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    Prep Rally

    Georgia school voluntarily forfeits playoff spot rather than play team involved in football brawl

    By Cameron Smith | Prep Rally – Wed, Feb 15, 2012 8:11 AM EST

    A high school boys basketball team in Georgia has taken the stunning decision to forfeit its scheduled playoff game rather than face a potential violent reaction from its own student body and that of its competitor after a similar matchup in football season yielded ugly results.

    As reported by the Augusta Chronicle and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Warren County (Ga.) High officially forfeited its regional tournament playoff game against Hancock (Ga.) Central High, eliminating it from the regional championships and any chance of a state tournament berth; in Georgia, teams must reach the semifinals of regional tournaments to earn a state playoff berth.

    While the decision is a stunning one, it is also well intentioned. Rather than trying to avoid a humiliating loss, Warren County is simply trying to avoid a repeat of the nasty brawl that followed the football game between the two schools in October. The melee drew national attention -- including coverage here at Prep Rally -- and forced Warren County head coach David Daniel to undergo major surgery after he was beaten by a Hancock Central helmet.

    The bad blood from the postgame football brawl never truly passed, leading Warren County officials to take the rather unprecedented step of completely forfeiting all postseason play just to avoid facing off against a controversial foe.

    "This is one of the most gut-wrenching decisions we have ever made," Warren County Schools Superintendent Carole Jean Carey, whose initial request to have Warren County switched into another regional bracket was denied by the Georgia High School Athletic Association, told the Chronicle.

    Meanwhile, the Warren County students who are most affected by the voluntary forfeiture spoke up on Tuesday protesting the shocking decision to end their season before any postseason competition. Augusta CBS affiliate WRDW reported that the entire Warren County boys basketball team assembled outside their school and locked arms in a show of solidarity to try and force the school district to register their displeasure.

    "Today, we out here basically just to get our voices heard," Warren County senior Ed'Ricus Williams told WRDW. "We feel like nothing bad would happen. We feel like it would be a good game like it always [is]."

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    Watch Full Count!
     
    • Patrick
      Patrick  •  Middleton, Wisconsin  •  3 months ago
      I used to referee - and I had a problem once with parents and students. We cleared out the gym and let the kids play their game - with only the time keepers, coaches and assistants in the stands. It was a win for the kids and a lesson to the horrible parents!
      • joe
        joe 3 months ago
        Bravo to you sir!
      • normy
        normy 3 months ago
        The problem is with the adults. The parents are too busy to raise their kids, the school system won't adequately address the 'root' of the problem, & the kids just get screwed.
      • Ken
        Ken 3 months ago
        And then you got your #$%$ beat after the game.Mother f er you aint telling me to leave anywhere.
    • Your savings place
      Your savings place  •  Brockton, Massachusetts  •  3 months ago
      They should move the game to an undisclosed location. Have the kids play the game in an empty gym. Nothing but pure competition without the pointless drama. It stinks to see the athletes get punished for the idiocy of others.
      • Charlie V
        Charlie V 3 months ago
        Wait? You're expecting school officials to come up with such a simple plan? They probably assume it's better not to play because someone might commit a foul.
      • Steven
        Steven 3 months ago
        There were student athletes involved in the "brawl" as well. That's what they get. They should've thought about that in October. Lucky they didn't get disbanded.
      • FIFA
        FIFA 3 months ago
        At least some of the team members would be different than the ones in Oct. They are doing the right thing by refusing to play these guys again. Both groups should be ashamed of themselves and stepping away shows that at least one of the staffs realize this.
    • CC
      CC  •  Pleasanton, California  •  3 months ago
      Several years ago there was a similar situation involving the Berkeley (CA) High School-- game was played in an empty gym and police were outside to arrest anyone that got out of line. Game was played without incident..
      • Ken
        Ken 3 months ago
        only in california would people waste that much tax payer money over a high school game
      • Annallia Esaki
        Annallia Esaki 3 months ago
        You're right Ken, everywhere else would deem it too little of a waste to bother with and go on with something that will waste more money faster.
      • mike
        mike 3 months ago
        when you have to clear the gym and have ared guards for a HS game then you should cancel the game and address other issues
    • Cory J
      Cory J  •  Denver, Colorado  •  3 months ago
      So...what happens NEXT year when they play? All you've done is push the issue to the side, you haven't solved anything.
      • Greg
        Greg 3 months ago
        "whose initial request to have Warren County switched into another regional bracket was denied by the Georgia High School Athletic Association" Methinks that says it all. More worried about the competition than the safety of the kids. And they call themselves educators.....
      • Laurie
        Laurie 3 months ago
        that was the Principal's point
      • Bruce
        Bruce 3 months ago
        Warren County has already been switch to different regional bracket for next year. I understand why the GHSAA denied their request as it would be unfair to move another high school team before the post-season in a new regional just because these two schools cannot keep their players from acting like thugs.
    • Nathaniel
      Nathaniel  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      I'm still waiting to hear what charges, if any were brought against the plays that injured the couch.
      • Marc
        Marc 3 months ago
        The love seat did it.
      • smitty
        smitty 3 months ago
        The fold out bed is a prime suspect. But it may have been the recliner. Nah he's too laid back.
      • joe
        joe 3 months ago
        Doesn't anyone proof read what they write any longer? @Nathaniel, you took a good point and turned it into a running joke. PROOF READ!
    • Christian
      Christian  •  Mountain View, California  •  3 months ago
      Being a black man this situation saddens me, having to cancel a sporting event because of senseless violence is ridiculous. Young black men we need to stop fighting each other and evolve our way of thinking to better us as a whole.
    • gavin
      gavin  •  Doylestown, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
      it's sad that our society has decayed to this extent. i guess when we refuse to discipline our children and remove morality from our schools this is the result. the so called experts have wrought their destruction !!!!!!!!!!!!
    • DavidS
      DavidS  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
      After reading about the football incident why does Hancock county even have a sports program any more?
    • Paul
      Paul  •  New York, New York  •  3 months ago
      when I was young I remember a commericail where the women would always say "We've come a long way baby". Well, america you've gone a long way baby. Too bad its the wrong way.
    • jeff
      jeff  •  Fayetteville, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
      We gain strength by facing adversity, not eluding it.
    • SpectreDriver
      SpectreDriver  •  Rocklin, California  •  3 months ago
      It should be a double forfeit.
    • PatrickM
      PatrickM  •  3 months ago
      What kind of education are these kids getting? This kind of stuff is very disturbing.
    • A.C. is a Coward
      A.C. is a Coward  •  3 months ago
      Wondering why Hancock was even allowed to play after that. The Board should have suspended the whole program indefinitely. People who act like that should lose all rights to compete in any athletic event ever.
    • Momo
      Momo  •  Little Rock, Arkansas  •  3 months ago
      This comes from sports worship. When will school be about school again? As one can see from the quality of low brow comments, education has been missing from our learning centers for way too long.
    • Bruce
      Bruce  •  Riverview, Florida  •  2 months ago
      Starts with c and rymthes with moon
    • Susan
      Susan  •  Silver Spring, Maryland  •  3 months ago
      After watching the news clip I think those kids should focus on speaking English correctly instead of worrying about playing basketball.
    • mandinka
      mandinka  •  Norfolk, Virginia  •  3 months ago
      why weren't both programs suspended for 2 years
    • TruthandLife_dot_US
      TruthandLife_dot_US  •  Dallas, Texas  •  2 months ago
      With Government School officials these days, it is always about THEIR self-serving control. It is never about finding a reasonable solution. Altogether: Truth and Life (dot) US
    • normy
      normy  •  3 months ago
      I'd like to see the state of Georgia can all sports for one year in those 2 districts. Why? Isn't it obvious? Sports are a privelege, not a right. Can't get along - can't have sports. That simple.
    • Papa Hausser
      Papa Hausser  •  Washington, District of Columbia  •  3 months ago
      Brothers need to be less obsessed with basketball and start being obsessed with education. Geez, its all they think about.
     Post a comment

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