Ooltewah Players: On or Off Team?

[Red4life]

Because it is in Georgia, the sheriffs department will probably not spend the time to come into Tennessee to pick them up. Usually when you have a warrant out for your arrest it stays on your record until you get pulled over in GA or something else like court or anything where your record is pulled. Being it is the first time most of them have been in trouble they will probably get some service hours or even thrown out. This is a misdemeanor and nothing more.

These kids did something stupid just like every other kid in the states and they will pay for it but why throw away their futures and a chance for them to change by kicking them off the team. I don't think that it should go that far. This is not something that should affect the rest of their lives. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time and that is it. Yeah maybe they should not have been there at all but they were and now people need to move on and let them and their parents decide what is next.

And yes they will probably play on Friday (which they should). But if we kicked every athlete off a team who did something stupid there would be NO SPORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[owlfanatic]

Yep, they'll play Friday. Wearing the school jerseys, representing Ooltewah High School.

 

I bet Coach Monroe hopes the Walker County deputies will be along the sidelines. He probably figures his players will run faster if they're being pursued by the cops! /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

 

 

 

I, for one, will be proud for any of those boys to wear a jersey and represent OOLTEWAH. I wish they would turn themselves in, because regardless of the charge, it is the right thing to do if there is a warrant. Take the measures to get this thing over with. I worked with the court systems for 5 years, I even ran the community service program for 2 of those years, and these particular charges are misdemeanors. So, what your saying is that if someone gets a traffic ticket, or littering citation, rolling yards, etc. they should not be allowed to represent their community??? That puts a bad light on all of us. We're all guilty of some minor infraction.

 

Give it a rest.....PLEASE. The ones responsible for the fight are not good representation of Ooltewah, and their charges were justified and deserved. These other boys, were in the wrong not to follow directives, but I truly think that kicking them off the team is going overboard, and its not because I want to win ballgames. There are much bigger things in life than winning at high school football. It's fun, but not impprtant in the big picture. These boys have been punished by the team, and the guilt they have placed on themselves is enormous.

[bipbopzot]

This will never go away,because people love this stuff,it keeps them busy,they are bored,just like the media!!! everybody knows what happened,the ones that did the violent act have been arrested,the rest of this is old and until owl fans quit responding to these stupid threads,these people will continue w/ this forever!! I for one will not ever respond again,I suggest this to all other owl fans.

[STARPOWER]

I don't think the kids involved should be kicked off the team, but I do think a suspension is definitely in order. I am more concerned about Coach Monroe's statements regarding the situation. He doesn't seem to believe his kids did anything wrong. I know that the media can twist your words and make it come out different than you intended, but I can't believe some of the things he said. His attitude is reflective in the actions of his players. I guess with Soddy daisy coming up, if there are any suspension that will be the week, not against Oak Ridge this week.

[broadbat]

Starpower said:

 

"I don't think the kids involved should be kicked off the team, but I do think a suspension is definitely in order. I am more concerned about Coach Monroe's statements regarding the situation. He doesn't seem to believe his kids did anything wrong. I know that the media can twist your words and make it come out different than you intended, but I can't believe some of the things he said. His attitude is reflective in the actions of his players. I guess with Soddy daisy coming up, if there are any suspension that will be the week, not against Oak Ridge this week."

 

Good post, Starpower! Almost everyone I know has said, "It wouldn't have been handled this way at MY high school." And that is so true. The media haven't twisted anyone's words, as Monroe has made his feelings known more than once to more than one reporter.

 

The best thing Foster and Monroe could have done is to hold a press conference, and make it clear that players (and other students) would be suspended and held accountable, and that OHS would not tolerate disorder, thuggery, and bullying.

 

But instead they have largely stayed hidden, coming out every now and then to pout and sulk, and complain about those pesky North Georgia cops. Have either of them expressed any concern for the injured victims? Have the "punished" students done any fundraising to help with their medical bills? Seems like that would be appropriate "community service."

[Chattcity]

It has been intersting to read the posts from both camps--I really do not have a strong feel for or against Ooltewah so I have tried to watch as an impartial observer. Seems to me that enough has been said as all sides have had their say.

I'll add my two cents worth: seems to me the decision as to what to do with those players not involved in the fight but who were at the game causing trouble should be left to Coach Monroe and the administration. If they are comfortable that they have meted out the proper discipline to those involved, then so be it. It is their call. Many might handle it differently and those who disagree with Coach Monroe's position certainly have a right to voice that opinion.

I also think that Coach Monroe's decisions are subject to review at school year end by those who evaluate his performance. I'm not advocating whether he has handled this properly or not--that decison is in the hands of his superiors to whom he is accountable.

Time to move on.

[tpoole12]

It has been intersting to read the posts from both camps--I really do not have a strong feel for or against Ooltewah so I have tried to watch as an impartial observer. Seems to me that enough has been said as all sides have had their say.

I'll add my two cents worth: seems to me the decision as to what to do with those players not involved in the fight but who were at the game causing trouble should be left to Coach Monroe and the administration. If they are comfortable that they have meted out the proper discipline to those involved, then so be it. It is their call. Many might handle it differently and those who disagree with Coach Monroe's position certainly have a right to voice that opinion.

I also think that Coach Monroe's decisions are subject to review at school year end by those who evaluate his performance. I'm not advocating whether he has handled this properly or not--that decison is in the hands of his superiors to whom he is accountable.

Time to move on.

 

 

GOOD POST

 

I don't think anything else could possibly be said that hasn't already been said.....

[rhs0307]

I am terribly disappointed that the incident even occurred! I was at the game but I no longer attend Ridgeland. My friend on the other hand was the one who got his lip split and his sisters nose broken. I think it is alot easier to say drop it for those who were not directly involved. I know that it is over a month later and the effects are still taunting the victims (medical bills and such). As for those involved, I am glad the two who threw punches were arrested. I hope they are punished to the full extent of the law because what they did is illegal and for most just plain wrong. As for the other boys, I am disappointed that it took so long to make an arrest if that is what was planned all along. I believe they should turn themselves in and not be allowed to play with an outstanding warrant. I believe they knew what they were doing when they came and should take responsibilty for their part. If they are truly innocent then there should be no worries. But, I do know that they were there for a reason. A fight was the plan from the beginning just the wrong people got hit. I personally get irritated by the situation. I believe that those boys deserve serious consquences and I do not think that laps will cut it! The punishment needs to git the "crime" but it should also be tough enough to teach a lesson. Those boys came to Ridgeland with intent to cause problems. I am not saying I think they should be kicked off the team but I think that they should be suspended. There are those who will say by benching them , those who have a shot at college ball will loose it. I will respond to that with ... they should think more carefully about what they do. Yes, everyone make mistakes BUT there are always reprocussions and they will not be the only people to ever loose something because of their mistake. When you have important things on the line you should be careful of your actions They can still go to college and get a education (mean isnt that what college is really about). A lot of Ootlewah people will recognize me from their board earlier... sorry about all of that... emotions were high and now I am trying to think about this logically. Try and not be so negative about the way in which it was handled at the school. The boys were escorted to the gates ( I believe it should have been to their cars but). There was another incident in the parking lot that was being attended to between the boys being escorted out and the incident. The school tried their best. Their best is not always perfect or even correct but give them some credit. As for the Ridgeland students coming to Ootlewah... If it is true..I am embarrassed. I can not believe that they would do that. It makes them and the community look bad. It makes us look just as bad as those boys look to alot of Ridgeland people. Anyhow ...sorry I hope no one was offended