[Tica]

A school could not legally discipline them for conduct that occurred off campus and not on school time as long as it did not involve a malicious act against the school or school property or school personnel or if law enforcement was not involved. A coach, however, could discipline them for violating his conduct or team rules. What does the school use for proof? Facebook? Twitter?

Also, the ranks of former players would be remarkably thinner had everyone who sipped a Strohs on a hot summer's eve been booted for it. Just sayin ...

[BFritz]

I think what happened to me is probably the main reason that it's being punished so harshly.

For whoever said it was on private property, it's still breaking the law and I'm sure that the kids signed a paper before the season that promised they wouldn't drink.

Sucks that it happened at the start of the playoffs and I like Rash, so this is sad.

[sstack]

i wouldn't say it's blown out of proportion, this is a case where these guys were caught red handed and Noel Rash and Beechwood have a strict policy on underage drinking.

we always had a team pact, no drinking during the season, including summer workouts. did any body else do something like that?

Highlands players had a no drinking policy in early 80's. I remember over a holiday weekend players where caught drinking and a large number of kids were suspended for 1 game and had to run a ton of wind sprints after every practice for a couple of weeks as punishment.

[sstack]

Back in the late 80's dipping snuff and drinking a few coldies was acceptable. Now if we had someone getting poop canned every weekend we took care of that internally. There was plenty of incentive to stay on a good foot for the benefit of the team during the season. Our team never gave the adults reason to be concerned.

Clearly something changed to warrant tighter team rules and contracts since then....kids started putting themselves ahead of the team!

Not accepted at our school. It went on,but did not do it out in the open. Like I posted earlier, if caught you were punished.

[plantmanky]

A school could not legally discipline them for conduct that occurred off campus and not on school time as long as it did not involve a malicious act against the school or school property or school personnel or if law enforcement was not involved. A coach, however, could discipline them for violating his conduct or team rules. What does the school use for proof? Facebook? Twitter?

Also, the ranks of former players would be remarkably thinner had everyone who sipped a Strohs on a hot summer's eve been booted for it. Just sayin ...

A coach is an extension of the school, any punishment given by a coach would have to be an acceptable form of punishment as if it was given by the school.

[tomcatfan722000]

I understand kids experiment but they need to learn to be repsonsible to people who depend on them(coaches,players,teammates) that's what this was about. Not about drinking is bad.

[CTCX_14]

This was not first found out on Facebook. Also, it is ILLEGAL for KIDS to drink alcohol under the age of 21. These kids sign contracts not to drink during the season. Why is this so hard to comprehend? I find it sad we have ADULTS on here who approve of this because they did it growing up.

I respect Noel even more for suspending these kids.

[Panther Thunder]

These kids sign contracts not to drink during the season. Why is this so hard to comprehend? I find it sad we have ADULTS on here who approve of this because they did it growing up.

I respect Noel even more for suspending these kids.

:rockon:

[Spirit100]

Not accepted at our school. It went on,but did not do it out in the open. Like I posted earlier, if caught you were punished.

Accepted because we didn't drink out in the open, no team rules against it, and I was referring to a few beers over the course of a season.

I referred to then vs. now and provided examples...I support the BHS coach and his decision. Next time be more open minded when you take words out of context.

[OffTheHook]

Team rules or not. It is against the law. Also if any of the pics posted on Facebook show an adult in the background in any of them......I feel sorry for that adult. Cause they can now be charged.

We caught a few boys drinking a few years back on our baseball team during a road trip. 4 days In School Suspension and 10 days of Team Suspension. ALL starters.

[mysonis55]

It's like this, they messed up and should be punished for violating the coaches and the schools rules. Playing football or any otherr sport in school is a privalage and not a right. I think the kids and parents should respect the coaches wishes in this matter. This will help the boys in their growing process. I only hope that the punishment fits the crime and does not get too severe. I would hope they are not done for good, maybe a game or two, but certainly this does not need to go beyond that.

[goscots56]

So beechwood is suspending kids who were on private property committing an act in which they are not being legal charged with anything? How does that work. I hope Beechwood's lawyers are ready, this will get ugly.

No, Beechwood is suspending players for violating team rules. Doesn't matter who's property, doesn't matter what the crime. The rules were known well before they made the decision to drink. Regardless of what the US Judicial System does with them, they violated a team rule and should be punished.

You can play football for a team that allows players to drink, you just can't play football at Beechwood and drink. I don't know why this is so hard to understand.

[McCameraMan]

Yeah boys will be boys, but that is getting old. They knew what they was doing before they partake in it. Therefore, they deserve to be punished for their actions.

[E's Army]

Team rules. Team punishment. I respect a coach who teaches life lessons. There is more to being a coach than wins and losses.

[Copperhead11]

Williamsburg should follow their lead. Suspend players for the rest of the season, not just one game. How many starters did Williamsburg suspend for the same violation this past week?

[Avery Bullock]

I commend Coach Rash for his decision. He could have turned a blind eye to the problem and allowed the kids to play tomorrow night "for the good of the program." Instead, he did what was best for the KIDS. If we had more men like Coach Rash leading and disciplining our young men, the prison system may be just a little less crowded.

To all of you whose comments refer to your glory days of 10 or 20 or more years ago, consider a couple of simple facts. In the decade spanning from 2000 to 2010, underage DUI fatalities per 100,000 population in Kentucky have fallen 64.2% (source: http://www.centurycouncil.org/state-facts/kentucky)

In 2010 in Kentucky there were 11 DUI related deaths among underage drinkers. If you extrapolate the data from the 10 years prior (11 deaths divided by the 64.2% decrease) you come up with 17 deaths in 2010. That's just an estimate.

Statewide, among drivers of all ages, in 1982 there were 482 DUI related fatalities in Kentucky. In 2008, there were only 200. (source: http://news.lawreader.com/2009/09/22/ken...leads-the/)

Who among you wants the youth of today to experience what we experienced as kids 10, 20 or more years ago?

By disciplining his players and sending the right message, Noel Rash may have saved someone's life.

[E's Army]

Copperhead don't show your ass. Take care of your teams issues. Williamsburg doesn't need your impute. Throwing out the baby with the bath water is not always the solution. I am aware of issues with your team over the years which i will not address because unlike your dumb ass I am not trying to call out coaches and kids. Leave it at that. Quit trolling and stirring.

[Copperhead11]

Hit a nerve? And how on earth would you know what TEAM I am associated with? I am just an avid football fan. I have no team I only pull for. I want all area teams to win.

[64SUR]

COPPERHEADLESS Whats your problem with williamsburgs call us for a game in 2013 chicken head :wieghts:

[Avery Bullock]

Williamsburg should follow their lead. Suspend players for the rest of the season, not just one game. How many starters did Williamsburg suspend for the same violation this past week?

Copperhead, first of all, if you would keep your nose out of Williamsburg's business, it wouldn't get so cold. Keep it up Jim Black's butt where it's been so far this season. (Apologies to Coach Black. I like the guy but I couldn't resist the imagery.)

Second, if anybody is looking for a good whine to go with dinner, read some of Copperhead's posts... "Why does Whitley have to be the road team again this year in the playoffs? WAHHHH!" You won't hear a Jacket fan griping about going on the road. We'll do our best tomorrow against Jenkins then hopefully host Lynn Camp or Harlan next week. If we make it past them, we'll gladly head to Hazard (most likely) then on to Fairview or Raceland or wherever. If we make it to BG, we'll gladly fill the cooler with ice, gas up the truck and mash the gas pedal to follow the Jackets.

Third and most importantly, Coach Herron suspended THREE starters for last week's game for violating team rules. It's not my place to say what the violation was. YOU are the one who assumed it was the same as what happened at Beechwood. Maybe it was drinking, maybe they peed on the sidewalk and blamed it on an old crippled lady, maybe they sexually assaulted a hamster. Kids do crazy things!

Anyways, Herron's punishment went MUCH farther than just a one game suspension. How far? That's none of your business. The newspaper reported that Coach Rash at Beechwood suspended the first time offenders for one game and repeat offenders were kicked off the team. Sounds like Rash and Herron are on the same page.

You, sir, need to get your facts straight.

[E's Army]

One of the thing I admire about Coach Black was how he handled a young man with issues. How he became a surrogate father instead of tossing this young man away like yesterday's trash. I see that it is Copperhead's approach that we only need to preach to the choir. Copperhead when your house is perfect you can come mend ours. Before that day stay the hell out.

[Olderthandirt]

It's not often a coach has the ***** to do this. I don't know the guy, but I'm proud he's applied the rules set out for his team. Most coaches would ignore situations like this, say it's not true or just let it go without anything being done. Kids need to learn that rules are made, and made not to be broken.

[Avery Bullock]

Hit a nerve? And how on earth would you know what TEAM I am associated with? I am just an avid football fan. I have no team I only pull for. I want all area teams to win.

This post is only 5 sentences long and 2 of them are FALSE.

You have no team you only pull for? You have made 18 posts on BGR and 12 of them are either threads with Whitley County in the subject line or you mention WC in your post. Plus, in the Harlan County vs Perry Central thread on 10/19/12, you admit it by saying, "As a Whitley County fan..."

You want all area teams to win? Does that include the two closest schools to WC? You bash Williamsburg in one post saying that our QB and RB are former WC players and now you want heads to roll for infractions you know nothing about. In a post earlier in the year you bashed Corbin.

I hope WC goes deep in the playoffs. I know a bunch of the kids and parents. I'm not the biggest Corbin fan but I certainly don't wish them ill.

You need to stay off BGR and get a hobby. Instead of typing ridiculous posts, you could take up knitting.

[E's Army]

Why let the truth get in the way of being a jerk? Copperhead is a troll.

[Harry Rex Vonner]

Richmond should be punished. I would be inclined to conclude that he is a naive fool or he is lying. Competent school administrators aren't that naive.

[bac2369]

1 to 2 game suspension is in order for such a act and maybe three to the young men who think its unfair.. I will say this a young man or young women choose to drink its there own choice but some people are smart enough to say no.. Its not like they were forced to drink..

[the A team]

Personally, I think Beechwood's coach did the right thing. He suspended the 1st offenders and terminated the 2nd offense offenders. By getting rid of the second offense offenders, it sends a message to the first time offenders.

[RunItUpTheGut]

Somebody needs to explain that to gutless.

No. Someone needs to explain that to Wburg's players....

Dont get all mad. You called me out.
And you know good and well, I could have posted everything i knew about tha little school of yours and didnt, be happy.

[Runnin Cat]

So beechwood is suspending kids who were on private property committing an act in which they are not being legal charged with anything? How does that work. I hope Beechwood's lawyers are ready, this will get ugly.

Football is a privalige, not a right. The school system does not have to let them play, no matter what the reason. So have whatever lawyers ready you want, they will lose that battle. Nevermind the fact that Beechwood has rules, that the kids know about, and they broke it, weither it has charges or not. Quit trying to sue someone, and just accept respossibality for what you've done.

[Avery Bullock]

The fact that the kids were underage and drinking is just a violation of team rules. Believe it or not, drinking under the age of 21 is NOT against the law in Kentucky. It's just illegal for someone under 21 to buy booze.

Check it out: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/StateAn...11947.html

Under the heading "Drinking Under the Age of 21 Permitted" is Kentucky.