OPINION: Vandalism uncalled for in school sports
No matter how you frame it, last Friday night’s vandalism by East Jackson Comprehensive High School football players at Jefferson’s Memorial Stadium was ugly.
While passions often run high in high school sports and the intra-county rivalry between Jefferson High School and EJCHS is often intense, there is no excuse for players to trash the locker room of another school.
In addition to that action, someone also vandalized the visitor’s bathroom, doing even more damage than was done in the locker room by ripping a sink off the wall.
Officially, the matter is a police investigation — criminal acts took place.
But unofficially, this situation is in the hands of the leaders at EJCHS. They need to hold both the school’s players and coaches accountable for the incident.
At the top of the list of those who should be called on the carpet by school officials is coach Frank Caputo. The buck stops on his desk. If he’s going to take the credit when his team wins — and all coaches take credit for victory — he should also be held accountable for these ugly actions of his players.
And anyway, where were the coaches of EJCHS when all of this was taking place in the locker room? It’s inconceivable that no coach saw the vandalism. If any coach saw the locker room’s trashing and did nothing to stop it, that coach should be fired.
Caputo tried to downplay the incident to another newspaper, saying it wasn’t as bad as the police report suggested.
But the coach has been slammed in the online sports website mbd.scout.com for his behavior at Friday night’s game, not just for the vandalism incident, but also for what several posters described as “out of control” behavior on the sidelines. Indeed, some of this is apparently linked to one EJCHS player being ejected from the game during play.
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=37&f=2687&t=6612618
Regardless, Caputo must be held accountable for the actions of his players, both on the field and in the locker room. The question is, will the East Jackson community and football patrons see to that, or will they blame someone else?
Of course, this isn’t the first time this rivalry has involved vandalism actions. Last year, several JHS students poured paint on a bridge near EJCHS in the middle of the night as an echo of the bridge painting done in the rivalry between JHS and Commerce High School. Those knuckleheads got caught and had to clean up the mess they’d made.
But both teams seem to have a paint fetish. Last year, EJCHS colors were poured along Memorial Drive at the JHS stadium. This year, EJCHS blue and white paint covered the intersection behind JHS.
It’s time for all of this nonsense to stop on both sides.
Trashing the locker room didn’t hurt JHS in the long run and only made EJCHS players look like out-of-control poor sports.
And the pouring of paint in the streets by both sides is childish.
You don’t win football games by trashing locker rooms or painting streets.
You win by competing on the field and acting with class and dignity, win or lose.
That’s where this rivalry needs to focus in the future, but for that to happen, EJCHS school leaders need to take responsibility for what happened last week and punish those responsible.
In addition to that action, someone also vandalized the visitor’s bathroom, doing even more damage than was done in the locker room by ripping a sink off the wall.
Officially, the matter is a police investigation — criminal acts took place.
But unofficially, this situation is in the hands of the leaders at EJCHS. They need to hold both the school’s players and coaches accountable for the incident.
At the top of the list of those who should be called on the carpet by school officials is coach Frank Caputo. The buck stops on his desk. If he’s going to take the credit when his team wins — and all coaches take credit for victory — he should also be held accountable for these ugly actions of his players.
And anyway, where were the coaches of EJCHS when all of this was taking place in the locker room? It’s inconceivable that no coach saw the vandalism. If any coach saw the locker room’s trashing and did nothing to stop it, that coach should be fired.
Caputo tried to downplay the incident to another newspaper, saying it wasn’t as bad as the police report suggested.
But the coach has been slammed in the online sports website mbd.scout.com for his behavior at Friday night’s game, not just for the vandalism incident, but also for what several posters described as “out of control” behavior on the sidelines. Indeed, some of this is apparently linked to one EJCHS player being ejected from the game during play.
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=37&f=2687&t=6612618
Regardless, Caputo must be held accountable for the actions of his players, both on the field and in the locker room. The question is, will the East Jackson community and football patrons see to that, or will they blame someone else?
Of course, this isn’t the first time this rivalry has involved vandalism actions. Last year, several JHS students poured paint on a bridge near EJCHS in the middle of the night as an echo of the bridge painting done in the rivalry between JHS and Commerce High School. Those knuckleheads got caught and had to clean up the mess they’d made.
But both teams seem to have a paint fetish. Last year, EJCHS colors were poured along Memorial Drive at the JHS stadium. This year, EJCHS blue and white paint covered the intersection behind JHS.
It’s time for all of this nonsense to stop on both sides.
Trashing the locker room didn’t hurt JHS in the long run and only made EJCHS players look like out-of-control poor sports.
And the pouring of paint in the streets by both sides is childish.
You don’t win football games by trashing locker rooms or painting streets.
You win by competing on the field and acting with class and dignity, win or lose.
That’s where this rivalry needs to focus in the future, but for that to happen, EJCHS school leaders need to take responsibility for what happened last week and punish those responsible.
Frank Caputo has done nothing but be a positive influence in the lives of children over on the east side. For that matter, in the lives of the majority of children he has coached. Many of them still call and visit him frequently and if I am not mistaken has one coaching for him now.
You have no problem make this more of an issue than it is in order to stir the pot and sell newspapers. The kids that poured paint on the bridge-more than "knuckle heads" If I remember correctly it was one of the coachs' sons. The wrestling coach if I am not mistaken. Why wasn't he brought out and flogged? You know why, because Jackson County BOE didn't want to bring any negative attention to the rivalry. Seems to me that Jefferson City schools is just getting Jackson Co to pay for a mess that was already there.
Shame on you for printing this garbage that people read and take for the truth. Be a real reporter and see it from both sides.
Caputo may be a great coach, but the buck stops on his desk in this matter. It was his players who got out of control.
If there was something to be held accountable for, then yes. However, rearranging name tags into an EJ isn't exactly criminal. I think they were put up with double sided tape. It really has been blown out of proportion.
Not today-your Jefferson education is showing through by your ignorance and inability to spell.
If you read the main article in the Jackson Herald ("EJCHS football team probed over vandalism") which describes the incident, you will note that it was a Jackson County Sheriffs Deputy who filled out the report....not Jefferson PD.
Secondly, you will also note from that same article that the vandalism involved much more than moving nametags around. Vandalism is described by the Webster's Dictionary as "willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property." I think what they did meets this criteria.
Finally, I would be careful about passing judgment on the Jefferson education system because of the spelling displayed on this vent.
I believe if you do a comparison of test scores between the two school systems you will see the difference.
SAT Scores were talked about in the September 22nd edition which can be seen at the following link: http://www.jacksonheraldtoday.com/archives/4090-SAT-results-for-area-schools-mixed.html
You can also see a comparison of state mandated graduation tests at the following link: http://www.jacksonheraldtoday.com/archives/3576-EJCHS-graduation-test-results-drop-in-all-areas.html
I also believe that it was recently reported by the Jackson Herald (October 20th edition) that EJCHS did not make AYP.
So I would be careful about casting stones and just stick to the topic at hand.
What took place should not have happened and some sort of punishment should be handed down to those involved. As Mr. Buffington has already stated ..."Instead of blaming everyone else for this situation, why don't you want to hold those responsible for the matter accountable?"
And according to the Rutland Academy's website, they also have students from Jackson County School Systems as well, and some from Barrow, Clarke, Commerce City, Elbert, Greene, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Social Circle City, and Walton.
But, I guess what you are telling me is that you keep all your troubled kids at EJCHS and their scores are counting at EJCHS???
Well, that would explain a lot.
However, I still think the police report for the locker room nonsense is overkill. This is a school matter and should have been handled by administrators at both schools. Get a mop, a plunger, and some two-sided tape and clean it up. Suspend the offending players off of the team for the remainder of the season and be done with it.
Having said that, I also agree with Mike that coaches for EJCHS should be held accountable. They are responsible for the behavior of these players on the field, on the sidelines, and in locker rooms.
I have only seen EJCHS play on TV recasts, but I've been horrified with the whining and obvious demonstrations by EJCHS players and coaches towards referees. I even agree that in many cases, referees missed important calls. (More players missed important tackles, reads, and receptions.) However, coaches have a responsibility to act like adults and to teach their players how to handle adversity with class.
I mean why don't we just settle this by making the team involved go and clean up their mess and fix their vandalism. They need to learn that there are consequences for every decision they make.
What is the real concern here Jackson County residents?
Whether you or your child/children attend County or City schools the blame needs to be placed where it truly belongs... On the parents of the students. They should have taught their child better.
What am example the school is setting for all the other students. The whole football team should be punished.
At least the ones responsible, and if they don't want to admit to the crime then the whole team is punished!
It's too late for punishment after the fact.
As a parent, if I had a son on that team, he would not be playing tonight! Not for that coach period! I would be getting some answers!
And if a teen did this to your house would you not press charges. I am pretty sure many of you would. So the only thing that should be commented about is that East Jackson did do something stupid and they need to admit to it. If nothing is done who is going to pay for the broken sinks, fix the stocked up toilets, clean the urine infested water fountains?!?! It doesn't matter how good or bad the coach is. All that really matters is that you need to pay for your actions!