On Tuesday, Deer Valley High School Principal Kenneth Gardner filed a complaint against Pittsburg High School for their role in Friday nights incident between the band and football players.
According to the complaint, Gardner says the school received one communication from Pittsburg saying the game may start late due to senior celebration of band members and for Vic Galli for his accomplishments–no customary game plan with a schedule was provided.
The letter also says that Pittsburg’s band violated Sports and General Handbook Section 305H (f)—Bands, song girls, entertainment, etc., should never interfere with officials, practicing teams, or the playing of the game. Gardner argues the Deer Valley was in the middle of warm-ups prior to the band entering the field in which they were given no warning or told to clear the field.
Gardner also says that neither he nor the football team realized the national anthem was playing.
A video was posted of the incident which out of context makes Deer Valley High School and its players appear to be unpatriotic, uncaring and disrespectful to both the national anthem and the Pittsburg High School Marching Band. They are neither, if adults had acted appropriately and if the rules had been followed we would not have been in the situation to begin with. Â
The ensuing social media criticism, the media commentary and the court of public opinion has painted our students in an extremely negative light which they neither deserve nor should be subjected.
The complaint was filed after both the Antioch Unified School District and Pittsburg Unified School District provided a joint-statement on Monday saying the incident was under investigation and proper discipline would occur if needed–click here to read the statement.
Several hours after the joint statement was issued, Pittsburg Superintendent Janet Schulze issued a statement by saying Deer Valley coaching staff used poor judgement while Pittsburg had no part in any miscommunication–click here to read the statement.
In a email Tuesday afternoon, Schulze said:
Pittsburg High School¹s Marching Band has a long history of performing pre-game at home games. Both home and visiting audiences have enjoyed the performances for years. It was also our Senior Night. It is not uncommon for the visiting team to be warming up during a Band performance. The Band Director had every expectation to believe the visiting team was aware before bringing out the Band. This is not a student athlete issue, nor is it a Band member issue. It is an adult miscommunication and judgment issue. We are in working in partnership with Antioch to learn from this and move forward together. We have always worked well and collaboratively with Antioch and do not want this one instance to characterize the students or communities.
Below is a copy of the complaint filed by Deer Valley High School to Bud Beemer, Commissioner of the Bay Valley League:
October 20, 2015
Bud Beemer
Commissioner
Bay Valley Athletic League
1050 Neroly Road
Oakley, CA 94561
Commissioner Beemer,
On Friday, October 16, 2015 Deer Valley High School and Pittsburg High School were scheduled for a varsity football game at 7:00 PM. We received one communication prior to the football game from Connie Spinnato, Vice Principal of Pittsburg High School, stating that the game may be late due to the senior celebration of the senior band members and the celebration for Vic Galli for his accomplishments.
We did not receive the customary game plan with a schedule showing the sequence of events, practice areas for warm-ups and field restrictions if any.
Prior to the game our varsity football team was on the practice field behind the visiting side bleachers beginning their warm-ups, when they were directed to leave the area because the band needed the field.  Coach Hubbard asked where they could warm up and did not receive a definitive answer, so he took the team back to the locker room. He was then contacted by an unknown member of the Pittsburg Staff in the locker room advising him that he could warm up the team on the stadium football field. He proceeded to the field where Steve Ahonen, Pittsburg USD Administrator, told him that he could warm up the team from the Southern thirty (30) yard line to the goal post for the team. Coach Hubbard took the team to the area for the warm up. During the time for the warm up, prior to the game, with no communication with Coach Hubbard, any member of our extensive coaching staff or I did a single member of the Pittsburg staff approach us and request that we clear the field for the Pittsburg Marching Band. We saw the Pittsburg Marching Band form up in the North End Zone however we did not expect them to enter while we were on the field. The Pittsburg Band, under the direction of Ms. Jennifer Martinez, once formed immediately came onto the field while the Deer Valley High School varsity football team was engaged in warm-ups, in violation of Sports and General Handbook Section 305H (f)—Bands, song girls, entertainment, etc., should never interfere with officials, practicing teams, or the playing of the game.
The resulting confusion of being surrounded by a very large and unyielding marching band, caused our players to mill around and not respond to the shouted commands of their coaches. The coaches tried to address the issue with members of the Pittsburg High School staff who were on the field who told them to leave the field. The players attempted to continue their warm-ups despite the band’s presence and it appeared that they did not recognize the playing of the national anthem and did not respect the flag or our country. In speaking with coaches and players none of them realized that the national anthem was playing. I was on the 50 yard line and as a military veteran and retiree, I did not recognize the playing of the national anthem until at least one third through the song, at which time I turned to the flag and stood at the position of attention until the completion of the song.
A video was posted of the incident which out of context makes Deer Valley High School and its players appear to be unpatriotic, uncaring and disrespectful to both the national anthem and the Pittsburg High School Marching Band. They are neither, if adults had acted appropriately and if the rules had been followed we would not have been in the situation to begin with.
The ensuing social media criticism, the media commentary and the court of public opinion has painted our students in an extremely negative light which they neither deserve nor should be subjected.
I am also very concerned about the safety of students who have not had adequate time to warm-up, which we were denied.
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth Gardner
Principal
President of the Bay Area Valley Athletic League
28 comments
I am officially sold on the idea Principal Gardner must go. This type of response is exactly why Deer Valley has a bad rep, there is no consequences to poor decisions. Didn’t know National Anthem was playing? Didn’t have enough common sense to clear the field when the loud band was playing?
Neither social media, media commentary or public opinion paints Deer Valley in negative light, Deer Valley football players, coaches and staff put the school in light. Take some responsibility for your team and coaches and stop blaming others.
This reminds me of going 75 mph in a 55 mph zone and telling a cop well I didn’t know the speed limit. Too damn bad, actions have consequences.
I am in complete agreement with you. This so-called principal said in his complaint that they received ONE notification about the games events. IF they had questions about the events times and locations, DV should have ASKED! Quit playing the ignorant card! He is a shameful example of a leader for our future leaders.
Then the principal says “an unknown” person directed the coach and the team back onto the field of course! Some mysterious person showed up and said go practice while a huge band is performing… And while you are out there…. Rush at the unprotected band members in all your gear threatening them!!!! Sure Mr. Principal…. That’s what happened. What a joke.
Last, the principal claims he was in the military. It took him 3/4 of the song to recognize the National Anthem??? How pathetic. Get some hearing aides and a Braille book as you have a hearing problem and a visual problem! Deaf, dumb and blind!
Pls resign and/or someone needs to fire this principal as the kids have enough issues. They don’t need to learn ALL his excuses! Take responsibility! Didn’t he learn that in the military????
I guess we can throw that joint statement out the window. Both schools now blaming each other. Who needs football 🙂
Was this complaint written in a serious tone because how can you not know the National Anthem was playing? Perhaps Mr. Gardner should review the video because I see nothing out of context, I see a band who was announced they were entering the field and Deer Valley pretty much playing stupid. Now its Pittsburgs fault? Ya right.
The BVAL is probably laughing at this complaint as I write this.
Smithers, release the thug trolls!
Seriously smh this is a joke right
If the team didn’t get enough warmup time, that would be an NCS/CIF issue to deal with. BUT, once football players and coach approached the band, made contact with the band, committed verbal assault at the band, etc. this became a much bigger situation.
This principal is making a ridiculous complaint to try to hide the real problem with the football team and their so-called “coaches.” He can’t own up to the fact that some of his kids and some of his staff in his school were clearly in the wrong, instead he’s spinning it into an excuse for the actions due to lack of notification.
** Excuse me for slapping you upside your head Ken, I wasn’t notified that that might knock you on the ground hurting. I couldn’t hear you scream “stop.” Your face wasn’t supposed to be there. **
And by the way, when has the band ever use the practice field before the game?!
“Deer Valley High School Principal Blames the Victim”
This is the dumbest thing I have ever read in my entire life of all the things that this principle could have complained about this was one of the dumbest. Kids these days are involved in everything from drug use to fighting to gangs to in and out of jaill and these children are in a freaking marching band and you send a complaint? I am so done with this principle please find something else to complain about.
How do you not know the band is going to start performing when they announced it over the loudspeaker? And they announced that the national anthem was going be played again over the exact same speaker!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m disgusted by this mess! It’s DVHS fault end of story!
Wow. With how this principal is handling things, I can definitely see why and how DVHS has so many problems. But I guess that blaming the victim can work in some situations. I just hope citizens don’t allow it. WE SHOULD NOT BE QUIET ABOUT THIS! PHS has nothing to be ashamed of. DVHS…well, it looks like they need a few lessons in good sportsmanship and taking responsibility – starting with the principal.
Seriously, could the players and coaches not see the band coming? It’s huge and loud. If there was a mix-up and didn’t get all of their warm-up time, then wouldn’t a simple conversation with officials have solved that? And really? None of the players/coaches noticed that everyone else was standing at attention during the anthem? DVHS has played PHS on many occasions at PHS. The band always starts off the game and the anthem. It’s nothing new.
that bull crap fire the couch and get rid of that principal that school is bad and the principal is laughing about it the police need to talk to all the football players and get the truth out of them spiting in kids faces is a assault with a deadly weapon am changeing my kids school now this is going to far
I myself was on the field for the Senior night with my sister. Deer Valley was off the field warming up right outside the stadium as every visiting team does before every game. Everyone knows that’s where you warm up.. Pittsburg Warms up and runs drills off the field as well. AND!!! before the beginning of the National anthem over the loud speaker it is announced PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.. just like every other game.. so to claim you did not recognize it as the national anthem is hard to believe as it was announced before it began..
Surprised to see so many folks jumping on the PHS bandwagon. Clearly both parties are at fault. Plenty of blame to go around.
Sports and General Handbook Section 305H (f)—Bands, song girls, entertainment, etc., should never interfere with officials, practicing teams, or the playing of the game.
Case close .
Principal admitted he CANNOT and did not RECOGNIZE AMERICAS NATIONAL ANTHEM. WOW!!! While he was on the 50 yard line. Sounds kinda fishy.
It makes me sad that their are high school students reading all of the negative BS.
I hope the youth involved know the following:
You are awesome for being involved with your school! Your community supports you in being involved with your school. Sometimes things go wrong. Hopefully you know that your adults are trying to stand up for you. All the other stuff is nonsense.
The DVHS players were not given the space and time to safely prepare for the football game. Football is a dangerous sport and these practice warm ups should be taken seriously.
The Pittsburg High Band entered the field, performed and created confusion (not on purpose) for the players attempting to practicing.
The Pittsburg Band is highly regarded and very well performing band. That means they keep going no matter what is going on because that is what they are supposed to do.
DV Football players strive to be their best and they are trained to follow the directions of their coaches.
There was a lack of communication between both schools and that responsibility probably should have fallen on the hosting school (Pittsburg) as they should have been in control of the timing of everything.
When the band came out to play the coaches of DV should have pulled the players off the field and then should have dealt with the Pittsburg High adults to inform them that their practice time had been taken away. There could have been some accomodations made for DV then.
The DV players do look disrespectful in how they ran around but having spent time as a band member I can verify that it is loud and you can only see from your vantage point out on the field and that is why you follow the band leader and the rest of the band. I can imagine if a football player is told to go practice then that is probably what they did. Not in malice but in following directions from a coach who thought he was doing what he was supposed to do.
The video shows it from up in the bleachers- the experience down on the field was much different.
It did take awhile to hear the national anthem in the music and when there is a lot going on a player out on the field may not have heard what was going on.
There is a mentality that puts jocks and nerds against each other and this video fed in to that mentality. In other words the “poor band members were picked on by the football players”. This may or may not be the case but people sometimes fall back on old stereotypes. I suspect this is a case of both sides following the direction of the adults they are supposed to follow.
The comments that have come out have not been constructive but rather destructive. Parents and people looking to bash either side are contributing to a situation that a couple hundred young people were involved in and they are seeing these comments. I am more disturbed by the destructive comments of people than of the event.
I think that we as humans need to give each other a break. The person coordinating the game screwed up- hopefully not on purpose but still they screwed up and didn’t get it right. The band probably did what they thought they were supposed to do and once they were out there what should they have done? It is not easy to stop and direct a couple hundred kids off of a field when they aren’t trained to look for that direction. What was the coach to do? He wanted his players warmed up and ready so that they could play a safe and successful game. If he was told to practice somewhere he may of thought it less than ideal but he tried to make it work. Once things became apparent the noise and confusion was obviously something that made it hard to stop the players..
Sometimes shit happens, sometimes we need to all laugh and pat each other on the back and say let’s do it better the next time. Name calling and destructiveness is useless here.
I hope the youth involved learn the following: You are awesome for being involved with your school! Your community supports you in being involved with your school. Sometimes things go wrong. Hopefully you know that your adults are trying to stand up for you. All the other stuff is nonsense.
Joe… You pegged it. As a DV coach- the one guy in the khaki shorts on the video, you speak the truth. Ask who demands that the DV players render respect during the National Anthem with helmets off. Ask why the DV coaches- a senior NCO retired from the U.S. Army and a DV teacher Marine Corps officer (me) would allow their players to disrespect the National Anthem purposely ? Stop disrespecting my school, my principal, and my players. This was a SNAFU not a crime.
Pittsburg needs to invest in some Motorola radios and some 3 x 5 index cards for home games. Keep the band off the field until halftime. They are good and yes talented, but obey the CIF rules to avoid this silliness.
Mr. Sagehorn, I am sad that you are still pointing all fingers at the other side. No matter what, you still play a part in the issue and do not need to continue the finger pointing. You do nothing for your students in teaching them how to continue shoving all the “wrongs” done to you and your school, your principal, and your players. Everyone made mistakes here, not just the other side, and it takes a HUMAN to admit they also made mistakes. As a GROWN UP, I much prefer to work with people who can admit their mistakes rather than continue to point out how they are still right. Those people never work out for very long in a job. Just a heads up!
How about using common sense. DV was notified the game would start late, I am sure that no one would have begrudged DV a few extra minutes of practice after the anthem. Instead, thuggish behavior ensued, apparently blessed DV staff due to their inaction regarding stopping the misbehavior. The resultant injuries and broken instruments (often purchased by parents, not the school) can be classified as crimes. DVH needs to take responsibility for the disrespect and violence that was ALLOWED. Instead, DVHS is playing the blame game and is acting like a bully to PHS – ITS NO WONDER DV STUDENTS ACTED THAT WAY, THEY LEARNED IT FROM THE STAFF. JUST MY OPINION.
if you were to be within the goal post and 30 yard line then how were you on the 50 yard line. How did your team kick the ball towards the 50 yard line. Lies, lies lies
It’s a punt drill. Part of the warm up.
What I find most disappointing is that the “grown ups” in this case have yet to apologize for their actions and have now resorted to victim blaming. They seem to take no responsibility at all. What kind of lesson is that teaching our kids?
So many ignorant adults, on this post. How are you going to fire a principal or a coach for some miscommunication at a high school sporting event. Grow up! No lives lost. Both sides have valid points. However are we supposed to ignore the rules? I guess only when when they do not favor your agenda.
Sports and General Handbook Section 305H (f)—Bands, song girls, entertainment, etc., should never interfere with officials, practicing teams, or the playing of the game.
It’s obvious that when things fail, such as communication. We have to go by the rules! Apparently some rules were not followed. It’s a football field not a band field.
However if any Football Play acted in appropriately they should be Disciplined.
Amen Salazar!
In a case of misunderstanding or lack of communication, one has to look back to the regulatory or principle rules. And the rule of law in this case is, the Sports and General Handbook Section 305H (f)—Bands, song girls, entertainment, etc., should never interfere with officials, “practicing teams,” or the playing of the game. Pls keep in mind, “Tradition” does not trump “Rule of Law” period. So when in doubt (misunderstanding, miscommunication, etc.), you as a law bidding citizen would error on the side of rule of law. That why our kids are in school for…
Pls read up on an in-depth follow-up story from local Antioch Herald News below.
http://antiochherald.com/2015/10/p18399/
Sometimes, national media reacts to laypersons posting taken out of context because of the misunderstanding of the situation at hand and one would then formulate their own opinions or conclusion as a result. Unfortunately this incident was so polarized that it galvanized a growing public opinions interest (local, regional and national) in a controversy issue such as this which resulted in the national media to jump onboard and further sensationalized it without any care for the truth or facts. So we want everyone the opportunity to be provided with the whole truth, not someone’s version of the truth. News, needs to be investigated, sources checked, and vetted before it is published or presented.
Here is the Student-Athletes response (pls keep in mind, the story are all connected and gives you a greater understanding on the video. There are now better video posted for viewer to see the whole beginning instead of the grainy video which caused the incident to go viral because of the catchy headline).
http://kron4.com/2015/10/18/students-players-react-to-deer-valley-disrupting-pittsburg-highs-band-performance/
Again, to reiterate, when communication fails, one has to look back at the “Rule of Law” or “Code of Ethics,” which is in place to ensure there is no misunderstanding to prevent incidence such as this from ever happening again. So when you say the football coach is at fault, no, he is doing what he was rightfully exercising and that is to prepare his team for a football game.
The Pittsburg Band, under the direction of Ms. Jennifer Martinez, once formed immediately came onto the field while the Deer Valley High School varsity football team was engaged in warm-ups, in violation of Sports and General Handbook Section 305H (f)—Bands, song girls, entertainment, etc., should never interfere with officials, practicing teams, or the playing of the game. -Reported by Luke Johnson & Allen Payton, Antioch Herald news. Oct 22, 2015.
…according to Blacksher, who was hired as the athletic director in July. He said he did not know of “CIF” rule 305H, adding this has been a learning experience for him, and he will exercise a different way of communication between the band and the opposing team for a greater outcome.-Reported by Luke Johnson & Allen Payton, Antioch Herald news. Oct 22, 2015.
So as you can see, had the Mr. Blacksher had known the rules, the band would have “never” gotten on the field at the same time while the football team is warming up, period. Pls keep in mind, “Tradition” does not trump “Rule of Law.”
So the issue now is what becomes of the Pittsburg Athletic Director and the Band instructor? Most of you don’t know but the Deer valley administration did the right thing in placing Football Coach Hubbard on Administrative leave pending (if any allegation is brought forward) or resolution of this incidence. So far, no allegation as stated from Johnson & Allen Payton, Antioch Herald news. Oct 22, 2015.
Pls go to source link:
http://antiochherald.com/2015/10/p18399/
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) link:
http://www.cifstate.org/landing/index
The Antioch Herald did not do a follow up, they simply restated what everyone else already had while Mr. Payton does his usual spin. Mr. Payton is simply pandering to his Antioch audience and people need to figure that out before giving him any credit.
The original acts, which have still not fully been admitted to, were tasteless enough. To follow that up with this shameful deflection of responsibility? I am at a loss for words. With this kind of dodging of responsibility and blame shifting it’s really no wonder the events of the night transpired as they did.
Just when I think I’ve seen it all you find a lower depth to take things to Mr. Gardner. You and your coaching staff have thus far proven to be truly despicable and for the children’s sake I would hope that you all move on from your influential roles which you clearly were not meant to be in.
Comments are closed.