Loveland doesn't need slick lawyer to get off the hook
Ross Maak
The charges didn't stick.
Just like Loveland running backs slid through the Greeley Central defense Friday night with the aid of a few bottles of cooking spray, the Indians' football team slid its way out of trouble Thursday afternoon. The Colorado High School Activities Association, instead of sticking to its guns and keeping the Loveland team out of the playoffs, has chosen to allow the Indians to slide back into the postseason and defend their state championship.
For those who don't know, Loveland coaches provided members of the team with Pam, a non-stick cooking spray. Some linemen and everyone in the backfield sprayed themselves and their uniforms to gain the advantage.
When Central and game officials reported the offense to CHSAA, the association immediately placed the Indians on playoff restriction, stating that Loveland would not be allowed to play in the postseason.
But there was a catch. All Loveland had to do was present a response to CHSAA outlining a plan to make sure the infraction never occurs again.
Loveland did just that on Thursday. CHSAA accepted it, and the Indians' season slithers on.
When the dust settled, Loveland head coach John Poovey and an assistant were placed on probation, but just for tonight's game. Poovey is suspended from playoff games at least for this year. Loveland will also write a letter of apology to Central.
Finally, the Loveland school district has put Loveland on probation for one year.
That's a nice start. It's just not a very good finish.
The Loveland coaches have admitted to providing the substance to the players. As it turns out, that's illegal. While that's not a big surprise to me, apparently it is to the coaches.
Poovey explained that he looked it up in the rule book and didn't find it. When it was pointed out to him, then he repented.
However, this shouldn't be a matter of whether it was illegal or not. It was unethical. The fact that it turned out to be illegal just adds to the argument.
In a press release Thursday, CHSAA explained why it was allowing Loveland back in the playoffs.
"While we acknowledge that the players should know right from wrong, it would take a great deal of courage for a player to turn down a request from a coach to do something. Players are taught to follow the leadership of their coaches, and our investigation shows that the players were following the lead of their coaches."
First, CHSAA isn't acknowledging that the players should know right from wrong. If President Bush himself ordered the team to do it, the team should have known better and said no.
Sure, the players may not have been told it was illegal, but couldn't they figure out that it was wrong? Couldn't they have made a stand against their coach?
Poovey is a talented coach. He has led his team to success year after year. He's an intimidating man to stand up against. But this was just wrong. How could anyone involved think that this was acceptable behavior? It's ridiculous. Anyone who suggests otherwise has slid off their rocker.
The coaches are being punished to an extent, but it could have been much more severe. Coaches have lost their jobs over less debatable moves.
But the players involved aren't even suspended for a game or a half or anything. They should be held responsible as well.
I've also heard the following argument: "Everyone else is doing it, so why can't we?"
Because it's wrong, that's why.
In some distorted way, I can actually understand Loveland's proposal. The school didn't want to see its longtime, very successful coach get canned. It also didn't want to see its football team left out of the playoffs.
The obvious solution was to submit a plan that was barely sufficient and hope CHSAA bought it.
CHSAA gobbled it up hook, line and sinker. Now the rest of us have to deal with the fact that a team successfully cheated and the consequences were minimal.
The message has been sent. Win at all costs, no matter what the consequences. After all, the consequences are minimal.
Sanctions placed upon the Loveland High School football team after last Friday night's football game against Greeley Central. These sanctions allow the team to participate in this season's postseason games:
– Head coach John Poovey and an assistant coach are on probation for tonight's game against Centaurus.
– Poovey is suspended from postseason games this season and possibly next year.
– Poovey and the Loveland principal will write a letter of apology to Greeley Central.
– The Loveland School District has placed Loveland High School on probation for one year.
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