Players attacking opposing high school coach? What is happening with youth sports?
UPDATE: The AJC has reported more details on this story today, including that the Warren coach was injured when he intervened in a post-game fight between players at the Hancock stadium. Please read the updated story, in which the Warren superintendent contends that more than 30 Hancock players attacked Warren players, and the Warren coach tried to intervene and was “smashed in the face with a helmet.” Warren school chief Jean Carey wants the GBI to investigate but the Hancock sheriff has declined to bring in the GBI. The GBI says it can’t open a probe at the request of a school superintendent.
This is the second story in a week that makes me wonder what is happening to youth sports. The AJC is reporting that Warren County head coach David Daniels was attacked after Friday night’s game against Hancock Central High School. Warren County won the game 21-2. Daniels was allegedly attacked by players from the Hancock team.
The Warren County superintendent has asked the GBI to file criminal charges in the attack, which was so severe that Daniels is in the hospital with head injuries and has undergone major reconstructive surgery to his face to deal with crushed bones above and below his eye.
I would hope that Hancock Central High is taking a strong stand and doing its own review of what happened and whether its players assaulted Daniels. If so, their football careers at the school should be over.
Last week, police in Carroll County said parents tried to fight 11- and 12-year-old football players. Parents reportedly rushed the field after a call that they didn’t like. The parents yelled obscenities at the children, and one held a child down and tried to remove his helmet so another kid could slug him, according to police. Police issued citations to three coaches for disorderly conduct and obscene language.
These stories are so depressing that I am not sure what to say. If we wonder where kids learn violence, we don’t have to look to TV or movies. In many cases, they are learning it from their parents.
–from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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154 comments Add your comment
Rocky
October 17th, 2011
5:57 pm
Maureen…It’s not just the parents, nor is it just the public schools and youth parks. For some reason we have turned a blind eye to poor behavior and attributed it to being part of a sports team. Quite honestly an example of some of the worst sportsmanship I have ever witnessed has been from the football coaches for a private school located on Ashford Dunwoody Rd. Their behavior and the language they use towards those students is atrocious, but it continues season after season. Why? They win. Heads of schools and athletic directors all over the place will pretend nothing is happening just so
Rocky
October 17th, 2011
6:01 pm
just to bring home the coveted trophy and pretend to be shocked when the very same behavior spills over into the actions of the students and becomes subject to public scrutiny. Nothing new here, but we shouldn’t just focus on parks and public schools.
Vance
October 17th, 2011
6:02 pm
Kids sports are going the way of the family….the more dads that are missing the more broken these kids are and will remain. When kids feel abandoned,,,,endorphins in the brain mask feelings of remorse…..what do judges look for in the courtroom….feelings of remorse by the person who was wrong……keep an eye on this….gangs don’t have remorse,,,,etc…
doh
October 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
Like everything else, Its all Obama’s fault.
Dr. Educ
October 17th, 2011
6:07 pm
Check Youtube for a fight that ocurred during the Gilmer/Pickens game in the final seconds. Believe its found by inserting Pickens vs Gilmer Fight. There will be GHSA suspensions forthcoming from this event.
I quit coaching
October 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
I quit coaching high school football, recently, due this out of touch attitude among, parents and other coaches. I was sickened by the lack of understanding which parents and coaches had about why it is a good thing for kids to be on teams.
The high school which attacked the opposing coach should cancel the rest of the season and start with a freshman schedule next year.
sue-belly
October 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
Make them all listen to “the coward of the county” by Kenny Rodgers-you don’t have to fight to be a man.
Hmmmmmmm
October 17th, 2011
6:13 pm
It’s really very sad…. We have our flagship university that is condoning violence on the football field…. After making a fool of himself and losing his cool with another coach, what does the administration do about this coach……. Nothing! He should be fired, but someone will certainly rationalize this as being a competitive sport and not hold any of the coaches accountable… It’s NO surprise that this happens with the leaders we have in place…..
Jim Tavegia
October 17th, 2011
6:14 pm
Since when does the GBI need permission to go on Public Property and conduct an investigation? An attack is an attack. If local law enforcement is not doing the job, then the GBI needs to investigate the crime and local law enforcement. Parents and students are all getting out of control. We have lost our civility. It is why we spend 10% of our state budget locking people up. That is a crime unto itself.
Hmmmmmmm
October 17th, 2011
6:19 pm
Embarrassing for the state of Georgia….. What else can you say….
Youth Football Coack
October 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
These types of things happen ALL the time and as far back as I can remember! Now, we just here it more due to the media.
There are always bad apples. You have to rise above it and do what is right.
IMHO, you find the kid that smacked the coaches face with his helmet. That’s the incident everyone is so pissed at! That kid should be thrown off the team. He should also face criminal charges. And if I were that coach, I would sue that family for all medical expenses as well as pain and suffering! Stupid kid, stupid parents.
catlady
October 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
It’s the teachers’ fault.
Lynn
October 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
It would be nice if someone investigated the South Cobb Baseball coach’s attack of a Campbell player last year. He had to be restrained as he chased the player across the field and then led his team in a provoking chant directed toward the Campbell team. While the county knows what happened and the Campbell player was kicked off the team for using a curse word at the South Cobb coach, there have been no ramifications against the South Cobb coach by Cobb County or GHSA.
tim
October 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
It’s not youth sports…..
It’s the demographics of the youths….
And the absentee parents…..
Sam
October 17th, 2011
6:37 pm
I have no issue with holding the students, the coaches or even the parents accountable for the attack but suggesting that we teach empathy as a solution to these kinds of attacks is so silly that it both invites and deserves ricidule.
Jordan Kohanim
October 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
Sam,
Why do you say that?
philosopher
October 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
To suggest that a paddle is the solution to what happened here is to close one’s eyes to the truth and avoid facing the reality of what Americans in general, parents in specific, and yes, schools, have created with the big business of sports. These kids begin as tots, smashing into their fellow tots over a football. The crap starts at age 3 in some places and by the time the kids are in elementary school they are brutes with some pretty screwed up priorites. The frenzy is fed by adults at all stages of the kids’ lives. from home where the parent makes the decision to let a little kid play such a violent game, to the schools who teach it, feed it and treat the players like they are something special-so special, in fact, that education and grades take a far back seat to games- these kids bring in revenue for the schools! And it continues into adulthood where we all know about the money hooked to it and the adults who drink over it, brawl over it , and worship it like there’s no tomorrow. We have taught these kids to be brutes and that they are special- so special they can be criminals and continue to make millions no matter what they do. Paddling kids is no less barbaric than football- We taught them that crap-now we and they need to take responsibility…and STOP the insanity!!
hatetotellyou
October 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
Former Spark, I hate to break it to you, but the sheriff most certainly isn’t a good ol’ boy. I’ll let that go there. As for the rest of the comments, for anyone trying to bring logic into the debate: it’s Sparta. If you were from there, you’d get it. This is not surprising in the least. The only thing you may be right about (and it should be the case) is that it’s too big and some kind of attention at the state level will be paid to this. That’s the ONLY way anything will be done.
Devil's Advocate
October 17th, 2011
7:34 pm
Hmmmmmmm is a perfect example of the mentality that selectively decides to place blame and punish the easiest target. Notice that he didn’t mention the Vanderbilt head coach’s role in instigating the whole thing by going after a player. Much easier to point the finger at the guy who gave a choke sign last season.
nurse ballbreaker
October 17th, 2011
7:36 pm
give me 2 minutes with these punks and they will never reproduce.
nurse ballbreaker
October 17th, 2011
7:38 pm
devil’s advocate,
how old are you? your excuse is pathetic.
hatetotellyou
October 17th, 2011
7:42 pm
I bet this kind of $h!+ happens at prep schools all the time XD
long time educator
October 17th, 2011
7:57 pm
Maureen, this story reminded me of one in the paper recently that I could hardly believe. Both coaches of a PeeWee football game were arrested for fighting. Here is the linkhttp://www.calhountimes.com/view/full_story/15914433/article-Pee-wee-football-coaches-arrested-for-fighting-during-game-in-Fort-Oglethorpe-?instance=home_news_1st_left
Devil's Advocate
October 17th, 2011
8:08 pm
nurse ballbreaker,
I’m old enough to know that selectively choosing who to blame has led to a nation of finger pointers and no responsibility. It’s basic human nature that says bad people will do more wrong the more they think they can get away with it.
Explain why a head coach at the presigious Vanderbilt University should be given a pass for going after a player but the Defensive Coordinator at the University of Georgia should be made out as a thug for taking his defense too far. Sure, Gratham was over the top but he sure wasn’t the sole person acting the fool nor was he the instigator. Blame them all if you’re going to blame anyone.
Devil's Advocate
October 17th, 2011
8:14 pm
Prestigious even…darn missed keystrokes!
The truth
October 17th, 2011
8:15 pm
Its a symptom of the gutter culture and the ever looser moral standards of the country. You can thank the liberals for that. And for all the lewdness, lasciviousness, sexual promiscuity, porn everywhere you look, near naked men in leather at gay pride parades, and all the other smut that liberals love to endorse for our declining morals.
Devil's Advocate
October 17th, 2011
8:19 pm
LOL, The truth is a selective blamer too I see. I know some pretty diehard conservatives who are down for a fight over any team sport. Ever been to a major college football game or NASCAR race? Ever been a country bar any night of the week? Doesn’t even require sports to come to blows. This isn’t a political thing, race thing, sex thing, specific team thing…it’s human nature.
Figures...
October 17th, 2011
8:22 pm
What I have been told: The locker room was locked when the Warren County Team arrived after the game. They were subsequently attacked by the Hancock Team and Fans. The Head Coach stepped in to cool it off and got smashed in the face with a helmet.
Furthermore… (Coach Grantham vs these clowns) There is a huge difference between having a heated argument over a situation vs. physically attacking someone. That is the difference between being civilized and an animal.
I will just be glad when the Fall Line Freeway is finished so that I won’t even have to drive thru that village anymore.
Rabunite
October 17th, 2011
8:23 pm
we have none that garbage up here in Rabun County. Wonder why? … never mind, I can’t say it.
Former SPARK parent
October 17th, 2011
8:23 pm
I want this coach to hire a lawyer and sue the
ess
aitch
eye
tee
out of the school district that locked the locker room and failed to exercise due care to prevent this incident.
Coach, I hope the liable district has to double its property tax millage rate to pay for your eventual jury award. Maybe that’ll drum some sense into those straight-outta-Deliverance rubes.
dj
October 17th, 2011
8:51 pm
The problem is that most jocks are idiots and their parents know that sports are their only way to a modicum of success. When they lose the parents see the hopes and dreams go down the drain when that hot shot recruiter looks elsewhere because little Johnny has nothing else once those Friday night lights turn off. Truly educate your kids and this problem goes away.
philosopher
October 17th, 2011
8:52 pm
@The truth: So….hmmmm….it’s the fault of the liberals, right? Well, for sure it couldn’t POSSIBLY be the responsibility of the righteous right, now could it?? We’re absolutely positive that not a one of THEIR kids is capable of fighting or doing anything at all wrong…they were, after all, all brought up “right”, right?? Well, I guess that means we have millions and millions more liberals in this country since the majority of kids are spoiled brats…so by that token, we can plan on Obama for another 4 years…wow- look where your logic leads-IMPRESSIVE.
gamom
October 17th, 2011
9:37 pm
It’s oK to win and it’s ok to lose. If kids cannot learn how to lose with dignity, ethics and morals, what is the point of playing a school sport? It’s both the parents and the coaches that teach these kids to win at any cost, ethics and morals, integrity be damned. This happens way more than is reported I tell ya. I have heard with my own ears and my own eyes how some of these coaches can get away with saying the ABSOLUTELY stupidest things to impressionable youth.
John
October 17th, 2011
9:41 pm
Unless and until Hancock County calls in the GBI to investigate, the GHSA should ban Hancock Central from participating in all sports and activities. The players involved should be expelled from all Georgia schools for life and should spend every day of the maximum sentence in prison.
gamom
October 17th, 2011
9:42 pm
And I also blame school administrations and athletic directors who only care about bringing the ALMIGHTY dollar into their schools through these sports. Do you know how much they expect parents to pay to play…as in dues for these sports??? You have paretns spending nearly $1,000 in some cases and that is why they get serious about the game too. If the parents are required to spend this kind of money to offset costs of fees, uniforms, officials and dues as well, the parents are going to expect their kid to play. This however never excuses assault and battery. My kids have been expected to participate in all fund raising activities before they even make the team, which…the monies all go to the school. If you don’t make the team even your fundraising activity and any monies you raise, goes to the school.
Woody
October 17th, 2011
9:54 pm
Folks, you’re getting a little hysterical. All sorts of things could have happened in that game, or long before that game that we know not of; words could have been said, unsportsmanlike acts could have occurred, provocations taken place, that at the moment we do not have knowledge of. 5 or 6 people could go crazy without a reason; but 30 people, a whole team, I don’t think so. 8 or 10 of them may come from bad families; the other 20 probably not; a few get their blood up and want to cause trouble – but all of them? There is a quelling effect of greater numbers; the more people involved, the more inertia (i.e. need a really great motivating force to get 30 people to agree to do something together); so, put two and two together and begin to wonder, yourselves, what the heck happened and why? I bet our good man the sheriff of Hancock County is going to find out all on his own, and tell us. Hope the AJC reports it.
Sandy Springs Parent
October 17th, 2011
10:20 pm
Just like the Thug Athletic Director at Riverwood, The Abuse allegations were only dropped by Fulton County, because they got him to resign on the Financial improprieties. The abuse allegations are still going forward regarding the verbal, and mental abuse of the two Cheerleading coaches at Riverwood. They have been replaced, since they are suspended from coaching, but Fulton County is proceeding with the abuse investigation full speed. It is not acceptable, to yell, scream, pull spots, cause over use injuries, ignore and contridict the advise of medical professionals, because you are the coach. Only in George is a SPED teacher the ticket to coaching.
Speaking of Campbell, they had a Competition Cheerleading coach this year that was great, the girls loved her. Not abusive, then someone googled her. She happened to be in the Adult Entertainment Business. Aka Porn Star. Rather have that than the 4′x4′ Abuser yelling and screaming at the kids, because she’s mad at her life for gaining all the weight and getting out of shape in 2 years since graduating from High School.
Their is definitely a lack of vetting for coaches in Sports in Georgia.
The Truth
October 17th, 2011
11:07 pm
Sue Hancock County?? You have to be kidding…..it’s a dirt poor county and no way they could pay off a verdict. Dept of Audits issued one scathing report on those bunch of imbeciles a few years back.
Mark Klimek
October 17th, 2011
11:32 pm
Hancock Central High School FB teams should be banned from post season play for five years. Assault charges should be filed against these players. Suspend all involved players, expell those that engaged in violent behavior.This behavior is unacceptable.
sloboffthestreet
October 18th, 2011
4:11 am
The two most basic human traits we all possess are SEX and VIOLENCE. Everything “Nice” about our society we have been taught. When adults assemble groups of young men to engage in violence we only have to look at the source to understand the outcome.
Francis
October 18th, 2011
6:30 am
Reap what you sow.
davecisar
October 18th, 2011
7:51 am
My guess is this is not a one time incident. Unfortunately we have become far too tolerant of others bad behaivor. Once we allow the litle things, the goofs get more bold. It starts with the coaches, they have to control their actions, the players AND the crowd. Ive coached in the inner city and in the sticks, it’s all about the expectations you set, how you lead and the standards you hold everyone accountable to. This is TERRIBLE for our sport. As coaches, parents and fans, if you love the game, be INTOLERANT of bad behaivor. Say something, get involved. http://winningyouthfootball.com
November 6, 2012
October 18th, 2011
10:15 am
It just mirrors what is happening in the classroom……probably caused by the same thugs that causes problems in class. I’ve been following high school football for sixty years and I’ve never seen anything like this. One of the problems we have in Georgia is a very weak and timid GHSA. They are afraid to do anything that would upset their little kingdom……they need to step into this mess and suspend all the players involved…..don’t wait on the schools…….the coaches involved should be fired immediately and the football programs at both schools should be terminated for at least two years. But, we know this ain’t gonna happen……why?, why it would injure those precious little babies and ruin their chances at stardom.
William Casey
October 18th, 2011
11:44 am
Sad as this incident is, the updated details at least allows me to understand how it happened. Disgusting.
Retrofit
October 18th, 2011
12:12 pm
I cannot believe some of what I’m reading here. When is it okay to justify not knowing the difference between right and wrong? Parents, even single parent family parents, need to teach that difference to their children as soon as that child is old enough to understand. Others in every community such as clergy, teachers, coaches, public employees, news media, store owners, and just everyone needs to be teaching the difference between right and wrong. The community that Hancock Central represents needs to take a very deep collective breath and then they need to start to find a way to teach the difference between right and wrong to ALL of their offspring. Don’t leave it up to the Sheriff. Don’t leave it up to the School Board. Don’t leave it up to the parents. Every adult in the Hancock community needs to step up to the plate NOW and lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way but do something to resolve this attitude that violence is the correct outlet for frustration and anger.
Hey Coach Tony on ESPN Radio
October 18th, 2011
12:45 pm
All I can say is thank God for horrific stories like this. If we all behaved like rational human beings, idiots like me wouldn’t have a job. We might discuss this on Saturday’s show. Check it out if you like and let me know what you think. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hey-Coach-Tony-on-ESPN-Radio/137140103045901
Best
Coach Tony
Tom
October 18th, 2011
3:14 pm
OK , I know this is not PC but this has everything to do with demographics. You have only to look at several years of DOJ crime stats nationwide, school test scores by race, out of wedlock child birth rates and graduation rates to see the trend here but of course everyone is too afraid to talk about the elephant in the room.
Tom
October 18th, 2011
3:51 pm
The Shameless pitch by coach Tony to use this to promote his show is also appauling. He is quite right in calling himself an idiot. My question is who tunes in to listen to a self admitted idiot?
Archie@Arkham Asylum
October 18th, 2011
5:08 pm
@The Truth: I am afraid I would be inclined to agree with you! A lawsuit against Hancock County would kind of be like trying to get blood out of a turnip!
Pardon My Blog
October 18th, 2011
7:10 pm
I would make all players responsible ineligible to play the rest of this season and next season. If they transfer they would still be ineligible.