Jasper Elementary students line the school cul de sac to support the Marion County football team as they leave for their game in Trousdale County.It’s too, too bad the young men on Marion County High School’s football team haven’t had Coach Eric Taylor as their leader and role model.
Yes, Taylor is fictional, played on the television series “Friday Night Lights” by actor Kyle Chandler. But even a TV character would have done better by this team of more than 50 fine players.
The Warriors took to the field again Friday night with a new leader. Longtime assistant coach Larry Richards guided them in their TSSAA Class 2A quarterfinal game at second-ranked Trousdale County.
Most of their other coaches let them down. Police say they vandalized their own Warrior fieldhouse and accused rival South Pittsburg. They acknowledged taking playbooks from rivals. They acted more juvenile than the young men they coached — and all in the name of winning.
“That [expletive] is funny! [Expletive] them. I hope we beat their [expletive] and are ready to fight after game!” assistant coach and economics/government teacher Michael Schmitt texted fellow assistant coach Tim Starkey on Oct. 29 after Starkey had texted Schmitt to brag about taking the South Pittsburg team’s offensive play sheets.