Following Hamilton's win over Chandler on Friday night, there was a short altercation between Huskies coach Steve Belles and Wolves assistant coach Eric Richardson in the postgame handshake line.
According to both sides, the Chandler staff was upset because the Hamilton students ran on the field to celebrate the victory. Belles thought the school should be able to enjoy it and took exception to Chandler's coaches yelling at the kids. In Belles' view, Chandler's students would have stormed the field with a victory, and his team also endured it when Mountain Pointe beat Hamilton in the season opener.
"It can't be one-sided," Belles said Saturday. "We're not supposed to get excited for the big one? If our kids do it, it’s not OK? I don’t understand that kids can’t get excited about their high school. That’s what I told (Chandler coach) Shaun (Aguano) after the game."
The arguing between Belles and the Chandler assistants became heated, with Richardson putting his hand on Belles, who responded by pushing him away. Belles initially said he responded by shoving Richardson, but later said he just pushed Richardson's hand away.
Aguano and Richardson could not be reached for comment.
In my view, it's an important distinction.
If neither Richardson nor Belles pushed each other, it's a run-of-the-mill, heat-of-the-moment altercation. Emotions run high, especially in rivalry games, and disagreements are common.
However, if there was a shoving match going on, it crosses the line.
Think about it: If either coach pushed a referee or a player, there would be outrage. What if they shoved a parent, a fan or an announcer? Just because two coaches were at the center of the controversy shouldn't change our reaction.
Belles said he didn't consider the confrontation a physical one because there weren't any punches thrown, harkening back to the fistfights he knew growing up.
But this is a little different scenario. These coaches want badly to win, and since they are at the highest level of high school football, there is a lot of pressure to do so.
However, at their core, they are still leaders of impressionable high school kids, students who hang on their words and actions. Two anonymous kids getting in a fight is much different than two high-profile coaches shoving each other in front of thousands of onlookers.
Football is a violent game and there is a certain machismo factor prevalent at many schools. But still, how can they scream at their kids for getting retaliatory personal foul calls on the field if they can't control those same emotions in the postgame handshake line?
Belles said he talked to Aguano on Saturday morning and hashed out the incident, which is great to hear, and hopefully it's further addressed in both locker rooms and over with.
Belles asked rhetorically if this would have gotten the same type of attention at a school like Tuba City. Probably not, because only a select few would have seen it. But does that matter? Would those coaches have been any less complicit?
Belles said repeatedly that I couldn't understand his position without being in his shoes. He's right in that I don't know the pressure he's under and the entire history between the coaches at these schools.
But despite the demands, this is still high school football, and when your audience is mostly teenagers, turning the other cheek is that much more important.
Both sides lost sight of that.
Reach Kyle Odegard at (480) 898-6834 or kodegard@evtrib.com. Follow his blog at http://blogs.evtrib.com/varsityxtra, or find him on Twitter @Kyle_Odegard.
sss posted at 8:57 am on Sun, Sep 30, 2012.
If this had been a Scottsdale school, this story would attract all of the vicious hatred and condemnation imaginable. It would continue to gain momentum until it made national news and then some political hack would jump in demanding an investigation. The weak Scottsdale school district and administrators would hide behind their desks remaining invisible and silent hoping for some other story to garner the headlines. Meanwhile the coaches would be left hanging out there without anyone covering their back. Finally, some AIA official would make a statement that cuts right down the middle and declare the situation over. Final hateful comments would emerge from the peanut gallery and it would finally fade away.
pnutman posted at 10:56 am on Sun, Sep 30, 2012.
Thanks for clarifying what I saw on TV clip vs your commentary on same.
The pressure AGUANO is under at Chandler was minimal as you are not reading
what the REAL PRESSURE has been according to Hierachy at Chandler HS.
My reading is no different than Whiz Man of the Cardinal's selecting Kolb to be his starting QB and he throws interceptions left and right with Whiz Man staying with Kolb for 2 games and 2 LOSSES. Hard to fathom, but in reality, it's the Real World of HS
Athletics, Note all the firing's lately in local circles.
That being said, I think Belles handled it well, considering the flippant arm and hand of Aguano. That is a "culture thing", almost like the Italian side I possess,
I also talk with my hand's, and if you are taller than me, I tend to reach out more and maybe slightly touch you, OOps, that was an" Italian Slip."
Let's wait until Chandler HS is beaten by Hamilton in BASKETBALL. Guarantee
the students will storm the court, but guarantee Coach Hartwig will congratulate his coaching staff, then glad hand the "frustrated Wolve Coach" but Kevin, quick
"DUCK."
Thanks for the recap on the "yip YAP" of both Coach's.
footballfreak posted at 2:30 pm on Sun, Sep 30, 2012.
I actually find this article funny! Love how Chandler High Coaches didnt commen bahahahaha! Would be nice if as a writer your did your research before this articel. IF YOU HAD........ you would have known that the Chandler School Administration called the Hamilton Administration adn told them that "WHEN" they won the gamne, their students WERE going to storm the field and take down the goal post and that Chandler would pay for the damages! That is why the HUGE police presence. How interesting when the roles are reversed and Hamilton ONCE AGAIN sticks it to Chandler, Those students have EVERY RIGHT to storm the field protect their home turf and celebrate! Belles stood by quiet with class when MP stormed their field! Chandler our big mouth, thug sore lossers! I PROMISE you had they won their students ane parents would have stormed Hamiltons field! Thank you for teh Police Department keeping all the Chandler gang banger fans in check!
Engaged Voter posted at 12:12 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Here's a wild idea - how about the adults stop posing and posturing for a silly football game, or football in general, and start concentrating on what SCHOOL is actually for - LEARNING.
To anyone wondering why American students constantly score below those of other countries...THIS IS WHY.
Sportsjunky posted at 10:52 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
and what if they would have pushed an EV Trib Reporter?? Kyle, I know they would have been very, very sorry for laying their hands on you.