Pelini: Player convicted of rape earned second shot

CLEVELAND » Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini says the school made a mistake by not publicizing right away that one of the teens convicted in the highprofile Steubenville rape case was joining the team, but the player earned a second chance three years after getting out of prison by staying disciplined, focused and out of trouble.

“I understand that the opportunity to be a part of the team raises questions,” Pelini said the same week the university settled a lawsuit brought by Ma’lik Richmond to allow him to stay on the team after the school planned to make him sit this season and lose a year of eligibility.

Richmond was 16 in 2013 when he and a Steubenville High School teammate were convicted of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old during a party. He served 10 months in juvenile prison in a case that drew international attention through social media, including allegations of a cover-up to protect a storied local team.

Youngstown State sidelined Richmond in August after getting backlash about him playing football again three years after his release, including a Change.org petition from a student that challenged Pelini and the school president, saying: “Are you more concerned with your football team’s status than the disgusting rape of a young girl?”

Richmond sued, and federal and appellate courts ruled last month that he could temporarily stay on team while the lawsuit played out. That prompted the settlement and the university agreed to allow Richmond to remain on the active roster while the school reviews its policies on athletics and other high-profile school activities.

“I didn’t make this decision lightly,” Pelini said. “He was extremely remorseful. I saw a young man who was desperately wanting to better his life and those of the people around him.”