Quote:
Originally posted by chiefgil
What was the player's action during the game?
How many times was he warned?
Was he a typical rough player, or was he trying to hurt someone?
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This penalty came near the end of the first quarter. The player is the starting quarterback, and the weak side ILB. He was fighting through a block where the OT was holding his jersey near his collar. He did a swim move to chop down the hand and in the process the heel of his hand hit the bottom edge of the OT's facemask. As he was picking up back side pursuit he felt the flag hit him on the leg. During the explaination from the referee, the LJ stated that he "is calling this as a flagrant violation because his arm was extened and elbow locked." He, nor any other player was warned, previous to this incident. He is not a rough player, but uses the tools he has been taught to play football. He's 5'10", 160 lbs. The player who was holding him is 6'6", 250 lbs. He is an exemplary player, and has been since he was 9-years old (he's now a senior in high school). Football is his life... that's what makes this such a tragedy. What makes this even more ironic is that our local official's association had just the week before sent a letter of commendation to our AD about the outstanding sportsmanship that this team is showing and that it reflects upon the leadership of the program. This player who was ejected, is that on-field leader. Attitude reflects leadeship, does it not? I know that many reading this are probably saying to themselves, "Yeah right, he's probably a head case and you're just sticking up for him." My experience knows much better than that; there are probably only a handful of these young men that I would go to bat for, and he is one of them. How many players do you know in this day and age are Eagle Scouts, or even particpate in the Scouting program? Very few..? He's the only one on his team. How many players do you now who, after each game, finds his mother in the stands and gives her a kiss of thanks for her support? It's becoming a tradition for many of our players because he led the way. Yet, now because of this incident, this caliber of player is unable to participate in his senior homecoming, against a team that has been his personal rival since his youth football days, the most important game of the season (both teams unbeaten and really unchallenged in the league), and has state play-off implications. We have consoled this player with, "We have to accept the official's judgement." Now, the statement that the official made on the Conduct Report is completely different than what was explained to the coach, and the player on the sideline. We have to trust and accept his judgement, even though the story changes from moment to moment... sounds like another flip-flopper that we have all come to know and love over the past several months...