An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That should be the lesson learned from Oct. 3’s major altercation in the City League matchup between the Rogers Rams and the Central Catholic Fighting Irish.

Late in the third quarter, tempers between the two teams flared, which led to many Rogers players leaving the sidelines and stepping on the field of play. The actions led to the premature ending of the contest by the officials when they deemed the situation too dangerous to play.

The details are sketchy because most of the media wasn’t there, and there is little video of what happen. There are a number of things in dispute. Did some Central players come onto the field? What extracurricular activities went on before the stoppage of the game?  Who is really at fault?

Some things are not in dispute. Rogers players did run on the field, which caused City League commissioner Ed Scrutchins to suspend the Rogers Rams for their game at Whitmer.  The decision was the only one Scrutchins could make, and everyone at Rogers accepts the decision, including head coach Rick Rios. Players cannot go on the field during an altercation.  With that being said, high school football officials are hired to keep things like these from happening. In this game, they did not.

Most high school referees do a terrific job. It is a very difficult task. With that being said, high school officiating is in decline. From a Central Catholic playoff game against Piqua where flags seemed to fly on almost every play, to a high school basketball regional final where officials swallowed their whistles making the Whitmer game against Canton McKinley look like a football game, to repeated off-the-record comments from coaches who complain about officials with agendas but are too afraid to speak up for fear of reprisals the next time they draw a certain crew or official.

Multiple sources on the field at the game said tempers flared before the game started when both teams were trash talking during warm-ups. Despite many tales of unnecessary rough play and unsportsmanlike conduct in the piles, not one 15-yard flag was thrown in the game.

From what I’m told, there was one holding penalty and approximately five minor infractions. Due to the officials’ inability to defuse a situation involving impulsive and emotional teenagers, there are many casualties.

First is the reputation of Rogers coach Rios. Rios has been to the state playoffs, has sent a disproportion of players to college and has helped players that he doesn’t even coach get into college. Rios is a good coach, but more importantly, a better teacher.  Rios has the kids’ respect on the field, in the classroom and in the hallways.

Second is the reputation of the players. The Rams have had just one unsportsmanlike conduct penalty all season (for swearing) and have averaged less than four penalties a game. It doesn’t sound like an undisciplined team to me.

Third is the Whitmer Panthers, who lose a home game and the home gate that comes with it.

Fourth is the St. John’s Jesuit Titans who could have lost secondary computer points that they won’t get had Whitmer beat Rogers.

Referees have to prevent these situations before they escalate.  Don’t tolerate rough play, trash talking and late hits. Stop play and warn both benches if need be. Everyone was accountable on Oct. 3 at Rogers, including the referees who didn’t prevent a mess.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under Prep Sports, Sports.
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