Members of Capitol Academy's football team in Baton Rouge, La., performed public service Saturday and will undergo counseling sessions for their role in a post-game altercation with McKinley High School after McKinley's 34-30 win Sept. 18 at Louisiana Leadership Institute's Doug Williams Stadium. McKinley officials also say they are planning clean-up and after-school work for their players at nearby elementary schools. Additionally, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association will conduct a sportsmanship hearing for both teams Tuesday at its Baton Rouge headquarters.
Because the altercation happened after the game ended, there was no videotape of what transpired, and principals at both schools told The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge that a lack of video makes it difficult to assign individual punishments.
Both schools' varsity teams and their coaches attended a "conflict resolution" meeting with Leadership Institute founder Cleo Fields and other civic leaders last week, during which image and responsibility were reportedly the key themes. Fields also announced that any school involved in a future altercation at the facility would be banned for three years, adding that individuals deemed as "aggressors" would be banned from competing at Leadership for the remainder of their careers.
