Sunday, October 05, 2003
The injury at the football game
It was a difficult game at best. Our town is blue collar and our competitor has more money. This gives them the feeling that if things don't work out for them, they file a lawsuit or harass someone. We began the game as the host. Some of their parents and students entered our stands and occupied the area. They became obnoxious and shouted and taunted our students. There were several uniformed police and non in the bleachers and on the track. I felt a bit secure, but not entirely.
The game was even for the first half. then it happened. One of the opposing team members was carrying the ball. One of our team members was tackled and saw the player attempting to jump over him. He was too big to get up to tackle him so he lifted his leg to stop the boy. This is allowed in high school football. The boy tripped as a result of being hit and fell on one of his own player. The force of two of our players landing on him broke his lower leb in two places. He was down for twenty minutes while they put him on a stretcher. Our coach held his hand and our team kneeled in respect the entire time. Our parents were quiet and applauded when he was taken into the ambulance to show respect.
There was no flag on the play. No opposing coach made any comment. Finally, the game resumed and after the half we scored so many times that we were twenty points ahead at the end of the game. That was the rub. They had not lost so badly to anyone in years. They got mad and started a protest about the play. They slipped videotapes to the press, they appealed to the athletic league in which we compete. They put threatening things on the web; anything to get the game cancelled. They could not accept defeat.
The league ruled that it was not for them to contest the officials call, which was not penalty. Then they appealed to the Athletic association for the state. The superintendents got into the letter warfare and we don't know what the outcome it, but our team has been affected by all this hoopla.
What is wrong with parents?
The game was even for the first half. then it happened. One of the opposing team members was carrying the ball. One of our team members was tackled and saw the player attempting to jump over him. He was too big to get up to tackle him so he lifted his leg to stop the boy. This is allowed in high school football. The boy tripped as a result of being hit and fell on one of his own player. The force of two of our players landing on him broke his lower leb in two places. He was down for twenty minutes while they put him on a stretcher. Our coach held his hand and our team kneeled in respect the entire time. Our parents were quiet and applauded when he was taken into the ambulance to show respect.
There was no flag on the play. No opposing coach made any comment. Finally, the game resumed and after the half we scored so many times that we were twenty points ahead at the end of the game. That was the rub. They had not lost so badly to anyone in years. They got mad and started a protest about the play. They slipped videotapes to the press, they appealed to the athletic league in which we compete. They put threatening things on the web; anything to get the game cancelled. They could not accept defeat.
The league ruled that it was not for them to contest the officials call, which was not penalty. Then they appealed to the Athletic association for the state. The superintendents got into the letter warfare and we don't know what the outcome it, but our team has been affected by all this hoopla.
What is wrong with parents?
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