School for the Deaf suspends football players for vandalism
Indiana School for the Deaf suspended as many as five of the team’s 16
players after a trip to the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin.
By Ray Cortopassi
Fox59
October 15, 2010
Indianapolis — A handful of Indianapolis high school football players are
facing disciplinary action for off-the-field behavior during a road game.
Indiana School for the Deaf suspended as many as five of the team’s 16
players after a trip to the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin.
“We were very disappointed in the boys’ behavior and we took appropriate
action,” said Rose Hemmelgarn, ISD Director of Operations. “Mainly it was
vandalism, some beds broke, some vents broke, they trashed some of the dorm
rooms.”
In a brief statement, the Texas School for the Deaf wouldn’t say what
happened, but acknowledged it “did not include TSD students”… and
expressed confidence that “officials at Indiana School for the Deaf are
managing the situation.”
The player suspensions means the school has to forfeit its last season game
against Maryland. In addition, two assistant coaches were removed from the
team but will keep their jobs for failing to properly supervise the boys.
School officials blame part of the negative behavior on frustration that the
team hasn’t won a game yet this season, but also the fact that two weeks
ago, a team did damage to their dorms.
“The kids are thinking they did it so it’s okay for us to do it,” Hemmelgarn
said.
They insist the behavior was not violent or directed at anyone despite
rumors to the contrary. ISD officials hope their kids have taken an
important lesson to heart.
“This is why your behavior is so important,” Hemmelgarn said. “The whole
world looks at you and you never know when some thing’s going to come to
somone’s attention.”
Hemmelgarn would not name the team accused of damaging ISD dorms, but the
team’s website lists Edinburgh on its schedule.
ISD will miss Saturday’s game but will take part in a its sectional
tournament starting next Friday at Guerin High School in Noblesville.
Source:
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-indiana-school-for-the-deaf-su-101510,0,1589022.story