Trice received valuable help on path to UNT success

[Harry]

Marcus Trice started under the overhang in the end zone and jogged slowly onto the green turf at Apogee Stadium, just like the rest of his senior teammates.

Most met their mothers and fathers on senior day at North Texas, while others were welcomed by girlfriends or grandparents

Trice ran into the arms of what looked like a family reunion before the Mean Greens home finale against Texas-San Antonio on Nov. 23. Ann and Pierre Givens, his aunt and uncle, were there, as were Ed and Tina Taylor, family friends who served as his legal guardians since 2008, and their son Darius Taylor, a friend who is more like a brother.

Trice often has wondered how his life might have turned out had it not been for each member of the group that helped guide him from St. Louis to Mesquite, through a two-year stint playing for Oklahoma and finally to UNT.

Trice grew up in the rough sections of the north side of St. Louis and the suburb of Pagedale. Three cousins and a close friend were shot and killed and another died of a drug overdose in those neighborhoods over the last six years.

Trices mother, Charissie Evans, thought he was on his way to a similar fate and convinced him to start over in Mesquite a new town with new people to guide him.

That decision changed Trices life.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20131228-football-life-changing-support.ece?ssimg=1361524#ssStory1361520