Madison County Football Players Suspended For Bullying

By Amelia Hines Daybreak Anchor/Producer

October 23 2007 | text size: small medium large

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Leslie Dietrich recorded this video a year ago, after she says her 17-year old son, Karl, was punched in the mouth by a teammate on the Madison County football team. Leslie tells NewsChannel 32, Karl has dealt with abusive teammates on more than one occasion and so have others.
“It’s not just about my son.”

Leslie claims last week several of junior varsity teammates were beaten with belts by varsity players all because they missed one practice. She says it happened during school hours in Karl’s weight lifting class. When Karl told his mom about it she said enough is enough.

“The point is it’s gone on long enough and it needs to stop and I just hate it’s going to turn ugly real quick here,” Leslie Dietrich tells NewsChannel 32.

“We felt like this did get past the point of boys being boys and that’s why we dealt with it quickly.”

Wayne McIntosh, the school’s principal says the boys involved in the hazing incident were dealt with and disciplined as soon as he found out about it. Leslie Dietrich disputes that, saying school administrators have said that before and nothing happened. That’s why she reported the incident to Madison County investigators.

“And I think they just think kids will be kids and no one really cares.”

McIntosh says that’s far from it. They take these incidents very seriously.

“We don’t condone bullying or hazing of any kind. It’s against school policy.”

McIntosh tells NewsChannel 32 that while there aren’t any cameras inside the school or in the locker rooms where most of the alleged bullying takes place there are plenty of teachers around to keep an eye on students.

Madison County’s head football coach, Randall Owens, tells NewsChannel 32 The players are still on the team, but are currently serving a suspension

After last Tuesday’s incident.

The Madison County Sheriff’s office says the case is still open.

Comments

This seems to be a case of another arrogant jock thinking his actions will be swept under the rug.Everyone did stupid stuff when we were in college....drunk. However, sexual assault is not on the list.
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Posted by Visitor on 08/22/08

This is for Charles Forest… Just because Stephens Co. does something why the hell should it be mandatory for any other school to do it? If you jump off a bridge I’m sure as hell not following.

Posted by Madison Grad and Tax Payer on 07/15/08

To the graduate of ‘87. I might not be the smartest person in the world your right. But YOU CANT EVEN SPELL PRESTIGE cause you never saw it in your days at MC. But anyways i never said Owens or Principal shouldn’t be responsible. But FIRING the coach? I mean come on!! You had ABSOLUTELY NO room to bash just the coach. And FYI i’m not the stupidest person in the world obviously cause if you will refer back to my LAST message you will notice that i mentioned more than JUST prestige. But ya know i’m not gonna argue with an old man cause they are supposedly “wiser” although this one seems to not read a message without his mind in the gutter. On that note, i’m ending. HAVE A NICE DAY:)

Posted by graduate of 07 on 07/12/08

Graduate of 07 said,” And heck, if you fire Owens we are back to the low presige football program we once had!! “

How stupid are you? Football is a game!!! When in the world does a game become more important than the safety of kids at school? I am not saying the coach is or is not responsible for the incident, but to use the argument that the status of a football program is a reason to hold the coach blameless is utter nonsense. You are ready to hold the principal accountable even though he probably was not in the locker room either. Tell me, would the principcal be automatically off the hook if he happened to be on the football field with the coach?

The primary goal of a school should be to provide an quality education in a safe enviornment, not a football program’s status!!!

Posted by 87 MC grad on 07/04/08

The Principal is no longer at MCHS. This incident may or may not have played a roll in his decision to leave. However, as someone that has been involed in the situation first hand, in my opinion, I think the principal nor the head football coac should be at blame. The students that caused the incident are certainly to blame. They new better than to take “punishment” into their own hands through bullying. Even the students that were bullied new better than to “skip” football practice and then bragg about it to the other players. I hope that in the future that all students involved in this situation will be lead by their parents, teachers and school administrators to make stronger decisions! As a parent, I admit that I am often so quick to the point the finger at others when my children get into trouble at school. Teachers and School Administration have so much to struggle with in educating our youth. I hope to be a more supportive parent that works with the school. Who knows, it may even help my kids to truly achieve!

Posted by Madison County resident on 07/02/08

WOW!! FIRE OWENS??? What is that gonna do? The point that you are missing in that comment is that he is a FOOTBALL COACH (YES COACH) NOT A BABYSITTER!! If ANYONE needs to be fired in this situation it is the Principal at MCHS!! To blame Owens for another kid running his mouth and getting bullied is WRONG. He was not in the locker room because he had a football game to get ready for; therefor he was on the FOOTBALL FIELD. One man can’t be everywhere at one time. And heck, if you fire Owens we are back to the low presige football program we once had!! So basically what i’m sayin is, look NO further than the administration!!

Posted by '07 graduate!! on 05/14/08

I think the boys should be suspended from the team and Mr. Randall Owens should be fired. There is no since in bulling. Every bully should be locked up and sent to jail for at least 6 months. Let them know that BULLING is against the law not just school policy. Stephens Co. High has camera’s in side and out of the school. Teachers’ stand outside the classroom’s ‘til its time to start class. So MCHS should do the same.

Posted by Charles Forrest on 05/13/08

With me being a Madison County High School graduate, I know people play to much,and sometimes people get tired of that,and some people may call it bullying. and thats true,MCHS staff & faculty can’t be there all the time to see everything that the students are doing, the school should be more secure,possibly more cameras in areas teachers don’t be. That’s my opinion.

Posted by Roderick S on 04/16/08

I know alot of this story from first hand experience and I dont think that the right action was taken. If people run their mouth to other people they are gonna get bullied. Sorry its a fact of life. But the way he was bullied might have been harsh but what we learn from this situation is dont talk trash and stuff like this will be prevented!! Promise i’m not a football player but this was caused by running of the mouth.

Posted by graduate of '07 @ MCHS on 03/06/08

Being students @ Maison County High We know that teachers aren’t always around. But we all know that boys will be boys. There is a difference between bullying and guys playing and it shouldn’t be called bullying if someone accidentally gets hurt.

Posted by Juvoona & Chazlynn on 02/29/08

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