Football teams shaking hands under police watch. Are school sports programs broken?
Update from AJC.com: The sheriff of Hancock County has requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation look into the beating of a visiting high school football coach.
I have to wonder about high school sports when Georgia school systems feel compelled to add security to the post-game handshake to prevent mayhem. That is what Richmond County decided in the wake of the Warren-Hancock game that ended with the Warren coach in the hospital for facial surgery after being struck in the face with a helmet. The attack, allegedly by Hancock players angry after their loss, is still under investigation.
If violence is such a concern, should we reconsider competitive sports programs in schools and leave them to community centers and rec departments? There’s a lot of flaming the fires of longtime football rivalries in some Georgia communities. Hancock and Warren were longtime rivals.
Starting with tonight’s junior varsity football games and continuing with Friday’s varsity action, two public safety officers will be on the field during the traditional handshake at all contests in Richmond County. Then, each officer will follow each team to its respective locker room.
These two procedures were added to a four-pronged policy which already included the following: players must leave their helmets on during the handshake, coaches must position themselves at the front and end of the lines, cheerleaders are not allowed in the handshake line and the stadium custodians must ensure all locker rooms are open.
“When things like this happen, you look at your policy and see what you can do to prevent something like this from happening,” Richmond County athletics director George Bailey said. “You realize there’s always a possibility.”
That possibility occurred when Warren County head football coach David Daniel was struck in the head with a helmet by a Hancock Central player following his team’s 21-2 win in Sparta, Ga. Still healing at home — and watching game film — Daniel issued a statement about Friday night’s attack.
“To the Warren County family, the support and concern for me and my family has been overwhelming. It is my hope that you will continue to help our football team to focus on being competitive with our upcoming football game. Additionally, with everyone’s support, our team will continue their hard work ethic along with exhibiting good sportsmanship. Go Warren County, and let’s have a great homecoming.”
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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72 comments Add your comment
Aquagirl
October 20th, 2011
12:21 pm
How about we expel/jail the creep(s) responsible?
Nah, let’s institute a whole mess of procedures and policies, graduating kids who can’t even shake hands without police supervision isn’t a problem.
Teacher Reader
October 20th, 2011
12:24 pm
Maureen, our schools are broken, so everything about them and that is under them is also broken.
HS Public Teacher
October 20th, 2011
12:37 pm
I STRONGLY disagree with any mention that these institutions are “broken.”
What is broken (or more like missing) is the parental upbringing of these kids! Our society has moved to much towards treating children like adults. They are not. They need boundaries, restrictions, guidance, etc. And, when they make wrong decisions they need swift and appropriate repercussions. Most parents today do none of those things and the result is a generation that has no manners, values, empathy, respect for authority, etc.
What happened with those kids is just a symptom of the problem in the above paragraph.
No, schools are not “broken” and sports are not “broken.”
HS Public Teacher
October 20th, 2011
12:39 pm
too, and not to
And no, I do not teach English. LOL!
Random Thought
October 20th, 2011
12:41 pm
IMO, for rival games security should have already been present. Emotions are high during rival games and anything can happen.
SouthernGal
October 20th, 2011
12:45 pm
If found guilty…the Hancock Team should be benched for the remainder of the year.
I agree that it is not schools or sports that are broken..parenting is broken~!
Al Davis (from the grave)
October 20th, 2011
1:08 pm
I know I said “Just Win Baby” but seriously, I’m not sure I’d even let some of those thugs on the Raiders, even if they could run a 4.4 forty.
Now if they can consistently run a legitimate 4.2…
Dutch
October 20th, 2011
1:15 pm
I knew they were broken when a high school coach told a boy I know he needed to “get bigger”. Everybody in sports knows what that means and the meaning is the same whether you’re talking about high school, college or professional athletics. And once your teams are limited to cheaters, the whole system crumbles (not to mention the specific problems with roid rage).
And if you think it isn’t happening in your local school, you’re hopelessly naive.
carlosgvv
October 20th, 2011
1:17 pm
Most USA high school football teams are filled with young men who are just naturally prone to violence. Marry that with totally dysfunctional home lives and this will be the natural outcome.
Shar
October 20th, 2011
1:19 pm
More public school money should not be spent on public safety at the games. The idea is ridiculous.
Instead, the students who broke the law by assaulting the opposing coach should have their names up on the school’s announcement board and be spoken over the public address system every day, identified as the people directly responsible for the cancellation of the remainder of the school’s football season. The football money should be returned to the general budget of the school, and the coach and school should both be on probation with any further incidents putting a five year ban on their participation in high school sports.
I sincerely hope that the Warren coach presses criminal and civil charges against the parents and their brutish children.
APS GRAD & Parent
October 20th, 2011
1:24 pm
Maureen, as I read this I think about what would have happened if this occurred in the late 70’s or 80’s. My mom would have beaten my brothers on the field along with most of the team. But, I was raised by parents who made sure we knew the rules/law. Today’s parents are raising their kids as if they should never be disciplined or have structure. Hence, part of the reason it is so hard for the teacher to teach and all the new standards have to come in place. Discipline has been removed from every aspect of society and now, society is reaping what it has sown. Poorly educated, morally inept, undisciplined kids. And, we think the politicians we have in office now are bad – OMG wait 20 years when some of these take over.
Beverly Fraud
October 20th, 2011
1:25 pm
Just a thought to consider. If you have to force teams, with the specter of law enforcement officials, weapons at the ready, to shake hands in a sign of “sportsmanship,” is it really sportsmanship?
Lee
October 20th, 2011
1:31 pm
Gee, I remember back in my day, after the handshake, both teams kneeling at mid-field in prayer.
Maureen Downey
October 20th, 2011
1:33 pm
@Lee, Some schools are still doing so.
http://www.wlbt.com/story/15661660/lords-prayer-recited-at-fridays-football-game
John from Little Five Points
October 20th, 2011
1:37 pm
We are becoming a nation of thugs: parents, students, coaches, all of us. Youth sports (even your rec leagues) are no better. Watch the news on any given morning (especially WSB-TV) and see report after report about murders, robberies, home invasions, gang violence, hate crimes, etc., etc. Politicians scream at each other, parents sue police for doing their job, prosecutors are criticized for being “over zealous,” no one will take responsibility and our wonder “free” media fans the flames. The next time I hear some mother talking on TV about what a “good boy” her murderous son really is, I may well scream myself. Our’s is a truly sick nation.
Inman Park Boy
October 20th, 2011
1:38 pm
Hey Lee, soon that will be ruled unconstitutional. Count on it.
nurse ballbreaker
October 20th, 2011
1:55 pm
big whoop. let me know when the band’s get it on. then we have a problem.
teacher&mom
October 20th, 2011
2:05 pm
Please remember the VAST majority of football players will step out on the field tomorrow evening and will behave appropriately.
Maureen Downey
October 20th, 2011
2:06 pm
@Nurse: This blogger feels the same way:
http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/wild-evening-of-hs-football-violence-includes-near-fight-between-marching-bands/
nurse ballbreaker
October 20th, 2011
2:09 pm
Maureen,
I’d avoid the 3rd chair symbol player I’ve heard she’s a mean sob.
willydoit?
October 20th, 2011
2:12 pm
“If found guilty…the Hancock Team should be benched for the remainder of the year.”
If found guilty, they should be brought up on assault charges and spend some time in the Warren County jail!!
You know, a lot of cops are ex football players in the county they went to high school in!!!
tony
October 20th, 2011
2:19 pm
if you want to have children that behave its real simple…. make the parents responslble for their kids until they turn 18. if the kids get in trouble , destroy property , fighting , or any other violations under the law make the parents pay fines or put the parents in jail.
Aquagirl
October 20th, 2011
2:41 pm
@Lee, Some schools are still doing so.
From the linked story:
“I see nothing wrong with that,” said Pig Terrell who supports school prayer.”
Priceless.
Dr NO / Mr Sunshine
October 20th, 2011
2:56 pm
Lettuce just hope and pray none of them have Freddy Krueger fingers.
Ashley
October 20th, 2011
3:29 pm
An opposing player assaulting a football coach…… the punishment should be severe and swift, he should be kicked off the team and arrested….and I don’t mean charged as a juvenile, but an adult, the public has had enough of this slap on the wrist mentality. If the parents refuse to set boundaries and disciplinary actions , let the judicial system handle it. Like the Little Five Points posted , I personally am sick of parents getting in the front of the camera hollering he was a “good boy”, especially when they have a juvenile record a mile long.
Archie@Arkham Asylum
October 20th, 2011
3:45 pm
I agree that what happened at the Hancock-Warren game was really rank but that was only one of many high school games going on last weekend and as far as I know, no other game had anything that outrageous happen. Granted, feelings do run high at football games especially in South Georgia where teams live and die by the run (Georgia Southern included). I would say let’s stay focused on “the scene of the crime” in the here and now and deal with that instead of worrying about other schools in this state and whether or not the same thing will happen. (Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke!)
Richard
October 20th, 2011
3:53 pm
That’s right. Let’s blame the school for the bad behavior of the student. While we’re at it, we can recognize Bill Gates’ high school for making him rich.
Sk8ing Momma
October 20th, 2011
4:04 pm
@ HS Public Teacher – Agreed 100%
IMO, the students in Warren and Hancock counties demonstrated by their reprehensible acts that they are not worthy of the privilege to play extracurricular sports. Hence, the remainder of their seasons should be immediately terminated…Period. To do otherwise would condone and minimize the magnitude of their behavior. Students need to be held accountable and punished.
Mid Ga Retiree
October 20th, 2011
4:32 pm
Teacher&Mom is correct. The vast majority of high school athletes will compete hard and behave properly. The executive director of the GHSA was quoted as saying the new standards aren’t necessarily needed, but that those in place need to be enforced. (I’m paraphrasing.) At any rate, the focus needs to be on the criminal acts that were committed against the Warren High School team and coach and the apprehension, prosecution and punishment of the offenders. I think high school sports are an integral part of the growing up experience and it is up to those in responsible positions, to include parents, teachers, administrators, etc., to teach our young people what is acceptable behavior and to condemn unacceptable behavior.
catlady
October 20th, 2011
4:47 pm
If the teachers had been doing their jobs, this wouldn’t have happened. After all, every problem known to humankind is due to the public schools’ terrible teachers.
TIC
MA
October 20th, 2011
4:53 pm
There has been police presence at many, many football games in this area for many years. We recently went to a football game in DeKalb county and a fight broke out on the field. There were probably 10-12 officers swarming the field. It took 45 minutes for them to clear the field and restart the game. Four players from one team were ejected and three from the other. They had a police escort back to the locker rooms. Just as the fight on the field was getting under control and scuffle in the stands broke out between parents. Handshakes are still happening and I have seen SROs watching them.
Ole Guy
October 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
To hell with school sports pograms being broke…the problem; the MAJOR OVERIDING PROBLEM, should be “is civilization, as we once knew it, broke”? Between the crumy educational system, a spoiled populace which, for the greater part, is just a bunch of crybabys who cry “tough times” at the least interuption to an otherwise pretty damn good lifestyle, and kids, THE FREQIN FUTURE, who are just as _ _ cked up as their parents…one shudders at the prospect of this once-great Country becoming just another sad story.
English Nazi
October 20th, 2011
5:52 pm
Who plays the symbols? Which symbols do they play? Or do they play cymbals?
mountain man
October 20th, 2011
5:56 pm
Souned like there were about 30 assailants. All should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And their parents should be thrown in jail, too.
mountain man
October 20th, 2011
5:56 pm
Sounded
catlady
October 20th, 2011
6:01 pm
I mean, it’s like this: The most important reason a boy becomes a good football player is because of the coach. It has little to do with the natural ability of the boy, or the encouragement the parents have given the boy, or the time devoted to practicing.
Legend of Len Barker
October 20th, 2011
7:06 pm
Maureen, do you want crazy stories?
I can tell plenty of stories about athletics craziness that happened long before Friday. An early UGA-Tennessee game in the 1890s (or early 1900s) is called “the day Tennessee stopped Georgia with a .38.” Literally.
Violence in college football was darn near commonplace in the early days. University of Minnesota players caused injuries that killed Iowa State player Jack Trice in 1923, quite possibly because Trice was black. Georgia high school games were littered with violence, including some adult-on-high school player incidents.
Games of just about every sport between my alma mater and their arch-rival have required extra police presence since the 1940s. Both of us were put on double secret probation by the GHSA in 2004 for a fight at basketball game that involved fans. So who are these two demon? Two little country schools, deep in south Georgia. Neither schools, county seats or counties have a bad reputation otherwise.
It’s not that we have devolved as a nation or as people or in prep sports. We’re just painfully more aware of every incident. The Warren-Hancock Central game might have made the Atlanta Journal had it happened 35 years ago, but probably no more than a two-paragraph blurb. As for the double secret probation between the schools mentioned above? You never knew about it. The AJC didn’t come calling.
So, what is happening? Nothing different. You have your same coaches who play the fans like violins, the same dead towns with nothing else to root for, the same sports frustration regardless of the teams are two good ones or two permanently stuck at the bottom of the standings, the same fans who are way too into the action and the craziness surfaces every now and then.
Former SPARK parent
October 20th, 2011
7:32 pm
So the sheriff has decided that maybe the GBI should be involved after all, and his priceless quote is this: “new material has materialized.” I guess he concluded the coach had, in fact, been beaten by the beaters who were beating him, and he thought it best to have someone with more clout go after the assailers who were assailing.
Former SPARK parent
October 20th, 2011
7:34 pm
Keep it short and simple, sheriff, and the parents in your county might understand you. After all, they are probably products of Georgia’s public schools as well.
V for Vendetta
October 20th, 2011
7:46 pm
No, sports are not broken.
I think this is a perfect example of where parenting is falling apart and the buck is being passed to the schools. We are not substitutes for parents! Let me say that again: WE ARE NOT SUBSTITUTES FOR PARENTS! As a competitive athlete in high school and college, I’ve experienced my fair share of heated moments with rival teams, officials, parents, etc.; however, never in a million years would I have dreamed of starting a fight or physical confrontation in the presence of an adult, much less a coach. Make no mistake, that claim has nothing to do with the coach or adult present; it has everything to do with the respect I had for authority figures–a healthy respect that was instilled in me BY MY PARENTS.
It’s amazing to me that so many of us–and I do include teachers in this group–are unwilling to turn the lens on ourselves and take a good hard look at how we parent our children. (Believe me, I’ve taught some of my colleagues kids who are reprehensible little monsters. Teachers, in my experience, can have some of the WORST children!) In the end, it all boils down to an abdication of personal responsibility–which is a shame because we’re talking about children. Perhaps it’s a generational thing. Perhaps not. I would be willing to bet that if we didn’t have compulsory attendance laws, we would see less of this. Education should be a privilege because Education is a CHOICE. Every parent makes a conscious decision to teach their children the importance of education. NO EXCUSES. One need not be a genius to understand that education is important. One need not be rich to afford books for his or her child. One need not have tons of extra time to be involved in his or her child’s education. If you think otherwise, you’re making excuses.
And you’re part of the problem.
jdawg
October 20th, 2011
7:53 pm
Research Hancock and Warren Counties, and you will be able to quickly discern how this event could have happened.
Cliff
October 20th, 2011
7:54 pm
“I STRONGLY disagree with any mention that these institutions are ‘broken.’”
This is so true, and I get so tired of hearing that our educational system is failing. Schools don’t fail, students fail. Either students and their parents take initiative and succeed, or they don’t. That’s all there is to education. Don’t complaint because your school “is failing” when you aren’t there making sure your kid’s homework is finished, you don’t read to your child, you don’t encourage them to learn. That’s on you. We have the greatest educational system in the world. Does everyone succeed? No, that’s not how we operate, irrespective of the ridiculous “no child left behind” initiative.
America is falling behind in education? Ok. Singapore is one of the most successful educational systems in the world, in terms of performance on international tests. Let me ask you something. Can you tell me a single invention or any intellectual contribution Singapore has ever made? Can you tell me a single Singapore brand name you purchase? Can you tell me a nobel winner from Singapore? Where is the measurable benefit Singapore reaps from having the “best” educational system vis-a-vis the United States? Or any other country?
Is there room for improvement in American education? Yes, but let’s not exaggerate the problem. Exaggerating a “crisis” in our educational system can lead to disruptive changes that could undermine the successes of our system.
Former SPARK parent
October 20th, 2011
8:25 pm
It is simultaneously true that no-account families are turning out ever more thugs-in-training AND Georgia’s schools are p*ss-poor.
Let’s not get caught up in saying one is true and the other is not.
Too many teachers in our system have worthless degrees from weak colleges of education, and can’t even compose a simple sentence in proper English. We can talk about holding parents accountable but that’s a waste of breath because politicians lack the will. But we can fix the problem of bad teachers by developing a fair and ruthlessly thorough evaluation process that includes videotaping teachers, including parents in the process, and giving the final say to an impartial outside expert to eliminate the biases of power-trippin’ principals (who too often abuse their authority).
Let’s talk about one thing at a time. So long as our politicians lack the will to hold PARENTS accountable for their childrens’ awful school performance, we can only attack the other side of the problem–how our schools are administered and how schoolteachers perform. There’s plenty there to tackle.
Tom
October 20th, 2011
8:30 pm
This is really quite easy. Look at any school with low test scores, few fathers, high violent crime rate, then look at demographics and this all makes statistical sense with national trend, btw same trend in England and Canada.
Will the last Democrat in Georgia please turn off the lights?.....
October 20th, 2011
8:44 pm
“If violence is such a concern, should we reconsider competitive sports programs in schools and leave them to community centers and rec departments?”
So you’re suggesting that because of ONE isolated incidence of postgame violence that we should discontinue all high school sports programs?
Well isn’t that rich? Sounds to me Ms. Downey like you have some sort of political or social agenda against high school athletics.
Will the last Democrat in Georgia please turn off the lights?.....
October 20th, 2011
8:47 pm
This was ONE isolated incident. There were thousands, if hundreds-of-thousands of prep football games at high schools all across the country that went off WITHOUT incident, before, during and after the game.
Devil's Advocate
October 20th, 2011
8:47 pm
Tom,
What you said is only the partial truth. It’s always easy to blame the obvious “broken home” families. However, I witness upper middle class suburanites allowing their kids to misbehave under adult supervision at youth sports activities. Often times a coach’s child is the ring leader.
The posters who already mentioned the general lack of personal responsibility and entitlement at every level of society have it spot on.
V for Vendetta
October 20th, 2011
9:14 pm
Former,
And how exactly is the government going to hold parents accountable? Sounds like a dangerous path down which to travel…
Perhaps if there were actual consequences for this type of behavior–such as real criminal charges or permanent expulsion from public schools–parents might take a more vested interest in their children’s upbringing.
V for Vendetta
October 20th, 2011
9:18 pm
For example, last year I had a student in class who was back from a year-long expulsion for sucker punching a kid in the face. After being back for a while, he punched A GIRL in the face and was expelled again. Now he’s back on homebound, so I have to create assignments for him until he can come back again.
This is not unusual.
Devil's Advocate
October 20th, 2011
9:35 pm
Chris,
You’re right. They do it right there on the field and that’s only if the coaches themselves aren’t going at it!