SCC column - Week 2

"No athlete may be under the influence or be in possession of, or use alcohol or drugs at any time during the season. Penalty for infraction of this rule is immediate dismissal from the sport for the remainder of the season."
Of course, that is Rule 1 of the East Haven Athletic Digest, words that have been scrutinized in this area more than the Second Amendment in the last week.
At least it used to be. Or it is. Or maybe it's not.
If you've been under a rock (maybe East Rock), East Haven suspended four football players (and two cheerleaders) for the season after they were ticketed for underage drinking at a party three weeks ago. Then, last week, the Board of Education - without even meeting - changed their minds, reducing the ban to 20 percent of the season, which equals two games.
Sounds like fishy business, doesn't it?
I'll try to fend through the garbage and bring you the essential facts as quickly as I can. Basically, the players in question were among anywhere from 50-80 high school kids at a house party where alcohol was prevalent (already, not so good). Eventually, the police came and broke up the party and issued 24 tickets for underage drinking (many others took off and therefore weren't ticketed).
So, obviously there were more than four football players at said party (as well as athletes from other sports), so why only four suspensions? Because those four came forward, extremely admirable under the circumstances, but a decision they soon regretted when they (and their parents) found out about some recent changes in the law that make it illegal for the police to release the names of minors who are ticketed, even to school districts.
Therefore the school (and the athletic department) would never know. Unless someone told them, of course. Whoops. When no one else came forward, the students rethought their decision, and there was a loophole in the rule above. It says "under the influence or be in possession of", not just standing around people that were. So that became the argument.
"Keep in mind that these kids were not shooting up in a hallway," one of the parents, Teri Kasperzyk said, and went on to say that her son was present merely to make sure none of his teammates were there and never touched any alcohol. "They merely received a blanket citation for being present when alcohol is being served."
The Superindent of Schools Anthony Serio said he questioned the policy, and said, in one of the dumber quotes ever, especially to anyone who knows anything about drunk driving deaths, "Usually if a kid violated a rule, he was fall-down drunk or he got arrested or something. This was a little bit gray."
Athletic Director Mike Marone said, "We want to teach honesty and character, and that's what these kids showed (when they came forward)."
Police Chief Leonard Gallo (yes, the same Gallo that arrested his own mayor recently), according to Serio, agreed the policy needed to be revised.
Board of Education Chairwoman Marilyn Vitale said, "Do we really want to ruin a kid's life?"
Alright, stop the tape. Enough. Just enough.
At this point I need to mention that all athletes and parents must sign an Athletic Participation form before playing which states: "I have read and understand the athletic code as prescribed by the East Haven Public School student handbook and the Athletic Digest." The Board of Education, Superintendent, and Athletic Director all had ample opportunity to change said policy last year or in the summer or maybe could have read it before it was passed a couple of years back. But they didn't.
And so that rule, that every single athlete at that party signed a paper saying they knew, was in place for the 2009-2010 school year. That is, until they retroactively changed it. Because rules don't matter, do they? Complain enough, say you're going to sue, call the media, jump up and down and scream, whatever works.
Which brings us back to "teaching honesty and character". You know what real honesty and character would be? All the athletes that were at the party coming forward and admitting what they did and serving their season-long suspension. Whether you think the rule is correct or not, it was the rule and everyone knew about it. I don't like "No Turn on Red" signs, but if they pull me over for it, I can't say it's stupid, I know it's the law.
I'm not naive enough to preach that drinking should not happen until you're 21, but it is the law of the land, and if you're under 21 and caught drinking (or at a party like this case where there is drinking), you deserve to get ticketed.
(For A Few Good Men fans: "Yeah, but it wasn't a real order. This is peacetime. Surely, a Marine of Lt. Dawson's intelligence can be trusted on his own which are the really important orders and which orders might, say, be morally questionable?")
And, therefore, if the rule states you are dismissed then you are dismissed. Period. Anything otherwise defeats the entire purpose of high school sports, which are indeed a privilege to play. Character and honesty (as well as teamwork, discipline, etc.) need to be the values we try to instill in our young people, and I don't think that happened here.
I found it rather ironic that on the same front page of the New Haven Register last Thursday that reported on East Haven reinstating its players, there was a story about a 17-year old Guilford kid who - while allegedly driving drunk - crashed his car, permanently paralyzing his 17-year old friend and giving himself numerous injuries.
(For people on the web: http://tiny.cc/FVFCb)
The question I have for the parents and everyone else involved is: how were those kids getting home from that party? Shouldn't this be a bigger issue than football, which shouldn't be able to "ruin a kid's life" if it's there or it's not there. Killing someone while driving drunk? That will ruin your life (and other lives, obviously). Not being able to play football? Not so much.
In the court of public opinion, it will take East Haven a long time to recover from this one. But we can only hope that the kids involved will not take out of this what so many youths have before them: look out for yourself and if you do something wrong, deny everything, threaten lawsuits (and people), and never follow rules you may disagree with.
I will leave you with the famous words of Colonel Jessup. Semper fi.
"We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use them as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline."
EXTRA POINTS: Evidently the Notre Dame bandwagon got over it capacity and tipped over somewhere around the third quarter of their game at Palmer Field in Middletown last Friday. The Green Knights, who had a 21-0 lead, watched in horror as the Falcons came back to tie it, watched Phillip Bentley return the ensuing kickoff 88 yards to grab the lead again, had the ball with 2 minutes left, fumbled, Xavier scored, went for two, ND had Julian Hayes wrapped up in the backfield, broke approximately 62 tackles, got in to make it 29-28 Xavier, and then the Knights apparently caught a Hail Mary in the end zone on the final play only to have the ball squirt out. Never a dull moment at Palmer Field, but the difference between the Class L playoffs and not might be that game. Tape, anyone? ... Cheshire proved life after Billy Ragone won't be so bad as they manhandled Shelton, 49-31, at Finn Stadium, in a game that didn't really deserve to be that close. The Rams' offensive line opened up massive holes and Greg Palmer was more than capable of running through them, he not only ran for 160 yards and five touchdowns, but also completed 10-of-11 passes for 121 yards. In truth, the game was won in the trenches, as Shelton's line will face plenty of questions in Division I the rest of the way ... North Haven let an early lead slip away, or rather Hillhouse's Spencer Jones took it away with three touchdown runs, but the Indians won it when Anthony Chiaia hit a 39-yard field goal with 1 second remaining, condemning the Academics, who were in the playoffs last season, to an 0-2 start ... City-rivals Wilbur Cross found itself down 14-0 at the half at home to upstart Amity, but did find a way to climb out of their hole, James Ward had two touchdown runs in the third quarter, and Arthur Tucker caught a TD pass to win it in the fourth quarter. Still some questions going forward, though, for the Governors ... Foran is delighted to be 2-0 after holding off Guilford, 21-20. The Indians had a spirited comeback attempt, but after getting within a point, had their extra point blocked and the Lions were able to hold on. Remember, Foran nearly lost on a blocked extra point in the opening week before coming back to win it on a field goal at the buzzer ... Like Cross, Hamden found itself unexpectedly down at halftime to West Haven, but scored 21 points in the third quarter on its way to a tough 27-19 victory. Jordan Teague led the way with a pair of touchdown runs, but hopefully for the Dragons, they got the message that you take anyone likely at your own peril. West Haven, still winless, will battle Notre Dame this week ... Sheehan also pulled away in the second half with a running back - the tremendously named Zach Prefontaine - who scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Titans won going away, 33-12. The 2-0 Titans host Hand this week and may be able to give them some trouble ... East Haven, minus their four suspended players for the final time, trailed only 6-2 at the half, but their lack of offense finally caught up with them against Lyman Hall, the Trojans pulling away, 26-2 ... Well, that's that, not a bad game in the bunch. Except, of course, Branford's non-league game against Platt Tech, which they won easily, 49-18. Can't win them all, I guess, North Haven has a stiffer non-league test next week against Wilton of the FCIAC.
Check us out on Twitter, www.twitter.com/currenscc. If you have any story ideas or scores you want to get across, let me know.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julian Hayes, Xavier - Hayes rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, and also ran back an interception for a score in the Falcons' 29-28 upset of Notre Dame last Friday. But his most significant play might have come on the final two-point conversion when Hayes took a pass and dragged the Notre Dame team into the end zone for the winning points, a truly all-around performance.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Cheshire at Wilbur Cross, Friday, 4 p.m. - One of these teams is for real. In fact, it's entirely possible that both these teams for real, but one of them will leave Wilbur Cross Friday afternoon with its first loss of the season. For the winner, though, comes a 3-0 start and a real belief that they might be in the postseason, for Cheshire, the second straight year, but for Wilbur Cross, a monumental achievement.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2
Number of kickers North Haven used to kick field goals in its 20-18 win over Hillhouse last Friday. Robert Carbone kicked a second-quarter field goal for the Indians (Carbone also had a field goal in the opening game, a 19-3 loss to Branford) and kicked both extra points. But with a 39-yarder needed to win, North Haven called on Anthony Chiaia, who boomed the game-winner through with 1 second remaining.
.
POWER RANKINGS
1) Hamden (2-0; Last Week 1) – Dragons reading too many of their own press clippings maybe last week?
2) Cheshire (2-0; LW 5) – Did I say they would struggle? Only 90 points in their first two games. Whoops.
3) Wilbur Cross (2-0; LW 2) – Like Hamden, maybe got a little too up after the first win, but survived awful half.
4) Notre Dame (1-1; LW 3) – Westies won't let them gather their thoughts too long after unbelievable loss.
5) Hand (1-1; LW 6) – Nice rebound for Tigers, but the road will get tougher in their Division I schedule.
6) Xavier (1-1; LW 7) – Schedlue not outrageously difficult the rest of the way, but still hard to get a read on them.
7) Shelton (1-1; LW 4) – Just got beaten up at the line of scrimmage, which doesn't bode well for D-I future.
8) West Haven (0-2; LW 8) – Blue Devils' record may not show it at end, but you get the feeling they'll be frisky.
9) Branford (2-0; LW 9) - If they can survive the next three weeks, the Hornets might be dancing into postseason.
10) Sheehan (2-0: LW 11) - Should be fired up to take on Tigers at home, a win might put them in playoff picture.
11) Amity (0-2; LW 12) – Would probably fare very well in Division II. Unfortunately, they're not in Division II.
12) North Haven (1-1; LW 14) - Will be very interesting to see how they fare against Wilton, average FCIAC squad.
13) Hillhouse (0-2; LW 10) - Could they be 0-3? Will take a big effort to top the high-flying Hornets.
14) Foran (2-0; LW 16) - Many thought that Foran might get two wins the entire season, off to a great start.
15) Fairfield Prep (0-2; LW 13) - Jesuits better take care of business this week, or an 0-for season comes into play.
16) Jonathan Law (1-1; LW 15) - Battled Sheehan extremely hard for a half, but couldn't continue it in second half.
17) Lyman Hall (1-1; LW 18) - Pretty brutal run in the next five weeks for the Trojans, want to beat Guilford Friday.
18) Guilford (0-2; LW 17) - Indians' schedule is no cakewalk, either. Sets up for big game against Lyman Hall.
19) East Haven (0-1; LW 19) - With their whole team back, could be a threat for Foran this week.