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Thursday afternoon, the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association suspended Providence Day coach Bruce Hardin and Concord First Assembly's Mike Minter from Friday's games. Providence Day and First Assembly were involved in a bench-clearing brawl at the end of First Assembly's 24-12 win Sept. 18.
NCISAA executive director Chuck Carter said punishing the coaches was a tough decision.
"We have a very strong feeling about sportsmanship in our association," Carter said. "I'm pleased with the way it has turned out with our schools. I don't think we'll see anything like that occur again at either of these schools. But someone has to be responsible when kids do things like that. I just think it's the coaches that must bear that responsibility."
•N.C. public schools take a harsh stand of bench-clearing brawls like the one that marred the private-school game. N.C. High School Athletic Association executive director Rick Strunk said if a team receives at least three ejections for fighting in a game, that team would lose its playoff privileges.
"Things can escalate when you've got 50 guys on the field," Strunk said. "After careful study, our board (of directors) added the team component to our policy. Schools realized (they needed) to make sure kids stay on the bench. Often officials can handle an altercation between two guys. Since we started this, at the first instance of a possible brouhaha, the assistant coaches will turn their backs to the field and say, 'Stay where you are.' It's something that's rehearsed and drilled into the kids and keeps things in perspective. That's been a real plus."
•I didn't think the private-school coaches should've been suspended. They didn't do anything wrong and couldn't control their players' actions. I do think the NCISAA should look at adopting a team rule like the NCHSAA has. With the threat of losing your postseason, teams will be a lot more likely to stay put during a fight. And the NCHSAA also penalizes individual players two games for fighting. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools doubles this penalty for its athletes.) That wouldn't be bad for the NCISAA to look at, either.
•The most valuable player on Independence's football team right now might be defensive coordinator Bill Geiler, who came out of retirement earlier this month. Since he's come back, Independence has allowed 22 points in three weeks. In the three games before Geiler took over, Independence gave up 85.
Geiler's return has also allowed coach Tom Knotts to concentrate on the offense, and Knotts is tinkering. The Patriots' new "Menu" no-huddle offense he installed last weekend has Independence looking a lot more like the offensive juggernaut it was from 2000-04. That's not good for the rest of the teams on the schedule - or potential playoff opponents.
•One thing Knotts wants to see from his team, though, is killer instinct. He felt Independence had a chance for a big "statement" kind of a win against East Meck Friday, but the Patriots only scored seven points in the second half of a 35-13 win. Penalties (11 for 99 yards) were a part of it. Knotts felt desire was, too.
"It ain't like (his old teams at) West Charlotte used to be," he said. "They'd be like sharks in the water. We would've turned that into 60-6 or something."
•Independence quarterback Anthony Carrothers left Friday's game with what appeared to be a mild concussion. His father, Anthony Sr., took his son to the doctor Saturday morning.
"The doctors said it was mild," Carrothers Sr. said. "He didn't have any blackouts or nausea. The doctors ran some tests and saw no reason to do a CAT scan. Everything looks fine."
