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Football players face punishment
Seven THS players, two Mabank players given one-game suspension following Oct. 3 fight
By Alison Walker: editor@terrelltribune.com
Following a game-ending fight during the Terrell High School vs. Mabank High School football game on Oct. 3, seven THS football team members and two MHS team members have been given a one-game suspension.
The decision was made in an Oct. 10 meeting of the District Executive Committee of District 15AAAA, following a presentation by Terrell and Mabank ISD officials.
In a letter released Friday, DEC Chair Ed Melton announced the committee’s decision.
“It was determined by the Committee that both schools had conducted a thorough and proper investigation of the events. The Committee voted unanimously, with Terrell and Mabank abstaining, to accept both school’s recommendations regarding disciplinary action.”
Names of the suspended players will not be released according to TISD Superintendent Kelly Rodgers, who said the release of students’ names would be a violation of the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
TISD Athletic Director and Head Coach Pete Gee said the suspended players will not be permitted to play in the Oct. 17 game against Red Oak, but will be back to play at the Oct. 24 game against Mesquite Poteet.
Coincidentally, the suspended players from both teams will miss action against Red Oak – THS on Oct. 17 and Mabank on Oct. 10.
The suspensions will make it difficult for the THS team that also has suffered from injuries beginning with the team’s first scrimmage.
The fight, which occurred eight minutes before the fourth quarter was over, also has led the district to make some administrative changes regarding procedures at the games.
Rodgers said he believes the punishment was fair and just.
“Every stadium has a fence to prevent spectators from getting on the field. We hope everyone will take this matter seriously. If it happens again, this will not stop at the district level,” Rodgers said.
The decision was made in an Oct. 10 meeting of the District Executive Committee of District 15AAAA, following a presentation by Terrell and Mabank ISD officials.
In a letter released Friday, DEC Chair Ed Melton announced the committee’s decision.
“It was determined by the Committee that both schools had conducted a thorough and proper investigation of the events. The Committee voted unanimously, with Terrell and Mabank abstaining, to accept both school’s recommendations regarding disciplinary action.”
Names of the suspended players will not be released according to TISD Superintendent Kelly Rodgers, who said the release of students’ names would be a violation of the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
TISD Athletic Director and Head Coach Pete Gee said the suspended players will not be permitted to play in the Oct. 17 game against Red Oak, but will be back to play at the Oct. 24 game against Mesquite Poteet.
Coincidentally, the suspended players from both teams will miss action against Red Oak – THS on Oct. 17 and Mabank on Oct. 10.
The suspensions will make it difficult for the THS team that also has suffered from injuries beginning with the team’s first scrimmage.
The fight, which occurred eight minutes before the fourth quarter was over, also has led the district to make some administrative changes regarding procedures at the games.
Rodgers said he believes the punishment was fair and just.
“Every stadium has a fence to prevent spectators from getting on the field. We hope everyone will take this matter seriously. If it happens again, this will not stop at the district level,” Rodgers said.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of terrelltribune.com.
AnotherTigerFan wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:39 PM:
" I wonder what those administrative changes will be, and if we will be privy to that information at any point in time. "
dawgone wrote on Oct 12, 2008 8:40 PM:
" This is a really bad thing for area football. Any time you can have a fight and only get suspended for one game, that is sad. These students should not be allowed to play any sports the rest of this year. "
FOR2YOU wrote on Oct 13, 2008 5:57 AM:
" I agree with dawgone. Had this happened in any other setting with other "regular' students not on the football team, the student would be sent to AEP or iSS and given fines. Once again the football team players are allowed to carry on as nothing happened. AND YOU WONDER WHY THS CANT CONTROL THE SCHOOL? WHy do you have such a teacher turn-over? "
THS Alumni wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:40 AM:
" Sorry - But I think this punishment was not harsh enough, when I was in school and you got into a fight, if you were in Football, drill team, cheerleading etc., you were suspended for the remainder of the year. These boys just got a slap on the wrist, and I guarantee it isn't over between the two teams.
Bothe teams students were out on the field playing football, but representing their perspective towns, I along with many others disagree with this punishment. Did these boys get any AEP or ISS for this as well. Had this been at school like the above stated they would have been arrested, and sent to AEP. "
Bothe teams students were out on the field playing football, but representing their perspective towns, I along with many others disagree with this punishment. Did these boys get any AEP or ISS for this as well. Had this been at school like the above stated they would have been arrested, and sent to AEP. "
FootballMinded wrote on Oct 13, 2008 5:49 PM:
" You know the sad thing is that everyone commenting has lost touch with reality. Terrell has been always been proud of the kids that participate in sports. Whether or not if this punishment was harsh or not harsh enough is not the real issue. Think about the real issues that lead up to things like this. Families not closely bonded like the past, teachers that are not teaching because they have a passion too ( money driven topic), and bringing in people to teach our kids sports that don't have a clue as to our talent level in the area. Any Alumni I know who not be trying to take a political stand to pitch words to a defenseless person. Alumni should be working with boosters to ensure we find qualified people in our home town to coach our kids. Instead of trying to get there kids recognized in sports due to being a booster member or another affiliate. I say stop putting the kids and this situation down and lets resolve this issue within our community. Take back our schools and our kids. Hold that to your mind, not your heart and think about it. "
tigerparent wrote on Oct 13, 2008 9:43 PM:
" "I have lived and worked in this district for a long time. I know many of the young men that are suspended from the game this Friday. Most of them are outstanding young men who did a stupid thing. The punishment was not severe enough and they should not be playing any more this calendar year. I totally understand that some are seniors and would be losing out on scholarships but that should not make a difference. This is not teaching these young men anything at all. The football team at THS already carry a chip on the shoulder that they can do anything they want, and nothing will happen to them. Until we get an administration from the top down that will not be so worried about stepping on people's toes and do something about it, these type of things will still happen. Athletes getting away with anything they would like. 1 game suspension is ridiculous and does not hold any merit. An earlier comment said about AEP, if these young men were fighting at the ball game just on the other side of the fence, its 30 days AEP no questions asked.
To FootballMinded: Don't talk about teachers that don't have passion to teach, I have worked there many years and I guarantee you there are dozens of teachers up there that teach their butt off everyday trying to educate the masses. Until we decide as a community to hold parents and students accountable for their actions nothing will change. We also have many many outstanding coaches that do teach our kids right from wrong and work everyday to make them a better person. THS has many outstanding qualities and tons of great students, I have had many opportunities to leave but I love the district and want to make it a district that people want to send their kids, but we need to send stronger messages to these young adults when they mess up. "
To FootballMinded: Don't talk about teachers that don't have passion to teach, I have worked there many years and I guarantee you there are dozens of teachers up there that teach their butt off everyday trying to educate the masses. Until we decide as a community to hold parents and students accountable for their actions nothing will change. We also have many many outstanding coaches that do teach our kids right from wrong and work everyday to make them a better person. THS has many outstanding qualities and tons of great students, I have had many opportunities to leave but I love the district and want to make it a district that people want to send their kids, but we need to send stronger messages to these young adults when they mess up. "
Tigerfan4life wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:23 PM:
" First off if you wasn't @ the game you shouldn't have anything to say..... When your in sports coaches teach you to stick together and how your like family.. So say your brother was gettin jump would you sit there and watch him get beat to death or really hurt. Well i wouldn't.. I think getting suspended for one game was fair enough.. Bc i would not dare let someone hit me and i not hit bk im going to protect my self.. I went to terrell high and we only got away with what they let us get away with. Those teachers do not teach there butt off maybe 5 out 60 really care but there are alot that teach bad way some even cuss but we get in trouble for it but when they do it it's nothing. My child will never go to Terrell high. "
mysterygurl_19 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 1:57 PM:
" I think the punishment was not enough of a punishment and some what unfair. If you get into a fight or any big trouble in school you should not be allowed to play in any sports until the following year. Also since both teams acted in such a matter both schools should have been kicked out of the rest of the season. But for 7 Terrell players and only 2 of Mabank players to get in trouble was not a punishment. From what i saw the whole Mabank team should be suspended for the rest of the year. To me Terrell what the victim. "
THSAlumni2002 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 11:22 PM:
" To Tigerfan4life: It is obvious from your lack of grammar and spelling that you went to Terrell High School and didn't learn anything. I hope that your child doesn't go to Terrell High School either, but I hope that no matter where your child goes, it turns out smarter than you are. How about you get off the internet, stop trying to defend your friends (who deserve a more severe punishment) and take care of your child? And I do know how the teachers are at Terrell High. I graduated and now have a college degree and a great job. It has nothing to do with the teacher's behavior. It has to do with your ability to learn and act right. Apparently you just dont have that ability. "
In Shock wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:48 AM:
" To THSAlumni2002 - Don't be mean! I am a 1982 Alumni; so, I too, have a "dog in the hunt". The decision has been made and it is up to all of us to support the school and the players. We should hope that this has taught every player a valuable lesson and that they will use that lesson in any type of future endeavor. Now is the time to move on!!! "
tigerfan4life wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:34 PM:
" Ths alumni2002. Good 4 you that you got a degree and so do i. First off this is not an english paper so bk off. second im givin my opinon jus like evryone else. i hope your kids don't turn out to be butt holes like you are. :) and i don't no anyone on there that did and hw ab you get off of here and go to you succesful job u so call got...Either way it go the punishment is final so get over it.(LOL) GO TIGERS....about the teacher part like i said yes sum do care but most don't jus there to get a check. Take it how u want it THS alumni2002. "
know2well wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:58 PM:
" Oh Seriously? TigerFan4Life? You are really going to justify that blog by saying "this is not an english paper". It is obvious to many that you, like many of our students and parents today, do not want to take responsibility for their actions. You want to blame the schools, the teachers, and the administrators for your failures in life and of course you would, that is the easy way out.
In regards to being a teacher, honey if it were about the check we would have left our jobs LONG ago to be a walmart greeter, I am sure they deal with less embarrasing situations than having a prior student embarrass themselves online.
Our students made a horrible and embarrasing choice and it was not justified nor was their punishment severe enough. The real world is coming quick and these students will not be prepared. Terrell ISD struggles but does not fail at educating our population of neglected children. We are teachers, mothers, fathers, nurses and counselors to children who witness and live a life that no child should. Collect your negative attitudes and throw them in the trash. We have a lot of cleaning up to do Terrell, do it with a smile or do it somewhere else!
Proud to be a Terrellite, a TISD teacher, and a mom to future TERRELL students. "
In regards to being a teacher, honey if it were about the check we would have left our jobs LONG ago to be a walmart greeter, I am sure they deal with less embarrasing situations than having a prior student embarrass themselves online.
Our students made a horrible and embarrasing choice and it was not justified nor was their punishment severe enough. The real world is coming quick and these students will not be prepared. Terrell ISD struggles but does not fail at educating our population of neglected children. We are teachers, mothers, fathers, nurses and counselors to children who witness and live a life that no child should. Collect your negative attitudes and throw them in the trash. We have a lot of cleaning up to do Terrell, do it with a smile or do it somewhere else!
Proud to be a Terrellite, a TISD teacher, and a mom to future TERRELL students. "
tigerfan4life wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:49 PM:
" look sweety i don't need you putting me in kno catagory bc if i think its wrong its wrong but in this case i don't so like it or nt and im gone keep sayin what i want. Think if it eas ya chil out there gettin beat dwn would you stand there and look... i wouldn't watch anyone in my family get jumped and jus sit there. if they started then maybe i would but not when the other people start it.. Anyway like i said its already over wit one game out good enough. Plus what if it was ya child i bet it would be a diff story u can say it wouldn't but i kno it would... Well continue teaching but im jus sayin you see your class not the others. i wasn't sayin the money was good in teaching i was jus sayin its a check. "
BandDad wrote on Oct 17, 2008 11:21 PM:
" I still say if the referee's would've called the game fairly then the tempers wouldn't have gotten out of hand. You people can't tell me that you have played a sport and have not gotten emotionally envolved. These kids take their game serious and to have adults out there looking at horsecollar tackles and not calling it tends to make your temper spark. I'm not saying they were in the right by fighting, but what I am saying is there is alot more to look at then just the players. One game suspension is enough. We need to move on from this and start asking why Terrell is loosing the way they are. The stands used to be full, Terrell is not only looking bad by the way the football team is playing, but the school is loosing money with the stands being empty. Time to start looking at those coaches!!! "
Survivor wrote on Oct 18, 2008 12:36 PM:
" BandDad,
The time to start looking at the coaches was last spring when the new Messiah superintendent had the chance to cut the cancer out of the program by dismissing Pete Gee. But Kelly Rodgers wasn't man enough or smart enough to make the move and what is the result? Another horrible season and another $60,000 to $70,000 that Gee was able to steal from the TISD.
FIRE PETE GEEE NOW!!!!!!!! "
The time to start looking at the coaches was last spring when the new Messiah superintendent had the chance to cut the cancer out of the program by dismissing Pete Gee. But Kelly Rodgers wasn't man enough or smart enough to make the move and what is the result? Another horrible season and another $60,000 to $70,000 that Gee was able to steal from the TISD.
FIRE PETE GEEE NOW!!!!!!!! "
Football grandma wrote on Oct 12, 2008 3:37 PM: