Catholic High Football Players React to Vandal's Punishment
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 13, 2012
Catholic High School for Boys administrators say a 16-year-old Central High School student turned himself in to Catholic High School admitting to vandalizing the school's new football field days after a big football game between Central and Catholic.
Vice Principal and Assistant Football Coach Matt Dempsey said, "This field symbolizes the beginning of a lot of hard work and sacrifice."
Dempsey says the football field is also more than a place to play a little pigskin, it's a second home. When the team discovered this week that vandals had defaced the newly dedicated turf, many were outraged.
Player Ben Pinter said, "I was mad, a brand new field, pretty sweet."
They found someone spray painted the score from Friday's football game, alongside an image too vulgar to show and the name of one of the schools most popular principals, now deceased.
"I was pretty upset about it, Father Tribou is pretty important to the school," said player DJ Brown.
When a student from football rival Central High stepped forward Wednesday, players weren't surprised, aware of the long-standing football feud.
"Alumni come up to me and still say you've gotta beat these guys, they're still pumped up about it," said player Jacob Boone.
But the team says they're supposed to battle it out during game time only. And instead of handing the unidentified teen over to authorities, the school offered their own set of consequences.
Dempsey said, "We are going to treat this young man almost as one of our own. We are going to give him a chance at redemption."
Administrators asked the student to accept responsibility, pay for the damage, do community service and write an essay on Father Tribou and all will be forgiven, until the next time they meet on the 50 yard line.
"Next year if we see them in the playoffs it will be that much more motive to beat them," said Boone.
Vice Principal and Assistant Football Coach Matt Dempsey said, "This field symbolizes the beginning of a lot of hard work and sacrifice."
Dempsey says the football field is also more than a place to play a little pigskin, it's a second home. When the team discovered this week that vandals had defaced the newly dedicated turf, many were outraged.
Player Ben Pinter said, "I was mad, a brand new field, pretty sweet."
They found someone spray painted the score from Friday's football game, alongside an image too vulgar to show and the name of one of the schools most popular principals, now deceased.
"I was pretty upset about it, Father Tribou is pretty important to the school," said player DJ Brown.
When a student from football rival Central High stepped forward Wednesday, players weren't surprised, aware of the long-standing football feud.
"Alumni come up to me and still say you've gotta beat these guys, they're still pumped up about it," said player Jacob Boone.
But the team says they're supposed to battle it out during game time only. And instead of handing the unidentified teen over to authorities, the school offered their own set of consequences.
Dempsey said, "We are going to treat this young man almost as one of our own. We are going to give him a chance at redemption."
Administrators asked the student to accept responsibility, pay for the damage, do community service and write an essay on Father Tribou and all will be forgiven, until the next time they meet on the 50 yard line.
"Next year if we see them in the playoffs it will be that much more motive to beat them," said Boone.
