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8 Armwood Football Players Face Possible Suspension From Season Opener

Posted Aug 30, 2007 by Adam Adkins

Updated Aug 30, 2007 at 08:33 PM

SEFFNER Eight Armwood High varsity football players could be suspended for tonight’s regular-season opener against Plant after being caught Thursday skipping a morning class for the second time in two days.

Armwood coach Sean Callahan said he will decide today whether to sit the eight varsity players, including starting quarterback Mywan Jackson, for the home game against the defending Class 4A state champion Panthers. One junior varsity player also is among the group being disciplined.

All of the players were held out of Thursday’s practice and will receive two days of in school suspension, Callahan said. However, there will be more punishment for each player, Callahan said, and that could include being benched for tonight’s game.

“I’m very disciplined, I’m very on the ball with all my players, and for them to challenge me, for nine kids to do this after I told them the day before I was going to check on them, it was a complete slap in my face,” Callahan said, adding the punishment will be the same for all the players in question. “I’ve never been one to mince words with stuff like this. I’m trying to be open about playing them. I’ve got to see them [today] and see how much they’re hurting.

At practice Thursday, Callahan said he would meet with each player, the player’s parents, school administrators and the captains to decide on the penalties.

Callahan reiterated late Thursday night that no decision had been made on whether to bench the players in question for tonight’s game, and added he still had to meet with some of parents of the players in question.

Jackson, who was scheduled to make his first varsity start at quarterback, was the only player who could be confirmed as one of the eight varsity players in question. None of the Hawks’ most notable players – tailback Eric Smith, linebacker Petey Smith, offensive lineman Matt Patchan and defensive linemen Sergio Joyner and Ryne Giddins – were among those in question, as all were at practice Thursday. Callahan said there were “5 1/2 starters” among the group; three on defense, two on offense and one who gets significant playing time.

In Jackson’s absence at Thursday’s practice, junior Rob Jones worked with the first-team offense and will get the start if Jackson does not suit up, Callahan said.

“The timing [of this incident] was bad, but I’ll turn it into a positive somehow,” Callahan said. “I’m torn because the kids have worked so hard and they are all good kids that just made a bad mistake.

“I told the guys [Wednesday] in a team meeting that we we’re going to face some adversity this season. I just didn’t expect it to come 12 hours later.”

Reader Comments

Por (Joseph Richter Jr) on August 30, 2007 (Suggest removal)

COULD INCLUDE HAVING TO SIT FOR TONIGHTS GAME?
I really hope he is kidding! Even back in the early ‘80s MY football coach had more integrity than this. We would not have been allowed to play. Allowing them to play just makes the idea of a punishment less than a joke.
Athletes need to be held to a higher standard. They haven’t been, and thats precisely why everyone thinks they (the players) can get away with pretty much anything they want.
They need to sit. If it costs the game, then I’m SURE their fellow players will let them know how THEY feel about what these kids’ sheenanigans cost them.
Show some backbone for once.