Coach Wins, Some Players Lose

You have likely heard the expression many times - boys will be boys.

At Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean, a suburb of Ottawa, that expression might have a new meaning. I am sure it will be tossed around for awhile, maybe even later this month at Commencement.

It has to do with the manner in which several members of the Bengals baseball team, apparently, decided that it would be alright to try some alcoholic beverages the night before the start of the Prentice Cup baseball playoffs in Oshawa. Some of the players, not thinking about their teammates or even themselves, likely assumed no one would see, things would be quiet and, well, they were away from home.

First off, a violation of the student code of conduct. Also, some players were underage. We can continue, but you get the message.

School principal Barb Gage would only tell reporters in Ottawa that something occurred - but wouldn't elaborate. It would be nice if these officials would admit the truth, protect the names of minors and then explain the course of action taken to ensure there are no repeat incidents.

I can hardly wait until the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations, responsible for this provincial playoff, weigh in - or will they just let things wash off? Maybe OFSAA will leave possible sanctions to their brothers and sisters in the National Capital athletic association or the school or just treat this as a case of - boys will be boys.

Hidden in this embarrassment, and taking away from a well-run event by regional organizer Geoff Whent from Sinclair Secondary in Whitby, was the role taken by school coach Jean Lefebvre. Turns out that I am not the only one who believes the Borden coach should be up for a medal or some form of citation for how he dealt with this mess.

When Lefebvre found out, he spoke with the players, benched and later removed the offenders from the team. Also, he decided to play a game with the remaining roster players allowing them a chance to experience a playoff game.

Borden, with only eight active players, beat Belleville Centennial - but Lefebvre had already determined the game would be a forfeit with a restricted roster. He did the same for the next one against Innisdale from Barrie, withdrew the team from the tournament. Kudos to the coach. I Know there will always be critics questioning why the coach, and his assistants, weren't supervising 24 hours of the day. There has to be some form of student ownership for their habits. Lesson to players: stick to the rules.

Must have been a quiet bus ride home.

Comments

[chris starkey]

Good for you, David.
Coach Lefebvre could have high-tailed it home but he punished the offenders, rewarded the Borden kids who did play by the rules and did not punish the other teams in the tournament by not giving them a game.
If OFSAA follows its rules on this one, the incident goes to the Competition Committee. A report goes to the Borden principal with copies to the NCSSAA rep for OFSAA and the OFSAA Board of Reference - Sanctions. My guess is that the quick and level-headed actions of the coach will save his players, team and school from any OFSAA punishment.

[Mr. Harris]

Despite the efforts of a coach who should be singled out for his great move, the school should be disciplined, the principal needs to step up and suspend the students and OFSAA has to lay down a penalty.
If not, it's a farce. Betcha everyone looks to the end of the school year and does nothing. Wrong move and the educational network gets a failure in my book.

[The Butler]

Yes, work with the problem kids. Education is important. Teach the problem makers what went wrong.
But anyone who lets this scenario go without a severe penalty, sets the door wide open for repeat situations. I am sorry, throw the book at Borden. Send a clear message to everyone else. I really don't think people have the guts to do it.

[Mark K.]

Mr. Grossman, I would not have even played. This is a team. They travel as a team. They live as a team. They play as a team. They pay the price as a team. They should be banned for a year as a team.

[Sheldon]

What a great story and thanks to you and the Toronto Star for beating the school bureaucracy and publishing it. Now, can we send copies of it to all high school coaches.

[Mitch]

Time for a beer to toast that coach!!

[W.W.]

Ha. Ha.
That's unfortunate for the good kids on that team. As for the others, I wonder if their parents feel good about their sons.
OFSAA is likely finding a hole to hide in because it won't know what to do but disappear from something like this rather than take a pro-active stand and come across as if it actually knows what to do.

[E.V.]

This coach deserves to be named as Coach of the Year in Ottawa.
It's about time coaches do the right thing rather than focus entirely on winning.

[Robert Thomas]

I know the Star is thorough in reporting so how about telling us the brand name of the beer or could those kids have been faking it and the coach fell for it?

[Gordie]

I would be curious on how the rest of that team would deal with this situation and what lies ahead. Maybe it is time for student peers to also contribute to the final call and subsequent penalties.

[HS Coach]

My heart goes out to the Borden coach, after a long and successful season what a disappointing end, and my hat goes off to you for the way you handled it. The story does not mention whether the offending players were graduating or not. I do hope that further sanction is taken on these players but I believe that the coach, the school and the other players who did not involve themselves in this event should not be further penalized. I am sure to this team the damage that these selfish players have caused is punishment enough.

[Lisa]

It is nice to know that the only girl on the Ottawa team, and who pitched when all the hullabaloo ended, acted in an appropriate way.
Ah, gender equity. What was that fellas....

[Andy V.]

The entire team needs to pay the price. Sorry, this is a team and not individuals, right?
The Principal also needs a kick in the butt for trying to hide this and not admit to a problem and corrective measures.
OFSAA. Good grief. They will do nothing because they don't know what is right and what is not.

[Coach]

Can you please let us know what the school and OFSSAA did?
Basketball teams get suspended for a year because they gave two players an opportunity to play and get showcased in the U.S.
Others violate OFSSAA loosy goosy rules and play in the U.S. without getting approval. Now it appears as if OFSSAA will do nothing to a school that had players drinking alcohol. Since when is that OK..

[CP]

Character and integrity matter. Good call, coach.

[M.M.]

David you are right on with your story and comments. Many of us in the high school coaching ranks have had similar situations to deal with like this and I applaud the Borden coach for his action.I do take great exception to everyone using this to slag OFSAA. Having convened numerous OFSAA events we run the events, while the school and the coach are responsible for the conduct of their team. The team was suspended from competition which is a huge penalty for the rest of the players on Borden. However, the rest is a school matter just like a drunk student at a school prom and I'm sure will be dealt with by the administration. To demand to know what is done is really none of anyone else's business, these are kids not pro athletes. OFSAA fulfilled its role by suspeding the team the rest is a school responsibility.

[DELROY]

Pickering was put on probation by OFSAA for 3 or 4 years for the basketball incident (whatever that means) I guess as long as you are not a transfer student OFSAA says "bottom's up"