High School Students Kicked Off Football Team for Going to Phillies Parade

A high school football coach in suburban Philadelphia gave nine of his players the boot after they defied his orders not to skip school by attending the Phillies championship parade last Friday. Not surprisingly, the decision has generated a lot of negative attention, especially when you consider attendance at all public high schools in Philly was down 20 percent the day of the parade.

What's the harm in letting the kids have a little fun, right? Surely the coach is on an unfortunate power trip ... right?

Before you make a knee-jerk reaction, consider this: the kids were forced to sit out Friday's game due to the local high school association rules, which presumably states a student is ineligible to participate in an event if he didn't attend school that day -- a common rule that a lot of high schools enforce.

Phillies Parade Photos

Ruben Amaro Jr. acknowledges the crowd during the Philadelphia Phillies World Series victory celebration at the ballpark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in this October 31, 2008 file photo. The Phillies plan to announce Amaro Jr. to succeed Pat Gillick as Phillies general manager at a news conference November 3, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer/Files (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamles, the World Series MVP, addresses the fans during the baseball teams' celebration of their World Series Championship, Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Chase Utley arrives at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chase Utley

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Pat Burrell and his dog Elvis arrive at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pat Burrell

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Shane Victorino arrives at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Victorino

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Jamie Moyer (L) and Brett Myers (R) arrive at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brett Myers;Jamie Moyer

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: The Phillie Phanatic celebrates at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Fans celebrate at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)

Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Cole Hamels speaks at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cole Hamels

Getty Images

So by skipping school to attend the parade in the morning, the students knew they were leaving their teammates short-handed later that night. And it's that lack of loyalty to the team that the coach saw fit to punish by not letting them play in the final two games.

"We sat down all of the players beforehand and told them, in no uncertain terms, that they needed to honor their commitment to the team," [coach Tom] Butts said. "That commitment started way back in January, with off-season conditioning."

Sure, it's unfortunate, but in my eyes it's also completely reasonable. Team sports require a commitment, and yes, sometimes sacrifice, from everybody. If everyone's not on board to play by the same rules, it just doesn't work. Kudos to the coach for making the extremely unpopular, yet 100 percent correct, decision.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

11-06-2008 @ 7:57PM

Michael said...

Oh yeah Chase. That would really show the coach a thing or two.....NOT! That has to be the DUMBEST posting I have seen in years. I think a boot or two up your a** would help you a whole lot!

11-06-2008 @ 4:36PM

David said...

Maybe the city should be blamed for having the parade on a school day? Why couldn't they have had it on a saturday or declared friday a holiday so the kids could attend the event without being punished?
I guess Philli is just not use to having a winning team so they don't know how to handle it when they do have one?

11-09-2008 @ 10:05AM

Fran said...

We in Philly are very proud of our teams and players so if you do not live here you shouldn't think. Fran

11-09-2008 @ 11:27AM

basketpam said...

I take it you support the decision for the kids to skip school? I get the feeling you're probably just out of school yourself or else don't live a very responsible life. Besides the whole thing of skipping school, what would have happened if these kids would have been in a car accident? Parents wouldn't have even known where the kids were. On top of being kicked off the team I have a pretty good idea they got detention on top of this. Remember this statement: It is not acceptable to skip school - for ANY reason. Certainly not for a silly parade. I could possibly understand the temptation if it had been an actual game - but for a parade? NO sports team is worth everything these kids will go through by the time this is all said and done. I wonder if you ask them now if they would say it was worth it. At least for some of them it probably won't be as they not only suffered consequences at school but if they live in decent families they will also suffer consequences at home. My life would have ceased to exsist as I knew it after a stunt like this. My folks would have gone off the deep end. Something people like you don't understand. This would have been a great humiliation to many parents in the eyes of other families. They are probably ashamed their children acted in such an irresponsible manner. As a result, I would have been grounded, my car taken away and who knows what else. It would have taken me a LONG time to earn any trust from my parents again after pulling a stunt like this one. I wonder if any of the kids had great parents like mine? I hope so. I can tell you're not one of them.

11-09-2008 @ 12:34PM

trish marbury said...

and who should pay for this hasty baseball holiday to shut down the city so people can go to a parade? cities all over are broke. maybe it should be written in ever city's constitution: and should our tean win a pennant, superbowl, stanley cup, or basketball championship blahblahblah city holiday blahblahblah...

11-09-2008 @ 2:57PM

Lucy said...

Fran..you told David he shouldn't think.... He didn't. No city of that size could close down for a parade. Maybe a smalltown one could.... The coach was right in benching them. Rules are rules and too many people, of all ages, just think they don't need to follow them.

11-06-2008 @ 4:35PM

E.L. Kuwanoe said...

These young men are old enough to understand the rules. They chose to ditch school so they need to play the penalty. Too bad that they did not have enough team spirit to support their fellow players..........

Simon...if all you can do is make fun of someones name...go home and grow up.

11-09-2008 @ 8:35AM

dadspt said...

ask jimmy rollins about commitment, if it is good enough for a pro player to get benched, then it us perfectly fine for nine guys who weren't committed to get benched. do you think the phillies would be champions if they had 9 players who weren't committied?

11-13-2008 @ 11:31PM

jacks said...

The truth of the matter is the Phil's and the city are dumb a$$'s for having the parade on a school day. Young men high school age love sports and naturally want to be a part in a championship parade, and be able to say they were there. So blame the adults, not just the kids!

11-06-2008 @ 4:47PM

Mike said...

At least the CUBS will declare a HOLIDAY when they win. EVERYONE, including the high school coaches, will be at that parade!

11-06-2008 @ 5:00PM

philiptsheridan said...

When are the cubs going to Win , Thats the problem........?

11-07-2008 @ 6:48AM

Todd said...

Of course it will be a holiday...You will have been dead for 50 years, because we all know that the Cubs are LOSERS and CHOKERS....

11-09-2008 @ 9:30AM

nalpakdlk said...

Yes they will ... in the year 2028. ;-)

11-06-2008 @ 5:22PM

Webz said...

Coach Butts... haha, he was the worst when I was in school.

11-06-2008 @ 5:52PM

Matt Snyder said...

Right as rain, Watson.

The kids knew they were going to miss one game ... if I'm the coach, "well, just take the rest of the games off as well."

11-06-2008 @ 6:32PM

DEE PATTERSON said...

LET'S TEACH OUR YOUNG ADULTS NO COMMITTMENT VALUES SO THEY WILL GROW UP LIKE YOU-YOU WOULD OR DID CALL IN SICK TO SEE THE PARADE FROM SOME COMFY BAR NO DOUBT