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Lincoln High School in Pennsylvania will be allowed to continue its high school football season. The Philadelphia School District overturned its controversial ruling for a brawl started by opposing parents.
It was an unfair punishment for an incident that stemmed mostly from an act of self defense.
The high school football team
This incident took place on Oct. 4. Lincoln traveled just a few miles up the road to play at its rival, Northeast. The Railsplitters dominated the Panthers by a final score of 39-8, which moved them to 5-2.
They are right in the mix for a playoff spot.
However, their season almost came to an early end. Lincoln players found themselves at the center of an all-out melee after the win over Northeast. It did not involve opposing players, only their parents.
And yet, only the Railsplitters were punished. They received a team-wide three-game suspension that took the rest of their season. The Panthers did not receive a suspension even though it was their parents who started the brawl. Their season was allowed to continue.
If that was not strange enough, Northeast athletic director Phil Gormley — whose entire job is to prevent this kind of thing — serves on the board of the Philadelphia Public League for football. He had a role on the larger committee that ruled on the incident with Lincoln.
His school was not punished at all. Its opponent had the rest of its season canceled. I wonder why!
The suspension is (partially) overturned.
Upon further review of the fight video, the Philadelphia Public League has decided to amend its suspension. Any player who was not directly involved in the brawl against Northeast parents will be allowed to play.
“After an additional review of video footage, statements from coaches, parents and OSS officers onsite and reports from PPD, the PPL’s investigation concluded that student-athletes and coaches from the Abraham Lincoln High School Football team Program engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct after the conclusion of the game.
“In accordance with the PPL Unsportsmanlike Conduct Policy and PIAA Article XIII, Lincoln’s Football program will receive a two (2) game sanction, which will be applied to the game when the incident occurred (Oct. 4) as well as their next contest, which occurred this past weekend (Oct. 10). Individuals who were not directly involved in the altercation from Lincoln will be eligible to return to play this week for their final regular season game on Oct. 18. Lincoln, OSS and PPD are still investigating to determine individual follow up actions. We take situations like this very seriously and the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and spectators at sporting events is our top priority.”
Lincoln was forced to forfeit its win over Northeast and last weekend’s game against West Philadelphia, which was not played as scheduled. Two (likely) wins were pulled off of the board.
A Railsplitters team that could be 7-1 drops to 5-3 as a result of the punishment.
It must win against Imhotep Charter on Saturday to have any chance of making the playoffs. It must do so without its coaching staff and with a depleted roster.
Meanwhile, a terrible Panthers team gets to continue on as if nothing happened even though it was their parents who started the brawl. How is that fair?