Over the last 48 hours, we've gotten about 300 emails regarding the Musa Smith story in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine. The responses have been very interesting. We've had about 75% supporting the story, 15% condemning it and another 10% that is not quite sure how to feel about it. Below are some of the responses.

I thought you guys did a tremendous job with what could be a touchy subject. Most of all, you were fair to Musa, and as an alumnus from UGA, I appreciate it.
Jason Sutton

I wasn't aware that there were any writers left that would consider the repercussions a story might have on a man's life and choose not to print it until it was better timed. I applaud your priorities and integrity.
Buddy Horne

It's unbelievable to me that you allowed the Musa Smith story to run the week of the one-year anniversary of Sept. 11. Especially since your reporters had known the facts for well over a year. The nice little PR piece that appeared on the website about "how this was never about Sept. 11" is total BS. You know it, I know it, and anyone reading with half a brain knows it. It's all about Sept. 11. Why else would you release the story this week? What, you forgot the anniversary? The reporter owes Musa Smith an apology. Not for the facts of the story, but for the incredibly bad judgment to run it when he did. Actually, the whole staff that made this decision owes him an apology. To run this story when you did shows a lack of fairness that I thought ESPN believed in.
Jon Brock

I must admit that I wondered why ESPN would put its ratings and magazine sales ahead of a young man's pursuit in football. However, as I read your article, I realized that ESPN put a lot more thought into any possible reaction against Musa before airing the stories. Understand you're getting this from a Gamecock fan that hopes Musa will have negative yardage here in Columbia in two weeks. However, after reading your articles, I'll certainly pull for Musa in other games.
Sterling Anderson

Read both stories. Thought they were well done. You're right, the son has nothing to do with his father's past. I lettered in football in '95 at UGA and now I am stationed at Parris Island. I am sure I crossed paths with his brother on more than one occasion -- being the nature of the work his brother does, it is inevitable. I don't know if you know, but there are message boards that are taking cheap shots at Musa because of this article. For the uneducated I guess that is their only recourse.
Joseph Teasley

As a loyal UGA fan and alum, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and that of the UGA family for sitting on the story as long as you did. I know, as you obviously did, that the deep south is less than famous for its tolerance of differences, especially racial and religious ones. When you combine that with the events surrounding Sept. 11th it became obvious that you could have broken a story that would have been as captivating to your audience as it was potentially dangerous to what seems to be a wonderful and talented young man. In other words, thank you for practicing responsible journalism. You portrayed the situation in such a way that only an idiot would blame the son for the sins of the father.
Matt Waldrup

I just wanted to thank you for the very interesting, very fair article about Musa Smith. I'm sure a lesser journalist could have turned Musa's story into an anti-Muslim crusade. I appreciate your honesty and ability to show both sides of the story. And perhaps most importantly, you've stressed that Musa Smith has nothing to do with anything negative that took place on his father's farm in 1993.
Bill Rosich, Woodstock, Ga.

I don't think that you could have chosen a worse time to print a story of this nature. You say that you are not interested in doing anything to hurt this kid, but why would you wait until he returns to the spotlight before printing the story? Why not release it while he was out of the spotlight, nursing the injury? You say that you did not release it last year because you felt that America was too sensitive. What is the logic that would lead you to believe that American people would be any better suited to deal with something of such a sensitive nature as we approach the anniversary of that terrible day in history? I think that you have done an injustice to young Mr. Smith. Stolen his thunder and perhaps his chance of recognizing any dreams. You asked the young man if he had told any of his teammates about his father and he said "No!" He did not want them to know. He was trying to get away from his father's shadow. It is people like you that won't let him.
Midquel D. McClendon, Atlanta, Ga.

I thought both articles were fair and balanced. Thanks for waiting a year to run it. You probably saved Musa an enormous amount of mental and potentially physical pain.
Jasen

Please find some type of sports article to write about next time. I am not saying Kelvin Smith was right or wrong, but what does this have to do with Musa. If you were to look into the family life of most athletes you would find numerous altercations with the law. Does that need to reflect back on these kids trying to make a good name for themselves?
David Potts

I am a University of Georgia alum and a huge fan of Musa Smith. Reading your article sent me through a worldwind of emotions: Intrigue in reading an article about one of my university's biggest stars, shock in learning about Musa's deep family secret, anger toward you and your co-writers for putting your nose in other people's business and putting Musa at serious risk of physical danger and emotional disaster, and understanding that you were telling a story that would have eventually become public and the realization that you and your editors had put real thought into the implications of releasing this article. I am still not sure I agree with your choice to release this article right at the beginning of the football season. You will not be in Columbia, S.C. on Sept. 14 when the wounds of a nation will still be open and Musa is sure to hear serious threats and see signs with horrible comments about Musa's family. On the other hand, you may very well have done Musa a great favor. His story has been told by a neutral party.
Jason Karlin

This was a great story, and I think you handled it exceptionally well. I'm a Georgia Tech fan, and I know that I would never bring up something as personal as this during a game to try and throw off an opponent. Hopefully, other fans will also consider it in poor taste to condemn the son for the father's actions.
Scott King, Atlanta, Ga.

Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com.