The father of the Kalamazoo, Mich., high school football player who injured an opposing player’s spine during a junior varsity football game earlier this month is appeared at a school board meeting to plead for understanding.
As reported by Matthew Ehler of mlive.com, Melrose Hensley spoke during the public comment section of a Kalamazoo Central Public Schools’ board meeting, asking for compassion for his son. The Kalamazoo Central player sent Stevensville Lakeshore football player Colton Comer to the hospital with spinal fractures during a Sept. 18 game by launching his full body weight on a down and seemingly defenseless Comer away from the ball.
Related: Action Taken Against JV Football Player Who Appeared to Purposefully Injure Smaller Opponent
According to Ehler's mlive report, Hensley apologized to the affected Lakeshore family, stating he didn’t see the incident occur but watched the video one time and “can’t even fathom looking at it again.”
“If I would have seen that play, I would have gone out on that field myself and got my child and took him out,” Hensley said. “I didn’t see it, there weren’t any flags at all, and I didn’t know what was going on. Since this incident has happened, I’ve never seen my son in a state that I’ve seen from a child in my life, and I have six children.
“I’ve never been in the state that I’m in right now. I had to go and even get myself some help. They’ve got me on some anxiety medication.”
Video of the incident, captured Courtney Mims, Colton's mother, has been seen by millions of worldwide.
Per Ehler, Kalamazoo Central called the act “egregious” in a statement released Monday, noting that the behavior of the individual student is “unacceptable and does not reflect the values of sportsmanship, respect and integrity that KPS expects from student-athletes, coaches and the entire school community.”
Due to student privacy laws, the specific disciplinary action has not been released by Kalamazoo Central Public Schools, but district superintendent Darrin Slade said that the student’s punishment is in line with the district’s discipline policies, which are among the strongest in the state.
“People saying that my son doesn’t have a father in his life, I’m there every step of the way,” Hensley said during the board meeting. “I got out of everything, I’m a second-year college student and I’m out trying to show my son. Dr. Slade, I accept the punishment … my son is wrong. We sent out letters and everything. But, please, don’t take my son’s education.”
Hensley said that while he has received support from Kalamazoo Central staff, he did not receive any from Slade.
“Whether wrong or right, Dr. Slade, out of respect you could have gave me a phone call,” he said. “This is your district. I’m not upset, but I’m hurt. This ain’t how I raised my children.”
Hensley added that his son is experiencing racist comments and violent threats, according to Ehler's report.
“I’m a single parent and there’s a lot of things that have been said from adults towards my child,” Hensley said. “God knows if the shoe was on the other foot, I would be hurt. But ain’t no way I’d threaten any of your [children]. And when I tell ya’ll that me and my son are not doing good, we’re not.”
“This is still a child,” one community member stated at the board meeting. “We’ve all made mistakes at 15. He deserves a chance to learn from this one.”
A Kalamazoo Central football player spoke about how the incident doesn’t reflect the student involved, nor the team or school, per Ehler's reporting. The player mentioned that both teams prayed after the incident occurred.
“I am proud to be a student of KC,” he said. “I ask tonight for you to see us for who we are, not who we’ve been painted to be. That’s why I’m speaking – not to minimize the pain of the student who was hurt, but to make sure we don’t ignore the other young man who’s also hurt.”
