snuffy
12-23-2008, 10:58 AM
High school football player tackles umpire
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou081222_mp_player-attacks-ref.8a77c3d.html
11:15 PM CST on Monday, December 22, 2008
by Kevin Reece / 11 News
HOUSTON – It was the second to last play of a 5A quarter final high school game at Texas Stadium, when a star high school football player completed a hard tackle. But he didn’t tackle a player; he took out the umpire right in the middle of the field.
The player's punishment may include spending part of his senior year at an alternative school.
That referee was 61-year-old Robert Rosales of Houston.
"It was a pretty good hit. Yes. It hurt," said Rosales. “He hit me right in the back."
From the start of the game, the linebacker and leading tackler complained that the referees weren't making holding calls. He complained several times to Robert Rosales, whose job as an umpire is to watch the offensive line.
"Then, the second to last play of the game came up and I was hit from behind," said Rosales. "And right after the snap, I found myself on the ground."
Rosales told his co-officials on his way off the field that he had been blindsided. He was sure that the player did it on purpose. When he saw it on videotape a few days later, he knew it was on purpose.
League officials agreed.
The coach apologized, the player wrote a letter of apology, and Rosales' back spasms went away in about a week.
"I was fortunate that it was not a serious injury. But the next guy may not be as lucky," said Rosales.
The player's punishment may include spending part of his senior year at an alternative school, but the referee hopes the student has learned to control his emotions –especially on the football field.
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou081222_mp_player-attacks-ref.8a77c3d.html
11:15 PM CST on Monday, December 22, 2008
by Kevin Reece / 11 News
HOUSTON – It was the second to last play of a 5A quarter final high school game at Texas Stadium, when a star high school football player completed a hard tackle. But he didn’t tackle a player; he took out the umpire right in the middle of the field.
The player's punishment may include spending part of his senior year at an alternative school.
That referee was 61-year-old Robert Rosales of Houston.
"It was a pretty good hit. Yes. It hurt," said Rosales. “He hit me right in the back."
From the start of the game, the linebacker and leading tackler complained that the referees weren't making holding calls. He complained several times to Robert Rosales, whose job as an umpire is to watch the offensive line.
"Then, the second to last play of the game came up and I was hit from behind," said Rosales. "And right after the snap, I found myself on the ground."
Rosales told his co-officials on his way off the field that he had been blindsided. He was sure that the player did it on purpose. When he saw it on videotape a few days later, he knew it was on purpose.
League officials agreed.
The coach apologized, the player wrote a letter of apology, and Rosales' back spasms went away in about a week.
"I was fortunate that it was not a serious injury. But the next guy may not be as lucky," said Rosales.
The player's punishment may include spending part of his senior year at an alternative school, but the referee hopes the student has learned to control his emotions –especially on the football field.