Updated at 9:03 a.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Preps: Calif. football coach quits in brawl aftermath
Associated Press
DUARTE, Calif. — The suspension of players after a brawl during a Friday night football game led to the resignation of Duarte High School head coach Wardell Crutchfield."I'm sick of Duarte getting the bad rap it gets and our players not getting the fair treatment they deserve," Crutchfield said Tuesday after learning eight Duarte players and eight Gladstone High School players were suspended for one game for their roles in the field battle.
Crutchfield, 31, said several more Gladstone players should have been suspended, and he claimed Gladstone coaches were also throwing punches.
Gladstone athletic director Chuck Shore and Gladiators head coach Albert Sanchez declined comment.
Duarte school officials defended the decision to suspend the players and said they were stunned by Crutchfield's sudden resignation.
"We viewed film for about three hours," Duarte Principal William Martinez said. He cited a California Interscholastic Federation rule that calls for a one-game suspension if a player leaves the sidelines during a fight.
Crutchfield was in his third season as head coach and last season had led the Falcons to the Montview League championship. Duarte is considered a top contender for a CIF title this year.
Crutchfield will remain a math teacher at Duarte until the end of the school year, he said.
