Sports

By John Erzar jerzar@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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PLAINS TWP. — The District 2 athletic committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to recommend Dallas High School suspend head football coach Ted Jackson for one year as part of the punishment for a Sept. 18 incident at Tunkhannock where several players urinated on the tennis courts at halftime.

Failure to suspend Jackson, the District 2 athletic committee determined, will result in further unspecified actions.

The recommendation to suspend Jackson, who just completed his 25th season at Dallas, was one of six penalties on the football program and the Dallas School District. Jackson was not at the meeting and did not return phone messages seeking comment.

The District 2 athletic committee is the local extension of the PIAA. Dallas has the option of appealing the decisions to the PIAA in Mechanicsburg.

“We’re taking a look at the appeal issues, we’re taking a look at the proper notice of this meeting, we’re taking a look at a bunch of appeal issues,” said attorney Jack Dean, who represented Dallas. “We’re very pleased this hearing happened because we wanted this over in September, not before the PIAA, not before the (Wyoming County district attorney). We wanted to meet with (Tunkhannock). They didn’t want to meet.”

The District 2 committee also decided by an 8-0 vote to:

Extend the probation period for the Dallas football program two more years. The program had just completed a two-year probation for a bench-clearing fight with Williamsport in the 2008 season opener.

Publicly censure Dallas high school principal Jeffrey Shaffer and athletic director Nancy Roberts.

Have Shaffer and the Dallas football coaching staff issue written apologies to Tunkhannock.

Reimburse the Tunkhannock School District $1,000, the cost for having the tennis courts professionally cleaned.

Have Dallas submit a full report to the District 2 athletic committee prior to January’s meeting, stating what actions have been taken against the players if they are identified.

Dallas Superintendent Frank Galicki said during the four-hour hearing the players hadn’t been identified or punished because a criminal investigation is ongoing by the Wyoming County District Attorney’s office. Wyoming County detective David Ide said charges of institutional vandalism are possible.

“I was surprised at the ruling, I really was,” Dallas school board president Bruce Goeringer said. “It seems unfair to the kids. It’s very one-sided. I don’t think they took into everything into consideration everything that happened, especially since they ruled so heavily in favor (of Tunkhannock).”

Dallas claimed during the hearing that the visitors locker room was not clean, assistant coach John McNeil was assaulted by a Tunkhannock fan, Roberts was confronted by others, security was lacking and rocks were thrown at the team bus.

A motion was also passed to have Tunkhannock submit to the District 2 athletic committee a plan on how it will improve security at home football games.

Attorney Charles Coslett represented Tunkhannock and called several witnesses, including three who verified the cleanliness of the locker room and another who witnessed six or seven Dallas players urinate through the fence and onto the tennis court.

Tunkhannock head football coach Frank Berardelli said he talked to Ted Jackson before and after the game and the Dallas coach didn’t mention any problems with the locker room.

Tunkhannock athletic director Morris Jackson said when he was informed of the urination, he met Roberts at the tennis courts, which are a short distance from the locker room, to show her what had happened. He also left a phone message for Galicki, who was officiating another football game at the time.

Tunkhannock superintendent Michael Healey said he wanted a written apology from Dallas, restitution for cleaning the tennis courts and the names of the players involved.

Galicki said Dallas was willing to submit an apology and compensate Tunkhannock partially, but wouldn’t release the names of the players. He added he tried to meet with Healey to resolve the issue, but Healey refused.