A High School Football Coach in Texas has been accused of bullying. The accusation has not been made because of how he treated his players or non athletes at the school. Instead, the complaint was filed from the parent of a player on a losing team. I understand that parents are protective of their children, but at what point are we going to draw the line between looking out for and babying.
Despite the fact that the accused coach, Tim Buchanan, pulled his starters, ordered kick returners to fair catch and had a running clock starting in the third quarter the score ended up being 91-0 in favor of Aledo High School over Western Hills. If any readers want the exact details of what transpired, visit this link.
I only have two comments on this head scratching incident. First, should a mercy rule be instigated in High School Football? Is a mercy rule actually more degrading than taking a beating for the full game?
Despite the fact that the accused coach, Tim Buchanan, pulled his starters, ordered kick returners to fair catch and had a running clock starting in the third quarter the score ended up being 91-0 in favor of Aledo High School over Western Hills. If any readers want the exact details of what transpired, visit this link.
I only have two comments on this head scratching incident. First, should a mercy rule be instigated in High School Football? Is a mercy rule actually more degrading than taking a beating for the full game?
Secondly, and more importantly, is an accusation that could be potentially career harming a bit strong considering all participants on the field were there voluntarily? Since bullying is a large topic in today's society and is rightfully taken very seriously, do we cheapen efforts to curb it by throwing it around in situations where it is not warranted? Could Coach Buchanan have taken a knee and kept the score line down? Of course that would have been an option. On the same hand, the parent who made the accusation could have chosen to call the coach a bad sport, graceless winner and someone that lacks class which is what normally happens in athletics. Life is competitive and team sports are a microcosm of this. Losing a football game or having something bad happen in life is not bullying, it is simply life.
Instead of choosing to teach his son a life lesson, the parent has basically told a group of children that if things go horribly wrong for you it is better to cry foul or whine instead of continuing to work hard. Luckily, given current trends in The United States, trophies for the losers are already being purchased I am sure.
Instead of choosing to teach his son a life lesson, the parent has basically told a group of children that if things go horribly wrong for you it is better to cry foul or whine instead of continuing to work hard. Luckily, given current trends in The United States, trophies for the losers are already being purchased I am sure.