Do the crime do the time.

[GatorBait1988]

Who's "happy" over him not playing? I sincerely don't understand why wanting someone to be held accountable for THEIR actions is considered that you're "happy" about them not playing. You're really reaching now guy. Anytime you want me to stop by the Danville area with some supervisors, managers, and executives to speak with those kids you work with about accountability, let me know.

 

[nctarheel]

I have a different take on what's wrong with kids today. It's called Entitlement. Most (not all) believe that the world owes them something. Not gonna happen.

 

[kevtodd5]

Of course I did stupid things as a young man, but I also had people hold me accountable for my actions. Probably one of the main reasons I'm successful in the professional world today. Stop believing he's the victim. He made a mistake and he's paying his consequence. I don't believe he's a bad kid, I just believe he just committed a couple boneheaded penalties. He sounds like a good kid, he will learn from them and move on.

You broadcasting your own success in the professional world on a message board is all I need to know about you...stroke your own ego is really professional.

I hope all of us less fortunate low lifes can somehow learn from you and become more successful. I wish you the best

 

[GatorBait1988]

Another tactic to take the focus off the kid's actions. What are the people telling him "It's okay little buddy, those refs had it out for you!" Oh the irony...

 

[Ryan4VT]

You broadcasting your own success in the professional world on a message board is all I need to know about you...stroke your own ego is really professional.

I hope all of us less fortunate low lifes can somehow learn from you and become more successful. I wish you the best

Amen! Us poor little folks who aren't bigwigs somewhere. Hell, apparently I'm not supposed to be watching film since I'm a student at VT...

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Who's "happy" over him not playing? I sincerely don't understand why wanting someone to be held accountable for THEIR actions is considered that you're "happy" about them not playing. You're really reaching now guy. Anytime you want me to stop by the Danville area with some supervisors, managers, and executives to speak with those kids you work with about accountability, let me know.

I'll be glad to give you my contact info bruh man. I'm sure they'll listen to you

 

[stormwatcher]

You act like I didn't say that already. If you read my statement well I explained what should've happened and how I would've handled it. I have no affiliation with Richlands and I don't know squash about this kid but I do WORK with kids and sometimes punishing them like this does more harm than good. That's what's wrong with kids today. IMO this isn't teaching the kid squat. As an educator the principal at SD should examine his/her self. Reccomend the kid write to the vhsl or have an interview or something. See where the kids humility is... It's funny that people get on here and get happy over a child's misfortune. Y'all are blasting the kid and have no idea what went on or know the circumstances behind what happened. Everyone wants to be the judge and the jury.

I've bounced back and forth on this one myself. I'm a stickler for rules, but in this case, is taking away a once in a lifetime opportunity going to really help or hurt? For those of you that are firm in the punishment, don't be alarmed. Nothing I say is going to get Howie's punishment rescinded. But it's awfully easy to dole out a punishment when you or your family is not losing a lottery odds opportunity. I would defer to someone like DanvilleSportsHead ... someone with actual experience in dealing with kids.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I've bounced back and forth on this one myself. I'm a stickler for rules, but in this case, is taking away a once in a lifetime opportunity going to really help or hurt? For those of you that are firm in the punishment, don't be alarmed. Nothing I say is going to get Howie's punishment rescinded. But it's awfully easy to dole out a punishment when you or your family is not losing a lottery odds opportunity. I would defer to someone like DanvilleSportsHead ... someone with actual experience in dealing with kids.

Thanks brother! I don't condone what the young man did but we've all been kids. If half the crazy and immature things that I did were held against me then I wouldn't be in the position I am today. I believe in second and third chances. Been there done that. I'm a firm believer that all kids have good in them and though we need to teach them to be productive citizens, they are human and they are subject to human error. I wish the kid could play and I hope he gets his chance at the next level.

 

[Mikey97]

You act like I didn't say that already. If you read my statement well I explained what should've happened and how I would've handled it. I have no affiliation with Richlands and I don't know squash about this kid but I do WORK with kids and sometimes punishing them like this does more harm than good. That's what's wrong with kids today. People pat them on the back when all is good and then crucify them when they make a mistake. IMO this isn't teaching the kid squat. As an educator the principal at SD should examine his/her self. Reccomend the kid write to the vhsl or have an interview or something. See where the kids humility is... It's funny that people get on here and get happy over a child's misfortune. Y'all are blasting the kid and have no idea what went on or know the circumstances behind what happened. Everyone wants to be the judge and the jury. With all that said, good luck to Richlands. I don't have a dog in the fight but I'll be rooting for the underdog.

The principal at SD is not the villain here. He chose to support the calls the referee made. Let's not lose all perspective in defending Howie and wishing/wanting him to not have to deal with the rule book consequence of 2 personal fouls.

 

[topfan]

Why have rules? Why have referees to enforce rules? Why have penalties for breaking these rules?

Unsportsmanlike conduct is taboo on all levels of sports. Two separate incidents of this gets you a one game suspension. Good rule for educating young people to learn your actions, good or bad, have consequences.

Today's problem, TV glorifies the dancing, taunting, trying to embarrass your opponent, trash talking in college and pro games. Even the video games have it.

It's up to parents, youth coaches, JV coaches, HS coaches, fellow students to teach doing the right thing on and off the field whether anybody is watching or not.

 

[BullRunFootball]

I've bounced back and forth on this one myself. I'm a stickler for rules, but in this case, is taking away a once in a lifetime opportunity going to really help or hurt? For those of you that are firm in the punishment, don't be alarmed. Nothing I say is going to get Howie's punishment rescinded. But it's awfully easy to dole out a punishment when you or your family is not losing a lottery odds opportunity. I would defer to someone like DanvilleSportsHead ... someone with actual experience in dealing with kids.

Very difficult to say "it's ok this one time b/c it's the biggest game of the year/opportunities etc." If the VHSL/referee association/school admin were to allow that they have set themselves up for major issues moving forward for every sport between post season and regular season. It could literally be camp run amuck trying to justify anything in regards to sportsmanship/rules etc. Administration trying to decide "well this is a bigger game than that one so he/she can play this week but not next" Rest assured that the school admin must have gotten first hand info on it and in good conscious not sign the appeal. If that wasn't the case, what message would that admin be sending to his/her own students and parents? The bigger the game the more you can get away with? Just b/c it is the state title game makes it no different than the first game of the year in reference to the rules that have to be followed by all student-athletes.
I have no dog in the hunt and firmly understand that the situation is beyond unfortunate for the player and his family and school. He obviously let his emotions take over and that happens from time to time with us all. Everyone is guilty of this and we have all had to deal with the repercussions from it . However--rules are there for a reason and placing blame on anyone else other than the the person who had the penalties just baffles me to no end.

Good luck to both schools tomorrow.

 

[GatorBait1988]

I just don't understand the blanket statements, "All kids have good in them", of course they do, who's debating that? I have good in me too, but when I break a rule/law....I'm held accountable, what makes him any different? The people who will continually tell this kid VHSL or SD's Principal did him wrong are the real enemies here. They had a rule and guess what....they enforced it......and then followed it....HOLY CRAP!!! As for "second and third chances", I don't get the point? Second and third chances at what? Following the rules? The kid doesn't get to play a high school football game because of his OWN actions, no one is taking his education away from him, he still gets to have a social life, and no one is locking him up. He just doesn't get to play in a high school football game. Some may say it's the most important game in his life, one would think if it was so important to him he wouldn't have put himself in this situation in the first place.

Nonetheless, good luck to both teams tomorrow.

 

[Kimosabe5]

The rule doesn't have an asterisk that says "unless it's a first offense", or "unless he's a good kid" or "unless it's a big game" or "unless it's the State Championship", etc. The rule has to be black and white or you'll never be able to enforce it later. With that said, I hate that Howie will not be playing and can't imagine what he's going through. It's a bad situation but one that one that must be handled correctly and without the emotional pull that's in play. From what I've seen and heard, that has been the case. It will be difficult but I hope the kid can learn and move on to bigger and better. This may be the fuel that propels him at the next level. Looking forward to a great game tomorrow.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

If that wasn't the case, what message would that admin be sending to his/her own students and parents?

This is something I have been thinking about. That Principal would be tarred and feathered for signing off on that by the players and community. NOW......I do think if the principal had a team vote along with the coaches on the issue and they said "Okay, let the kid play." It probably would be viewed differently if he signed off on it. I dont see it getting past the VHSL anyways.....

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

The principal at SD is not the villain here. He chose to support the calls the referee made. Let's not lose all perspective in defending Howie and wishing/wanting him to not have to deal with the rule book consequence of 2 personal fouls.

I'm looking at it from an educator's point of view. Never said the SD principal was the villain. I think they're playing judge and jury but I never said they're a villain. Like I said, we don't know if this kid was provoked, we don't know what was said to this kid and I stand by it. No kid is just going to walk up to a player and headbutt them. Now was Howie right?? No he wasn't. The Richlands coach said that and I'm saying that...He's serving the one game suspension. My problem is letting a principal from another school have a say in deciding this kid's fate. Sounds ludicrous to me. Im not one of those politically correct people and I deal with life circumstantial. If I'm the SD principal and the VHSL I'm telling Howie, you want to play? Tell us why! Tell us what you did, what could you have done differently and what are you going to do so that this doesn't happen again where it could get you in more serious trouble? That's what an educator does! That builds humility, that builds character, GATOR that's your accountability. It's too many kids and adults locked up in our justice system now because they wasn't taught this. It starts at home but our schools and community have a factor in teaching our kids this. I'm out!

 

[GatorBait1988]

You don't think the SD Principal has been an educator? So because you have a different philosophical belief in what an educator is supposed to do, you state that they have "sour grapes". Come on. You can have your beliefs and if you care enough about those beliefs, write into the VHSL and have them review the rule. Don't be mad at an EDUCATOR for following the rules that were put in front of them.

 

[Raidas10]

I didn't see the Richlands-Draft game, but from what I have read, didn't Howie turn around and point at an SD player as he was going in for a TD? Talk about a "look at me" type play. Yes kids make mistakes, but someone showing up an opponent like that makes me think "attitude" and is a selfish play. Our coaches wouldn't have tolerated that and when I coached, I would have made sure the kid understood why that type of things isn't allowed.

If the headbutt was provoked, you could almost dismiss that as a kid being intense or even defending himself, but to turn and taunt someone as you're going in to score (if that's what he really did) is a classless move, a dumb personal foul. Honestly, the kid can't blame anyone but himself for that one and I am sure the coaches addressed that with him as well.

Late hits, pushing after a play, personal fouls (not condoned) sometime happen and aren't always bad. Taunting is a selfish, attention getting move. The suspension is a good lesson for Howie and for other kids why it's important to play the game the right way.

 

[oldfool]

I'm looking at it from an educator's point of view. Never said the SD principal was the villain. I think they're playing judge and jury but I don't never said they're a villain. Like I said, we don't know if this kid was provoked, we don't know what was said to this kid and I stand by it. No kid is just going to walk up to a player and headbutt them. Now was Howie right?? No he wasn't. The Richlands coach said that and I'm saying that...He's serving the one game suspension. My problem is letting a principal from another school having a say in deciding this kid's fate. Sounds ludicrous to me. Im not one of those politically correct people and I deal with life circumstantial. If I'm the SD principal and the VHSL I'm telling Howie, you want to play? Tell us why! Tell us what you did, what could you have done differently and what are you going to do so that this doesn't happen again where it could get you in more serious trouble? That's what an educator does! That builds humility, that builds character, GATOR that's your accountability. It's too many kids and adults locked up in our justice system now because they wasn't taught this. It starts at home but our schools and community have a factor in teaching our kids this. I'm out!

In principal I agree with your line of thought. It does have merit in making a student accountable for their actions. I think the appeal process maybe should be to the VHSL first and the student answereing the questions you expressed and his thoughts on a remedy. The way I see it right now is that the Howie issue is said and done, but is it how it should be handled in the future. I'm a just a 57 year old oldfool that has raised two kids and allowed them to make mistakes that would not harm them in life and both have grown from those mistakes. But I wont there for the Howie issue and what ensued after the first call and the way things got escalated to a very nasty situation in which safety of others became a real issue there. So a lot of emotion has came into play which has distorted some facts and in all likelihood had an influence on SD decision. But hey we all live and hopefully learn from our mistakes and as a parent we do our best to do what is right for any given situation with the tools we have and strive to gain better tools to work with.

 

[Mikey97]

You don't think the SD Principal has been an educator? So because you have a different philosophical belief in what an educator is supposed to do, you state that they have "sour grapes". Come on. You can have your beliefs and if you care enough about those beliefs, write into the VHSL and have them review the rule. Don't be mad at an EDUCATOR for following the rules that were put in front of them.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

In principal I agree with your line of thought. It does have merit in making a student accountable for their actions. I think the appeal process maybe should be to the VHSL first and the student answereing the questions you expressed and his thoughts on a remedy. The way I see it right now is that the Howie issue is said and done, but is it how it should be handled in the future. I'm a just a 57 year old oldfool that has raised two kids and allowed them to make mistakes that would not harm them in life and both have grown from those mistakes. But I wont there for the Howie issue and what ensued after the first call and the way things got escalated to a very nasty situation in which safety of others became a real issue there. So a lot of emotion has came into play which has distorted some facts and in all likelihood had an influence on SD decision. But hey we all live and hopefully learn from our mistakes and as a parent we do our best to do what is right for any given situation with the tools we have and strive to gain better tools to work with.

Agreed brother. Thank you!

 

[oldfool]

Is it Saturday yet? I'm getting so anxious waiting for this game like a little kid waiting for Christmas lol.

 

[oldfool]

Seriously folks we need to let our emotions go and let them propel us to making improvements for the good. Let your emotions burn a fire in you to address the issue in a positive and forward looking way to have the rule reviewed and possibly with changes that will uphold accountability and consequences of actions. Being a former athlete from a sport far removed from high school sports I fully understand how even the person with the best character and morals can get so wrapped up that they react with their emotions and make a serious mistake. I damn sure made a bunch of them.

 

[b.Di3_2016RU]

The situation with Cody is finished and final. Nothing's going to change that and it has to be accepted for what it is.and I think the richlands coaches and players have.with that said I think the rule needs to be looked at in the future. Why is the 15 yard penalty and ejection from the remainder of that game not enough? Why suspension for the next game. Surely to god a kid would've very apt to learn if they were forced to miss the remainder of the game they're in. Or maybe the first half of the next game. But it my opinion the entire next game is excessive,unless something extreme happens, a direct intent to injure someone as example. And for the opposing school to be involved in the appeal process is crazy to me. Especially when that team inevitably lost the game the way this one played out. Not saying that's why they denied the appeal, just stating. I think there's room for significant improvement to the rule itself for future instances.

 

[Union_Fan]

I'll not weigh in on the suspension, penalties, ethics or any other aspect of this game, outcome, or people involved, but I will say this.

I've worked in the public education system for 17 years. Not all "educators" are that. I have personally witnessed teachers AND administrators belittle, look down on, make fun of, and call kids names like stupid, dumb, retarded, among others.

I've seen plenty of principals and other administrators that are so far out of touch with kids these days that I would not refer to them as educators.

If you are not personally associated with the day to day goings on INSIDE a school, you have NO idea what it is like or what it takes to reach kids these days. Many bounce around from home to home. Are raised by grandparents or other relatives. Some stay with friends' families. Their parents are on drugs, don't care, or have otherwise "checked out" on their kids.

It is not easy to work in a school system. The people who aren't there JUST to get the summer off are SPECIAL people. The ones who work with these kids, inspire them, help them rise above their situation are to be commended.

I don't know @DanvilleSportsHead whatsoever, but judging by his posts, I would consider him a true EDUCATOR. He knows what he's talking about, and I respect his opinion.

 

[Raidas10]

We have all made mistakes. I was suspended the second game of basketball season my senior year for taunting. I was fist pumping and holding my follow through too long after hitting shots and that was considered taunting by my coaches so I sat at home and missed our second game.

I learned not to do that anymore.

That was an objective suspension. The one in question as part of this thread isn't. It's like a face mask penalty - whether intentional or not it's a penalty for grabbing the face mask. 2 PF penalties and you sit. Just the way it is.

For folks to be critical of SD misses the point entirely in my opinion. If the kid learns for it he will be better off.

 

[oldfool]

I'll not weigh in on the suspension, penalties, ethics or any other aspect of this game, outcome, or people involved, but I will say this.

I've worked in the public education system for 17 years. Not all "educators" are that. I have personally witnessed teachers AND administrators belittle, look down on, make fun of, and call kids names like stupid, dumb, retarded, among others.

I've seen plenty of principals and other administrators that are so far out of touch with kids these days that I would not refer to them as educators.

If you are not personally associated with the day to day goings on INSIDE a school, you have NO idea what it is like or what it takes to reach kids these days. Many bounce around from home to home. Are raised by grandparents or other relatives. Some stay with friends' families. Their parents are on drugs, don't care, or have otherwise "checked out" on their kids.

It is not easy to work in a school system. The people who aren't there JUST to get the summer off are SPECIAL people. The ones who work with these kids, inspire them, help them rise above their situation are to be commended.

I don't know @DanvilleSportsHead whatsoever, but judging by his posts, I would consider him a true EDUCATOR. He knows what he's talking about, and I respect his opinion.

Amen and thankyou for hanging in there for 17 years trying to do the right thing, makes me wish you were one of my kids teacher.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I'll not weigh in on the suspension, penalties, ethics or any other aspect of this game, outcome, or people involved, but I will say this.

I've worked in the public education system for 17 years. Not all "educators" are that. I have personally witnessed teachers AND administrators belittle, look down on, make fun of, and call kids names like stupid, dumb, retarded, among others.

I've seen plenty of principals and other administrators that are so far out of touch with kids these days that I would not refer to them as educators.

If you are not personally associated with the day to day goings on INSIDE a school, you have NO idea what it is like or what it takes to reach kids these days. Many bounce around from home to home. Are raised by grandparents or other relatives. Some stay with friends' families. Their parents are on drugs, don't care, or have otherwise "checked out" on their kids.

It is not easy to work in a school system. The people who aren't there JUST to get the summer off are SPECIAL people. The ones who work with these kids, inspire them, help them rise above their situation are to be commended.

I don't know @DanvilleSportsHead whatsoever, but judging by his posts, I would consider him a true EDUCATOR. He knows what he's talking about, and I respect his opinion.

Thank you for the kind words my friend and thank you for your service in public education. You've said it perfectly and a lot of people don't realize this. Some people will say, oh you're making excuses for them...Not at all. There are so many mitigating circumstances . Only a real educator understands that. Thank you Union Fan!

 

[Union_Fan]

Amen and thankyou for hanging in there for 17 years trying to do the right thing, makes me wish you were one of my kids teacher.

Thank you, but I'm not in an educator role anymore, nor am I an administrator. I don't work with kids one on one like I used to, but I still feel their plight and I sometimes see it in their eyes just walking down the hallway.

I thought I had it rough when I was a student, but it just doesn't compare to what these kids go through these days. It's sad. Truly.