By David Knox, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE – As the cheer goes – or is more of a taunt? – “You can’t do that!”
The Alabama High School Athletic Association released the list of schools fined for various violations during the 2015-16 athletics year in all sports.
Local schools weren’t hit very hard.
Hewitt-Trussville High was fined a total of $600 for four separate incidents. Player ejections in football games vs. Vestavia Hills and James Clemens drew $100 fines each for the school, and a player ejection in soccer drew another $100 fine. A coach not attending a rules clinic in wrestling cost a $300 fine.
Hewitt-Trussville Middle School caught a $50 fine for a volleyball coach not attending a rules clinic. The school was also fined $100 for a wrestler being ejected from a match for unsportsmanlike conduct.
CCMS was fined $50 for a coach not attending a track rules clinic.
Pinson Valley was fined $100 for a soccer ejection and Rudd Middle dew a $100 fine in total for two coaches not attending a track rules clinic.
Though you never like to see player ejections or coach violations, it was good to see so few ejections for our local schools, and no coaches were ejected from any contests, according to the AHSAA.
It beats by a mile what happened in the Elba-New Brockton football game in September.
During the game – a 44-0 win for top-ranked Elba – a New Brockton ball carrier lost his helmet and was then tackled near the sideline. His New Brockton teammates thought maybe he needed some backup and 21 of them left the sideline. One Elba player ran from his sideline onto the field. Ultimately, seven Elba players were ejected and all 21 New Brockton players were ejected for coming off the sideline onto the field. Elba paid a $700 fine and New Brockton forked over $2,100.
Several players and an assistant coach were suspended for two games by the AHSAA.
Elba went on to win the Class 2A championship in a 15-0 season. But they’re a little lighter in the pocketbook.
A total of 74 AHSAA high schools drew no fines or ejections, and they’ll be recognized at the AHSAA Summer Conference Sportsmanship Luncheon in Montgomery during All-Star Sports Week.