Brawl exemplifies need for emphasis on sportsmanship

The Wilson Tigers had everything going for them. They had a Class 3A football state championship to defend. They were on the cover of the Morning News’ annual prep football preview. They were ranked No. 1 in the Elite 8 and No. 3 in the Terrific 13 poll.

The Lake City Panthers had perhaps their best football team in years. A deep run into the playoffs was possible.

During the spring and summer, the Tigers and Panthers spent hours upon hours, days upon days lifting weights, going through grueling practices, watching film and learning playbooks in anticipation of the new season.

In a span of about five minutes following Lake City’s win over Wilson on Aug. 28, both teams threw it all away. Instead of shaking hands, they threw fists and helmets in what was one of the nastiest brawls in South Carolina High School League history.

As the dust settled during the past week, SCHSL officials and school officials reviewed evidence from the fight. On Wednesday, both football programs were slapped with tough but appropriate sanctions.
Penalties handed down by the SCHSL to each team include:

— All Wilson players who left the bench but did not participate in the fight are suspended for the next game.

— 15 Wilson players suspended for an additional game.

— At least two Wilson players’ eligibility in all sports removed for remainder of school year.

— Lake City players involved in fight suspended two games each.

— One Lake City player’s eligibility in all sports removed for year.

— Both varsity football teams placed on probation for one calendar year, effective Aug. 29, meaning neither team is eligible for postseason play or a region title.

In addition to these, each school district also has handed down penalties ranging from athletic suspensions to school suspensions. And both school districts will hold hearings for the possibility of further penalties.

While the players from both teams did the fighting and thus incurred the penalties, they should not be the only ones to shoulder the blame. Players have school administrators, coaches, family members and friends to make them aware of the dangers of fighting. If players in any school district fail to follow good sportsmanship, it is a black eye for the entire school district. Certainly, day-to-day discipline from above has to be questioned.

To participate in sports is a privilege, and fighting has no place in sports, period. That is a message that should be relayed between coaches, players, parents, cheerleaders, band members and fans at every practice, every pep rally and every pre-game and post-game huddle. It’s a message that should be posted in every locker room and at the exit door of every team bus.

Both Lake City and Wilson, like all schools across the country, know better than to fight at sporting events. From youth games to professional games, there have been plenty of fights and resulting sanctions from which to learn. In recent years, right here in South Carolina, there have been brawls between football teams from Clemson and South Carolina and football teams from Marlboro County and Northwestern.

So why then do fights like the one between Lake City and Wilson continue to break out? A good guess is in the heat of practice and games, emphasis is wrongfully placed more on winning and losing than walking away from either outcome with integrity and dignity in tact.

While the football teams from Lake City and Wilson now have no championships to play for in 2008, their seasons are not over. They can still accomplish something more meaningful than a title. As they take the field each week, the Panthers and Tigers can use this painful experience to embody and champion sportsmanship.