Spartan tight end Eric Knott completed his first collegiate practice Saturday morning, much to the enjoyment of MSU coaches and players.
But not everyone at the university is excited Knott is now an official member of the Spartan family.
Knott pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a misdemeanor, and served 30 days in jail in June for an alleged July 1999 rape of a 13-year-old Detroit girl.
After a two-year courtship, the Detroit Henry Ford High standout received a full-ride scholarship from MSU on Friday.
MSU’s policy dictates any athlete convicted of a felony will be dismissed from the team, but because of the plea-bargain, Knott was able to stay eligible to play football for the Spartans.
Head coach Bobby Williams said the decision was not his to make, but that of the university as a whole.
“This is a university decision, basically,” Williams said after the first freshman practice of the season Saturday. “Everybody was involved - there was no one, single person making one decision. This was done as a whole, entire university.
“Being in this position, you have to be able to make decisions. And this was a decision that we thought was the right decision to make, because of background information and the history and the relationships that we’ve had with this young man.”
Knott was unavailable for interviews Saturday.
Williams continued to recruit the tight end throughout the lengthy court proceedings and said it’s important for him to get back on the playing field and compete again.
“He’s very excited about being out here and having this opportunity. It’s a great opportunity,” Williams said. “You can just tell by his work ethic out there and his attentiveness that he’s ready to go.”
He said he’s looking for a player to step up as senior tight end Chris Baker’s backup, and Knott has a shot at the job. Williams said he was also surprised to see him in such great condition, even though he hopes Knott, who came to camp at 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, will drop another 20 pounds or so.
Like Williams, Knott’s fellow incoming freshmen are excited to have him on the field with them.
“He’s a great player, I mean he was coming out of high school as an All-American,” freshman offensive tackle Gordon Niebylski said. “Anytime you get someone like that coming onto the team, that’s great. He’s big, strong and muscular and he’s just coming out here to kill people. He has something to prove and we all do.”
Knott does have a lot to prove - on and off the field - and many people are questioning if MSU should have invited him on the team at all.
Steve McCornack, an associate communication professor and coordinator of the undergraduate program for the Department of Communication, is one of those who’s astonished the university granted Knott a full-ride scholarship.
“I was shocked and dismayed by the decision on the administration’s part. It’s really shameful,” he said.
He said the administration was ambiguous in handling the matter and did so too quietly and without any consultation.
McCornack is also the co-adviser, along with his wife, Kelly Morrison, of MSU NOW, which is the local chapter for the National Organization of Women. He said the organization plans to use the Knott situation to spread awareness about issues affecting women.
He said while there’s no concrete plan for handling the Knott situation yet, something will be done in the next few weeks.
“I have no problem with him turning the other cheek and starting life anew as a student,” McCornack said. “But what I do have a problem with is the administration giving him a full-ride scholarship.
“This is saying publicly that this is the role model for the athlete we want here.”
Ryan Wallace can be reached at wallac89@msu.edu.
