering if the Kats had given him a "chance" and they were dancing, would you feel the same?

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:31 pm

NavyBlue wrote: I do know that Pak met with his victim and she forgave him, and she is glad he is making something out of himself.

That changes a lot, and is a very godly thing for the victim to be able to do. I have much less of a problem with it if his victim has forgiven him and is OK with it.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:37 pm

Ponycat wrote:
NavyBlue wrote: I do know that Pak met with his victim and she forgave him, and she is glad he is making something out of himself.
That changes a lot, and is a very godly thing for the victim to be able to do. I have much less of a problem with it if his victim has forgiven him and is OK with it.

I was wondering if that had happened, and that does give me a lot more comfort as well.

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:03 pm

Just for the record once a S.O. always a S.O.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:48 pm

Hell's Bells wrote:Just for the record once a S.O. always a S.O.

True. The same is said about alcoholics/drug addicts, and we elected one President. So there is room for turning oneself around in some cases.

whizonthegriz · Post by **whizonthegriz** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:14 pm

Go Scats Go wrote:Whiz

Just wondering if the Kats had given him a "chance" and they were dancing, would you feel the same?

I think I made myself clear that we should not have Frank Brown on the team.

lifeloyalsigmsu · Post by **lifeloyalsigmsu** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:17 pm

Go Scats Go wrote:Whiz

Just wondering if the Kats had given him a "chance" and they were dancing, would you feel the same?

Scats, why don't you cut your BS antics and quit trying to incite trouble? Your act is getting old really fast!

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:26 pm

whizonthegriz wrote:
Go Scats Go wrote:Whiz

Just wondering if the Kats had given him a "chance" and they were dancing, would you feel the same?
I think I made myself clear that we should not have Frank Brown on the team.

I personally hope if he earns it that someone gives Frank Brown a second chance. Whether in basketball or elsewhere.

whizonthegriz · Post by **whizonthegriz** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:22 pm

I hope the guy has turned around his life--he certainly seems like he has made the most of his second chance. I still strongly disagree that he was given this chance. Maybe I have watched too much Law and Order, but I just wouldn't want a rapist representing my university.

There are consequences to a person's actions beyond prison time. Pak will never be able to teach. He will never be able to work for national defense or any type of law enforcement. He should not be allowed to receive a college scholarship to play college basketball.

My wife was raped when she was a kid in Seattle, and she was mortified when she heard about this guy. Even if my wife forgave her attacker (she hasn't), she still has baggage that she will carry around forever. Rapists take away any sense of security the victim will ever have. I think it is a serious character flaw to crawl into someone's 2nd floor bedroom and rape a women at knife point. I am just not impressed.

By the way Scat, consider this. Frank Brown was originally suspended (rightfully so) from the team and school as soon as he was charged with rape-not convicted. This guy gets a college scholarship freshly after being released from serving 8 years in prison after admitting to being a violent rapist?

Go Scats Go · Post by **Go Scats Go** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:35 pm

whizonthegriz wrote:I hope the guy has turned around his life--he certainly seems like he has made the most of his second chance. I still strongly disagree that he was given this chance. Maybe I have watched too much Law and Order, but I just wouldn't want a rapist representing my university.

There are consequences to a person's actions beyond prison time. Pak will never be able to teach. He will never be able to work for national defense or any type of law enforcement. He should not be allowed to receive a college scholarship to play college basketball.

My wife was raped when she was a kid in Seattle, and she was mortified when she heard about this guy. Even if my wife forgave her attacker (she hasn't), she still has baggage that she will carry around forever. Rapists take away any sense of security the victim will ever have. I think it is a serious character flaw to crawl into someone's 2nd floor bedroom and rape a women at knife point. I am just not impressed.

By the way Scat, consider this. Frank Brown was originally suspended (rightfully so) from the team and school as soon as he was charged with rape-not convicted. This guy gets a college scholarship freshly after being released from serving 8 years in prison after admitting to being a violent rapist?

Hey it was just a question... A lot of fans call stuff crap until its one of thier guys and then the attitude changes. I did not know about the Frank Brown.

Sorry to hear about your wife that is something that NOONE should go through.