High School Football Wins Again In Rape Case

Even after Steubenville, there are still stories of towns choosing football over the welfare of other people. As the Kansas City Star's Dugan Arnett reported, it's happened in Maryville, Missouri. In January 2012, 14-year-old Daisy Coleman (her name released by her family to raise awareness of the case) and an unnamed 13-year-old friend claimed they were raped while unconscious. Daisy's attacker was identified as 17-year-old Matthew Barnett, senior defensive end for the high school Spoofhounds, who'd already been arrested for drunken driving. The 13-year-old's attacker was an unnamed 15-year-old, and a third individual, junior Jordan Zech, was a linebacker who videotaped the whole thing on a phone. The next morning, Daisy's mother found her dumped on the front porch, left unconscious outside to fend for herself on a 30-degree night. Police were called when her mother took her to a hospital, and the sheriff's department had evidence, confessions, and what they felt was a solid case.
Except the town turned on the Colemans. Death threats came through, threats to assault Daisy's older brother who was booed in wrestling matches, and a girl showing up to a dance competition wearing a shirt saying "Matt 1, Daisy 0." Daisy was cut from the cheerleading squad unexpectedly, and her mother fired from the local veterinary clinic. Then the charges were dropped, and the video of the assault was conveniently never found. One of the first tweets towards Daisy read, "Fuck yea. That’s what you get for bein a skank : )." The entire town turned on them so horribly the whole family moved out, leaving their house up for sale. This April, a fire struck the home, burning it to the ground: there's very little doubt foul play wasn't involved.
Daisy still lives with her stigma, being in regular therapy, spending four stints in a local hospital, attending a local Girls Town, and attempting to take her own life twice. Two of the accused are now at Northwest Missouri State, both unscathed, and one's mother asking the Colemans for an apology. Matthew Barrett is now at Central Missouri, where this tweet got collected by the Kansas City Star before he went private:

“If her name begins with A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z, she wants the D.”

The horrible truth in this case is how often high school football players, no matter how deep the evidence, are protected by their town. And no doubt little will change; a year after Steubenville, a Gawker article featured a citizen who defended her town. Her excuse was an applause for an opposing team being boat raced by their town's Big Red: "If we were such terrible, football-obsessed people, why would we have clapped?" Yes, because applauding a losing team shows you were not willing to stick your heads in the sand and ignore a rape. And like Steubenville, rumors of Anonymous descending on the town have circled, meaning things could get very ugly.
But for now, it's another sad reminder of our country: football always wins. No one is an exception.
Read more of Dugan Arnett's story in the Kansas City Star, and if you can, send it to as many people as you can, so that his excellent journalism can be seen. A true dialog needs to happen: the Navies, Steubenvilles, and Lizzy Seebergs need to stop. Now.
Top image courtesy MaxPreps.

High School Refs Arrested By Cops

Two high school referees were arrested during the third quarter of a St. Paul/Mandeville football game after a verbal disagreement with police. According to reports, the chain gang, made up of St. Paul fans, were arguing with Mandeville fans. When the argument got heated, the St. Paul chain gang told the referees to kick the fans out, which they attempted. When that argument got heated, a police officer tried to intervene, which made a second referee come over. When a second officer arrived and told the referees they would handle the crowd, the second ref threw him out of the game. Then both referees were arrested for Public Intimidation, complete with perp walks, and have been released on $5,000 bail.
This story has been brought to you by High School Football: Bringing Out The Worst In American Adults For Almost A Century!

Read more at WWL 4.

Koni Dole Won't Quit

Less than a year ago, high school player Koni Dole had his leg broken below the knee in a game in Montana. An infection set in after an operation, and doctors were forced to amputate. Dole's sports career should've been over, but he returned first to wrestling, then to track. And last Friday he not only returned to the football field: he scored two touchdowns.
Courtesy ABC News.

Attorney To Teach Football Players How To Not Get Caught Raping

West Virginia U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld watched the Steubenville Rape Case, where two football players were convicted thanks to tweets and Instagrams of the incident. So his solution?

"We thought, 'Let's start calling athletic directors and coaches to see if they're interested.' That investment of time hopefully will pay dividends down the road, not only because you hope the kids are going to stay out of trouble. Social media creates so many distractions off the field for coaches. Maybe we can help them avoid that situation as well."

Yes, the program is going to focus on the role social media played in the case. It's a great service for football players:

"We bring the perspective of 'OK, if you do this, this is what can happen. We don't want to see you in court,' " Ihlenfeld said.

Among the football programs who will learn how social media impacts your ability to rape will be "Brooke, Cameron, Hundred, John Marshall, Magnolia, Wheeling Central, Wheeling Park, ...Oak Glen, Paden City and Weir high schools." Invitations will also be sent to other high school and college programs in the 32 counties covered Ihlenfeld's district.
Read more at the Charleston Daily Mail.
Image courtesy West Virginia Public Broadcasting.