During Friday nights Pittsburg High School versus Deer Valley High School football game, video surfaced of pregame activity where Pittburgs band was interrupted by Deer Valley football players.
In the videos, it shows Deer Valley Football players not only once, but twice, interrupting Pittsburg High School band member as they perform. Deer Valley was penalized 15-yard for unsportsmanlike conduct while Pittsburg won the game 31-28.
Although not yet confirmed by school administration, several parents stated on social media that band members were spit on and pushed by football players. One parent claimed a coach spit on a band member.
Other parents claimed this was a miscommunication and lack of communication by Pittsburg High School to Deer Valley as to when to clear the field during warm-ups so the band could perform.
In an email Saturday from the Antioch Unified School District, Superintendent Don Gill stated that the incident is under review.
“Both Antioch and Pittsburg school district administration will jointly review the events that occurred prior to the start of last evening’s football game. Based upon the review, any disciplinary action needed will be taken,” said Gill.
This was the first video posted by Sam Whipple, which can be viewed on Facebook. Whipple writes:
Deer Valley Varsity Football team being disrespectful and rude to the Pittsburg High School Band and roughing up band members with the coach encouraging it. I did not record all of it and it proceeded to get worse during the national anthem when they charged the band. Please repost and share this is not ok.
Another video was posted on the PHS Marching Show Facebook Page which is 3:03 minutes which shows Deer Valley High School football players (in white) on the right side of the field in the middle of the band. As the video plays, more Deer Valley football players enter the video from the right before they all exit.
During the formation of the star, Deer Valley High School football runs back out onto the field at the star and appears to be some sort of contact before coaches and those on the field interject and force Deer Valley Football away from the band.
Here is a third video of the incident posted on YouTube by Jillian Jurado who writes:
These football players decided to stay on the football field while the marching band performed their show. A handful of students reported of minor injuries. The footballers did step away from the performance later. Later in the performance footballers did come back into the formation during the “Star Spangled Banner.”
We will update if either the Antioch Unified School District or Pittsburg Unified School District provides a statement on their findings regarding the incident.
Emails to Pittsburg High School Administration were not returned
13 comments
It’s a shame the entire school is given a black eye all over social media because of a few football players and lack of discipline by coaches. I can only hope both schools will not try and sweep this under the rug.
I agree
I see DVH Football just standing on the field as the band comes out and pushes them off. Not sure why later in the second video they return and make contact but this is being blown out of proportion on social media. The schools should move swiftly in a punishment of a few instead of letting this carry on. This is about the kids, not parents on social media acting like bullies.
For once can we just stop with the politically correct answers Donald Gill and call it like it is which is a disgrace. You have no control over your principal who has no control over his football coaches who have no control over the football players. Do you not see a pattern. AUSD needs stronger leadership from the top down. Be the change you want to see and that is not happening.
For the life of me, this page posts three videos, what is there to review?
A microcosm of the ghetto mentality seen all over Antioch. They lost a lot more than the game that night…they lost a lot of respect too. I’m sorry for the good residents that call Antioch home. Can you imagine the possible injuries resulting from bumping a musical instrument like a sax, trumpet or tuba while a band member is playing it? Maybe a pre-game agreement in the future will keep this from happening again. Kudos for the professionalism shown by The Pittsburg High School Marching Show Band!
Not to brush off the PHS Marching Band but this is far larger issue of respect and sportsman conduct of the DVHS Football team. DVHS was a guest at Pittsburg High School so they need to follow what traditions or procedures are set in place by the Home institution. Also, I have never never seen ANY sports team warm up or ‘pre-game practice’ during the NATIONAL ANTHEM even during world sports events you stop and are respectful for all the National Anthems even if they are not your own. Many people might say that this is ‘only a high school football game’ but this is the start of where these students learn their respect. No wonder the NFL has so many players with issues when the problems start here in the high school setting
Not just a disturbance, it was violence. Many witnessed band members being kicked and spit on. We need to stop spinning this thuggish behavior and give some real consequences. Coach should be fired and football players who assaulted band members should have charges pressed against them. No Deer Valley football until 2017. While we should celebrate the positive, you also need to address the negative. Go Pitt Band! And Pitt football! You showed class! And to the many Deer Valley parents who are posting that they were appalled by the the entire thing, good for you! You are the shining stars of DV!
I have a questions. Why wasn’t DVHS principal at the game that was just a few miles from his school site. This is part of the disgrace. Everyone knows there have been issues in the past at the Pitt DV games. How could he principal not be at this very important game. Also I agree with Antioch parent Be the change you wish to see and one very fine previous DVHS leader told me that Attitude reflects leadership. AUSD step up and figure out how your players should act when they are the visiting team and stand by this decision and make players and coaches accountable for their actions.
Linda Steinwehr Thompson, I would be very surprised if the principal wasn’t there. Any administrator should have stopped the game at that point.
No much can be said for the principal of Deer Valley. This just proves what everyone has said since he came to DV.
How embarrassing for everyone involved.
wow. This is the situation I’m really not going to get over it’s taking me a whole year to try to get over the situation butthat is very sad what the hell till further notice serious OMG how do you guys think I feel right now I didn’t want my money back I wanted to be the coach and take my basketball team to the NCS championship but guess what people I got fired by Mr Ken Gardner the principal for being a good coach buying Deer Valley High School basketball uniform for the kids with my own personal money I was doing something right for the basketball program and my team never got out of control at any game we conducted ourselves with class during warmups and after games showing good sportsmanship but all was done is suspend him till further notice my heart is broken if you make an example out of me what message are you sending to the other cultures that they could mess up and still get a chance to come back that’s why I said it was personal in my situation but God knows my heart and I’m glad he didn’t turn his back on me for doing something right .
If what Pittsburgh students are saying turns out to be accurate, the coach of this team was out there shoving kids. No mater how you slice this, that coach needs to be out of a job, asap. At the very least, he has exhibited that he has no control over his players. But if he actually shoved a student….he’s done. If the school board and principal don’t act on that information, THEY should be done as well. Yes it is all about the kids, but those football players, and possibly the coach, were completely out of control. I don’t think this has been blown out of proportion. If anything, some people aren’t taking this seriously enough. If I am a school administrator for Deer Valley, that coach should have been fired yesterday. Period. From what Tim just posted above, the principal should be looking for a new job as well.
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