It became sadly apparent the biggest loser would be Rogers’ next opponent when it was announced the Rams would have to forfeit their next football game following an Oct. 3  brawl with visiting Central Catholic.

Regretfully, that’s Whitmer. The Panthers are now enjoying a suddenly imposed bye week this weekend instead of a home game where the school had scheduled its hall of fame induction ceremonies, along with recognition of senior members of the marching band and their parents.

Meanwhile, the Rams (1-4, 2-6) have the weekend off and won’t have to be concerned about further record decay against what would have been a heavily favored Whitmer team, now 4-1, 4-4 following the forfeiture.

But more importantly, Whitmer has lost its all-important Friday night football revenue that would have probably been about $12,000, according to school athletic director Tom Snook. He said revenue from one home game can typically range from $10,000 to $17,000.

Football revenue is the lifeblood of almost all high school athletics. It helps fund any number of other sports. Losing profits from just one football game can create a huge financial burden.

Snook said he thought a forfeiture might be considered when he originally heard about the confrontation between the two schools that saw Rogers players leave the bench to participate in the on-field altercation, while Central players on the sidelines remained there.

Snook said individual players should have been reprimanded instead of the entire team, and the impact on the entire community should have been taken into consideration, that being another City League school. That being Whitmer.

Snook also stated that he was “notified slightly” by City League Commissioner Ed Scrutchins before the sanction was handed down by Toledo Public Schools Superintendent John Foley.

“We strongly advocated our position,” Snook said. “I applaud the swift action they took, but our seniors only get 10 games on the regular schedule, and this is one they will never get back. It will affect their statistics and other honors they might have gotten otherwise.”

The Ohio High School Athletic Association will treat the scheduled Rogers-Whitmer game as an open week with computer ratings using a nine-game divisor for both teams.

Asked if City League officials offered any financial restitution, Snook said, “That might be a possibility in good faith. It could be on the horizon.”The incident has reportedly renewed backroom discussion concerning the formation of a new league, featuring the parochial schools, plus Whitmer and a couple of other Toledo-area high schools.

As for any discussion concerning the termination of night football, which occurred from 1963 to 1981, let’s not even go there. It would be financially disastrous.

Bloggers have been quick to lend an opinion or 10, some enlightening, some entertaining and some recklessly imprudent.

An example of the latter includes word that a petition is being circulated asking that Rogers head football coach Rick Rios and Athletic Director Randall Bartz be fired. Others want to know why Central Catholic wasn’t punished. Why? For sideline nonparticipation?

When I started reading about the new “culture” sweeping into the Rogers High School district and the mention of “Ghetto Thugs,” that’s when I stopped reading.

Suffering methodology

After losing three straight games at home with a contest at Michigan this weekend, Toledo Rockets coach Tom Amstutz resorted to a team-bonding cookout and movie (an unreliable inside source saying it was the 1955 release of “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing”). Meanwhile, in Ann Arbor, UM coach Rich Rodriguez says his team is playing, “soft.” No movies, no barbeque, the shock value of the unacceptable word itself, as it relates to football, expected to make a sizeable impact.

• And there’s this, down in Cincinnati where winless Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said, “I actually like our football team, other than being 0-5. I like our guys. I like what we’re doing.” What’s not to like about Marvin Lewis, if you’re not concerned about winning? The Bengals, to a man, must be totally relieved to know that their coach doesn’t actually dislike them.
• Up in Detroit, coach Ron Marinelli said he took as a “personal insult,” the comment a media member made, in essence asking Marinelli if he considered quitting after the Lions dropped to 0-4. Detroit wide receiver Roy Williams said his team still has a chance to make the playoffs. Roy, this isn’t a fantasy league.
• Over in Cleveland, after a bye week following their first victory of the season (albeit, against Cincinnati) the Browns are talking retribution, declaring that the New York Giants are in trouble after they embarrassed the Browns on national TV in a preseason game. The Giants scored 30 unanswered points in the first half making a mockery of the contest and the Browns’ defense.

Heading into the Oct. 13 game against the Giants in Cleveland Stadium, again on national TV, the Browns say they have a chip on their respective shoulders. Those chips will become big chunks after the Giants dismantle them once again.

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