Elk River Football team suspended.

[FISHINGURU]

Yaaaaaaawn, everyone is a cry baby these days.

[flipper]

Part of me wants to think that this is being overblown in this "politically correct" world. However another part of me thinks this needs to be taken seriously.

I have witnessed hazing incidents (way long ago) that have gone way to far, they have gone to the point of sadism and cruelty. When you hear about a broomstick, well I guess it just raises red flags.

I hope they can get to the truth, punish any wrongdoers, and then let the team continue. The innocent players should not have to suffer. It will be hard to get the whole truth because of the pressure on the kids to protect their peers.

[Big Tom]

It will be hard to get the whole truth because of the pressure on the kids to protect their peers.

And there you have it. In Zep's world, as long as no one hangs, it's all good.

[bottom-bouncer]

I have read all the posts on this subject and from what I can gather from all of you is that zepman is the only one that played high school football. Is what the boys did right no but it is what it is there are no willing particapents in any form of hazing exept the ones doing the hazing. But it is and always will be a right of passage. If your son or any other boy is to sensitive to handle getting hazed then they sure as he!! are to sensitive to handle playing varsity sports and should join the glee club. Football is and always will be meant to be played by the biggest and the strongest boys both physically and mentally.

[Big Bobber]

Let's take a for instance during this "right of passage" as you call it. Let's just say that one of these biggest and strongest gets a lucky kick or punch in during this hazing and breaks an orbital bone, jaw, or knocks out three teeth on your son. Your son has some major medical bills, and is out for the season. Would your opionion of the hazing change, and would you look toward the hazed players parents to pay for the out of pocket medical expenses? I have been on teams, and know what types of things can happen. Back in my day the worst things to happen were nito balm put in places your may not want it, having to sing the school fight song or school hymn to the returning team members while wearing nothing but our jocks, or hiding our clothes while we showered, or putting a second padlock on our locker basket. I guess things have changed alot in 42 years.

[Shack]

From the around town, I can not stress how reliable with out devolving my sources, the original "rumor" would have been a "right of passage" when talking about being sent to Oak Park Height Maximum Correctional Facility. Call me "over protective", but not approving of this type of bad hazing does "not" classify me as an over reacting parent. When it comes to my kids and this kind of hazing being rumored, this is the kind of stuff I want to protect my kids from. Realistically if I neglected to (protect them) or willingly let them indulge in this kind of hazing, for one I would be charge with something, for two Social Services would come a knock'in.

Again, this pertains to the original rumors going around town. As of the next day (Friday during the summer and no one is around) nothing was being firmly said and the paper (Tribe) seemed to shine some light that the rumors from the day before were just that. [size:14pt]Rumors![/]

I did not play varsity football, but was close enough to have know of any "bad" hazing via word of mouth besides, like I said, a sophomore having to carry a seniors gear off the field after practice and maybe some (hard to remember) Friday night partying ritual that involved the sophomore(s) or junior(s) on the team to provide the beer. You made the team, no matter what grade, you were one of the Elk River Elks varsity football players. Now, if you were not and problems arose with one who was, then that is not considered hazing anymore. No matter what grade or level of skill, the football team stuck together and you did not deal with one member of the team. You dealt with anyone in the area that was on the Elks football team. Much like any small town or big town varsity football team.

[Big Bobber]

Shack:

I agree with you. My comments were in reply to bottom bouncer. Like I indicated, the things that happened to us 42 years ago were pretty mild compared to what may have happened in Elk River.

[PierBridge]

Hopefully kids everywhere can learn form this one and that is that Broomsticks or the threat of a broomstick being shoved into your rectum will not be tolerated in any way shape or form what-so-ever!

[zepman]

Amen!

[jeffreyd]

I agree with the folks who think this is wrong and sick. I played varsity sports, football, wrestling, track in the late 70's early 80's. I can tell you that this type of garbage would have never happened. The worse case is your clothes might have been thrown in the gym while you were showering.

I will say that if anything like this EVER happened to my son who is a freshman and is playing football, there would be H ell to pay. The state has a zero tolerance for bullying and hazing. It is one thing to chase your clothes around in a towel but to have someone hold me down and push a broom stick toward any orifice is going to cause some huge problems.

I will share as much as I can about an incident here in the Phoenix valley a few years ago. A local small valley city fire dept hazed two new recruits. They forced one guy to eat 10 habinaro peppers and when he could not finish the last one they put it inside him. If there is anyone in the forum who thinks that is funny is just living one the wrong side of any morals.

The second guy was forced to watch p orn and when he refused was stripped down and jagged off by the rest of the crew as he was taped up. These two guys were put thru the wringer and when they complained to the fire chief, he told them it was part of the fire dept.

They went to HR when their complaints were not taken care of, one was forced out of the system (pepper guy) took a buy out. The second guy stayed in the dept, worked his way up to an officer and refused to take or be pushed out because he spoke about what happened.

The chief, asst chief, the whole shift were fired, and charged with assault. there are so many stories that happen in the fire station, that it would make your skin crawl. These are grown men and the fact that they have probably all done hazing as youth just leads to bigger issues.

I for one read the articles, and clearly the fact remains that the kids and parents are not wanting to talk to LEO now sends a message that there is a bigger problem than what is really being discussed.

[Steve Foss]

So, correct me if I'm wrong.

1. Nobody who has participated in this thread was present during the incident.

2. Nobody who has participated in this thread has spoken directly with anyone who was present during the incident.

3. Nobody who has participated in this thread knows what really happened.

4. Everybody who is arguing in this thread is arguing because they feel like arguing.

You guys kill me. Is this Silly Town, or what?

[jeffreyd]

yep

[Mr.Seaguar]

Hey Foss- What kind of hazing they have for the manager of the A-V club?

[Steve Foss]

Hey Foss- What kind of hazing they have for the manager of the A-V club?

I dunno. What's the A-V club? You'll have to fill me in.

[JimmyJames]

I can't believe I read as much of this as I did.This is not acceptable , anyone thinkin it's o.k, just part of growin up, is ridiculous. I'm thinkin you are the same ones that like the idea of something being shoved up your butt.

[nonteepical]

just have the principal make the custodian, sniff the ends of all the broomhandles in the school for evidence. that will tell you who's telling the truth.

[Shack]

Dang.

Your right Steve. This is the football forum, where topics are never debated unless we were actually "there" when it happened. What were we thinking? First time for everything.

All I do have that is first hand is my experiences going to Elk River and still being in the community working and via my parents and family still living their is for them to suspend the Football program, something had to of happen. Unless a parent caught wind of a text, e-mail, Tweet, My-Book or what ever, it was something similar to what I posted I did in my bully post. I would have to think for a kid to admit anything, even today, it had to have some truth to it.

Well I would have to believe the school board has concluded it's review meeting. For the sake of being a former Elk River student, that still has pride about his hometown and for those involved, they de-bunk the whole ordeal.

[Shack]

just have the principal make the custodian, sniff the ends of all the broomhandles in the school for evidence. that will tell you who's telling the truth.

Nonteepical how do you know this? Sounds like you are speaking from experience?

Well, do not answer. We will just take your word for it.

[nonteepical]

actually my brother-inlaw reads this forum and is a custodian, and his wife, my sister, is the assistant principal in the same school.( not elk river)

[Dave S]

As per the latest report on the news, 9 players are being punished for the incident with 4 of those being kicked off the team.

Sure sounds like a rumor now, doesn't it.

[Shack]

No, the rumors were wrong, at least what I was told. The great Channel 9. They were the only ones who mentioned "out loud" penetration & sodomy. I am not sure if the other networks said it though. Star Tribe was the closest to the facts. Pretty much what they wrote on Friday.

Quote:

Elk River school board kicks 4 off football team, suspends 5 others

By NORMAN DRAPER, Star Tribune

August 29, 2010

Four Elk River High School football players will be permanently kicked off the varsity team for their roles in hazing incidents early last week, the Elk River school board ruled at a special meeting Sunday night.

Three other players will be suspended for four games, and another two will have to sit out one game, according to the district's superintendent. There are about 50 players on the team.

After meeting for nearly two hours in closed session, board members decided to briefly open their meeting in order to take the actions.

The hazing involved players striking or poking other players on or near the buttocks in the high school wrestling room.

"These are good kids, and they made a mistake," Superintendent Mark Bezek said after the board acted. "But it's a serious mistake."

The football team will also have to undergo sensitivity training in an effort to prevent future incidents, Bezek said.

Privacy law prevented the school board or Bezek from naming the players who were disciplined. The superintendent said he did not know how important the disciplined players are to the team, which will resume practice on Monday.

"The reaction by the school board was appropriate," Bezek said. "I'm very pleased with the outcome of the investigation conducted by the staff. Staff had the information needed to deal with this."

District officials were aided in their investigation by the Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney law firm of Minneapolis.

Last Wednesday, the district suspended the high school varsity football program through the weekend after a parent complained about the hazing. It apparently occurred Monday and Tuesday between morning and afternoon football practices.

According to Elk River police chief Jeffrey Beahen, players were accosted in the school wrestling room, forced to the floor and struck with broom handles. The players were wearing their football gear and were not forced to disrobe.

Although initial complaints came from parents of black players, district and school officials soon discovered that white players were also hazed, according to a Star Tribune source. The choice of hazing victims appeared to be random.

Players and coaches were questioned about the hazing Wednesday and Thursday. Elk River police also investigated the incidents, which apparently were a repeat of hazing episodes last year. Beahen said, though, that so far, no parents or players have shown any interest in pursuing criminal charges, preferring for the district to discipline those involved in the hazing incidents.

The football team's season starts at home Thursday against Becker.

As Sunday night's meeting was underway, some team members and parents gathered at the nearby high school in support of the team.

Norman Draper

Even if innocent, to order anyone on the ground is just not right, unless the coach calls for some chin to ground push ups. I think any form of hazing, by definition, is done in MN. I think it is best though. Again, even if innocent, what could next year bring if it was not stopped?

I never been a fan when it comes to even the classing of grade levels, but at that age I do not think it will ever change. I do not think hazing in some form will ever stop. What's the main point of High School sports? They can get phy ed in other forms and the "team" also in other ways, heck even winning? It's to show the town (or try) they are the best in the area with what is bread within the community. Beside scholarships, nothing is gained but more funding for sports programs.

But!!! I think High School sports are the purest form of any organized sport and it does carve great futures for some. Unfortunetly junk like this happens though. I hope everything is as written and those who were hazed have the best fall playing and those that got dealt with learn something so they do not become creeps, but do not let it dwell enough to cause them to become creeps down the line.

[zepman]

Upperclassmen used mop and broom handles to spank, poke and jab at underclassmen while they were all wearing full pads...including padded pants. This occured on school grounds...the wrestling room... and no student/athletes were found to have been isolated from the group.

Go back and read through some of the threads you guys posted...words like penetration, crime, racial separation, just to name a few... were used to describe and fuel your emotions for this TERRIBLE LACK OF JUDGEMENT used by the kids at Elk River High. Yes, they were all rumors...and I'm relieved they are.

I won't change my stance from earlier...this IS and SHOULD have been a non-story from the beginning. Elk River should have handled this in-house instead of getting it caught up in the media where the outcome of game and season suspensions were only a formality to apease a few and protect the school.

[Shack]

I think ER handled it the way it should be handled. Keeping anything from the rest, to be found out after the fact, would go over aswell as if Jackson was a true Vikes starter and failed. People would loose their jobs and any trust would be lost.

Back in High School I would have never went for any of this. Who would? Coach would have stopped it. Unless you are in the military or better yet, the Navy. If you have been in the Navy and were aboard a ship that crossed the equator or the Artic Circle, you know what I mean. You sign up as an adult for that though. Was this hazing discussed prior to the parents of the juvenile(s) signing them up? I would hope it would be with me when signing up one of my sons for a sport.

If I had to go threw anything that involved me being ordered to the ground of that locker room and then being poked with a stick unexpectedly, the headline would not read anything about hazing. It would read "Youth Gathering Turns Tragic" "With No Remorse, Sophomore Breaks Jaw of Starting Quarter Back with Broom Stick Early Saturday Morning". Back then I would have got them when the gett'in was good.

Big bobber, no prob dude. I was just posting. Forgot to address that. I just post. I take no offense at anything posted. Even though in here or Silly City I might jab, but always respect what is posted.

[SpitnArgueDuckClub*]

I think the Superintendent said it best, "These are good kids, and they made a mistake," Superintendent Mark Bezek said after the board acted. "But it's a serious mistake."

Zepman There are concequences with the choices we make in life. "In House" should not apply here.

[zepman]

"In-house" does not mean a slap on the wrist....it just doesn't force the hand of the administration to look good publicly to cover their a$$.