[Football1]

I TOTALLY disagree with this foolish rule. WE ALL agree on the need for players to obey the rules, show high character, not be baited and NEVER fight. That is not the issue. The issue is this rule is a bueracratic overreaction to some data points that say too many athletes in KY get ejected - so let's make a harsher penalty and fewer will get into fights and get ejected - which is why the prison systems suffer for business when we create harsher laws, right? Not hardly. This rediculous attempt to legislate behavior gives far too much power to officials who openly admit among themselves that they can be the most biased participants of a game in the worst situations. Even in the best situations they are human and make rash and incorrect judgements. When either of those situations costs a player 20-30% of a season it is a tragedy that cannot be undone.

There is no clear definition of fighting that must be met prior to this rule coming into play. One ref sees a push as a fight and boom - a senior looses 20%. Another sees the same thing and doesn't even pull his flag. Some call it a 15 yard infraction. All this ambiguity predicably leads to disaster for players who love this game and are doing their best to defend themselves and help their team win. And yes - I'm heavily biased on this one due to the nonsense that Knox Central had to endure this year when Diamond lost two games due to an official in TN ejecting him for a helmet slap to get a kid off him who continued to shove him after the play ended.

We have great coaches for the most part just like Stardust who will not tolerate crap that costs them 15 yard penalties. Allow them to punish the kid in addition to a 15 yard penalty. Take the power away from officials who cannot often see the whole situation and make calls that could effect a kid forever based on a 2 second view of a situation that could be totally different than they percieve. OR publish a firm definition of fighting that is a clear alteracation between two players involving punches. BUT stop this ludicracy of taking so much from a kid over something you barely saw.

I have an open dialogue with the KHSAA on this issue and plan to pursue it until it is changed. Football changed my life for the better from a tough situation. And it has the power to do that for all who touch it. For KY to give the power to take 20% of a season from a player for anything less than the worst infraction is a tragedy that should and will be addressed.