One of these happened recently in that football-obsessed state, Texas, where the Aledo High School Bearcats easily defeated Western Hills High School Cougars, 91-0.
This prompted one of the parents of a player on the losing team to file a bullying complaint against the winning football team.
Apparently, Aledo coach Tim Buchanan tried to keep the score down by taking out his first-string players, by using a running game, and by requesting that the clock not be stopped after halftime; but the combination of the performance by the Bearcats' subs and the hapless Western Hills team. Anyway, players who normally sit out games on the bench are highly motivated to make the best they can of their limited game time.
After an inquiry, the complaint was found to have no merit.
Texas has no "mercy" rule for football games that ends it after the score becomes too lopsided. And I can't imagine a coach requesting a stop to the game.
In my opinion, calling this lopsided win "bullying" was a real stretch. But what if the school board had indeed regarded it as bullying?
How much of a margin must occur for bullying to have taken place?
Should losing players be given counseling to console them for their loss?
Should the winning team and coaches have to undergo sensitivity training?
Seriously, bullying is a real and serious problem among youth. (I've been a recipient.) But using it in marginal cases like this only muddies the waters.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/91-0-texas-football-blowout-leads-bullying-charge-101510025.html
9 comments:
I thought that was a ridiculous story.
According to the articles Aledo beats everyone like this.
It sounds like the Alpo team is above the league of all their opponents. The parent who filed thecomplaint probably feels like a boob now.
Right you are!
Aloha
it just feels very unsportsman-like, however.
I think there should be a mercy rule for h.s. football. as for college football, teams should stop scheduling opponents that they clearly outclass.
I would not have let it go to that extreme. But that team seems to do that to all its opponents.
If college football games ended before two full halves, the sponsors of the not run ads would pitch a fit and want their $$$ back.
The trend in todays society is to hold back superiority and reward mediocrity.
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