PA & National Elite HS Hurdler Eric Futch barred from State Meet after possible conspiracy from meet officials

I worked at the D3 Meet where it was mid 80's and we had a tent set up for the athletes to sit in while they waited. The main problem came when he was kicked out of the tent earlier after a 20 min wait in the basking sun then returned after the 200 final which he won to find about 15 athletes in the tent. He approached the person that kicked him out originally and asked why they were allowed and he wasn't, he was again told he was not allowed under the tent.

If he was kicked out of the tent earlier and then came back to find a group of athletes under the tent I can see why he felt singled out. And then he was retold he was still not allowed under while the rest of the kids sat there. It doesn't take much at that point when you are young, tired, and have a lot of emotions going to act out. Even the most mild tempored person would probally say something they regretted.

I don't think he should be kicked out of the PIAA meet and I do think that this should lead the district to put up a tent for the athletes to wait under and to also have both the athlete and the officials to meet up and talk about the situation. You can't go back and redo the situation but it could be a big step for the athlete to apologize and for the officials to say that they cold have handled the situation better. If they stood their ground all day and never let anybody under the tent then the second occurance would not have happened. Also why wasn't the kid given a warning telling him and his coach together that his actions are not appropriate and under the circumstances if there is another altercation then he will be ejected from the meet. And why wasn't the coach brought in after the first arguement?

Is anyone in PA surprised the Ron Lopresti was involved in something that upset a kid? He never speaks to the kids without raising a voice or being demeaning. Heck, he's the same way to the coaches.

Here's hoping the backlash convinces the PIAA to reverse their stupid decision and do right by Eric.

Meet officials on a random power trip!? What next!?

Good work by the reporter, hope this kid gets reinstated.

Hope Futch gets reinstated, terrible thing for this kids dreams to be killed by the egos of meet officials.

Obviously Futch needs to be held accountable for his actions, but I can't help but think here that if it were anyone else, this would not have happened. The officials let their emotions and personal opinions of the athlete get the best of them and that was the driving force behind their decision

PACoach wrote:

Obviously Futch needs to be held accountable for his actions, but I can't help but think here that if it were anyone else, this would not have happened. The officials let their emotions and personal opinions of the athlete get the best of them and that was the driving force behind their decision

Held accountable for what his coach told him to do.....avoid the confrontation. Talk with the coach, which they did not do.

Wow, that story is disgusting. I don't understand why high school officials can't realize that the meet isn't about them and that they aren't there to teach any of the kids a "lesson." It's sick, really, that they are supposedly trying to help him grow up when really they are just showing that they never did. The three officials that planned this should be banned from ever working meets in the state again and the ones that are coaches should lose their jobs. Despicable.

I'm very thankful that I never had to deal with any officials like this when I was in high school and that I always felt like officials treated me with respect as a fellow human being.

I kind of wish we could just start paying officials so that we could actually pick decent people to do the job. When an official acts like a jerk, all we can do is shrug and say "who else would do this for free." If we put some money into it, we could attract decent people and get rid of the bad ones.

It wouldn't be all that expensive, really. If every PA runner pitched in a couple of bucks at the beginning of the season, there would be plenty of money to pay officials for the State meet and all the district meets.

So the root of the situation is that athletes were being made to wait around for an awards ceremony rather than prepare for their next event?

That's a great message to send-- what really matters is that you receive this 25-cent piece of brass, not that you focus on the competition itself.

Futch unleashed a stream of F-bombs and other obscenities that were offensive and disrespectful to anyone within earshot. Although the PIAA officials in District 1 are generally old and nasty, this kid had no right to go off the way he did. Harry Lewis is a gentleman beyond reproach and isn't punishing this kid Futch simply because he turned his back. It's what he said before and after he turned his back.

Was at that meet wrote:

Futch unleashed a stream of F-bombs and other obscenities that were offensive and disrespectful to anyone within earshot. Although the PIAA officials in District 1 are generally old and nasty, this kid had no right to go off the way he did. Harry Lewis is a gentleman beyond reproach and isn't punishing this kid Futch simply because he turned his back. It's what he said before and after he turned his back.

Is it true that they were allowing other people to sit under the tent, but that they weren't allowing this kid to do so? As a full grown adult, I'd have some choice words in that situation.

pay them wrote:

Is it true that they were allowing other people to sit under the tent, but that they weren't allowing this kid to do so? As a full grown adult, I'd have some choice words in that situation.

Then it appears you aren't a full grown adult.

pay them wrote:

Is it true that they were allowing other people to sit under the tent, but that they weren't allowing this kid to do so? As a full grown adult, I'd have some choice words in that situation.

There were plenty of other athletes spending time under the tent, yes. While at times they took exception to any athlete being under there, the reaction they gave to Futch was completely overboard.

Was at that meet wrote:

Then it appears you aren't a full grown adult.

So you're not able to answer my question? I figured you might be able to offer some insight since you were there.

You're right, though. An adult would simply put up with being treated unfairly without any resistance.

Was at that meet wrote:

Then it appears you aren't a full grown adult.

Theres a difference from an adult and a pushover

Was at that meet wrote:

Futch unleashed a stream of F-bombs and other obscenities that were offensive and disrespectful to anyone within earshot. Although the PIAA officials in District 1 are generally old and nasty, this kid had no right to go off the way he did. Harry Lewis is a gentleman beyond reproach and isn't punishing this kid Futch simply because he turned his back. It's what he said before and after he turned his back.

He-said-they-said:

As noted in this article and interview, Futch claims he did not curse at the officials.

Whoops! Article now provided...

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/05/22/sports/high_school/doc4fbb12788738f942586633.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Looks like everyone--including the reporter/blogger linked in the OP and following posts--is really wrapped up and emotional about this. It's to the point that the scenario is somewhat difficult to follow.

From what I gather, he won a race and was asked to sit in the sun for a long time to wait for his award; meanwhile he wanted to wait in a tent where it was cooler.

He was kicked out of the tent. Was this tent for officials?

Came back and got into a confrontation with race officials and it escalated to meet director level. He said some things, stalked out, and was DQ'd from the meet and redflagged so he cannot compete at state meet at all?

Where was his coach in all this?

I don't think I have it at all right but that's how I'm reading it.

Anyone out there who can clearly, concisely explain the situation?

(seems like a situation where officiousness and stature trumps reason).