Athlete's dad files suit over penalty

[McTish]

As I was reading all these posts I found myself wavering back and forth on the issue, but, as unfortunate as this situation is, and as badly as I feel for the Roths, the decision was proper. The school district has to be consistent in enforcement of these rules, which, as stated many times previously, the parents and students must sign off on. They not only sign off on the rules, but more importantly, they must acknowledge that they fully understand the consequences and sign off on those, as well.

If this were a JV wrestler who broke these rules (three times), he would also be out of wrestling, and there would be no newspaper coverage, no lawsuit, and not hundreds of posts on this website.

The good news is that Lucas still posesses his wrestling skills and has ample opportunities ahead of him in both wrestling (and life), at NIU or wherever. If he's blown a few D1 opportunities, so what? Learn from all this, and move on.

[crazyrunner1215]

Perhaps what the Roth's are trying to do is fight the fact that the teacher/coach should have no jurisdiction outside of school. I would have to say I agree with this. I think it is ridiculous how this world has come to big brother watching over you. I can't say I agree with him dipping in class, but smoking outside of school should not be punished. Now saying that, I have read Lockport's rules and they are very vague. My guess is that is what the parents are trying to fight.

This is similar to something that happened to my brother. He vandalized a Dean's house and was caught by the police and punished. The school took action and suspended him for 10 days. Obviously with the suspension from school, he could not wrestle during the suspension. My parents did fight it and won because he was punished twice for the same crime and the school had no right off school grounds.

[Dondo]

Originally Posted by crazyrunner1215

Perhaps what the Roth's are trying to do is fight the fact that the teacher/coach should have no jurisdiction outside of school. I would have to say I agree with this.

I agree too.......even though I'm not excusing the fact that Luke was wrong for multiple offenses.

[friendly]

I agree with Mr. Roth 100%. For some reason schools want to run every aspect of a kid's life until they graduate. They are trying to be the law and god. I know of a kid that was 18 and someone supposedly saw him by a pack of ciggarettes which he was perfectly legal in doing, had nothig to do with school and was suspended from wrestling for a couple of weeks. When I was in school nothing like this happened and if it did it was usually handled by the school and the parents. How can you tell an 18yr old kid that he can go to war, have kids, be a father, have all the responsibilities and stress of being an adult and then condemn him for freaking smoking. This country gets worse every year. What happened to democracy and land of the free. We are being more limited every year as to what we can do and say legally. These school officials are like cops on the prowl hiding and just looking for a kid to screw up. The person that seen Lucas smoking should of had the decency to confront him and his parents about this instead of running as fast as he could like a little freaking kid tattling on another. It's freaking ridiculous.

[wagon0619]

Originally Posted by Dondo

I agree too.......even though I'm not excusing the fact that Luke was wrong for multiple offenses.

So, if school is out, he can do illegal activity as long as it is not on school grounds?

[Dondo]

Originally Posted by wagon0619

So, if school is out, he can do illegal activity as long as it is not on school grounds?

Did I say that? Off school grounds, illegal activity should be in cops hands. My opinion.

[wagon0619]

Originally Posted by friendly

I agree with Mr. Roth 100%. For some reason schools want to run every aspect of a kid's life until they graduate. They are trying to be the law and god. I know of a kid that was 18 and someone supposedly saw him by a pack of ciggarettes which he was perfectly legal in doing, had nothig to do with school and was suspended from wrestling for a couple of weeks. When I was in school nothing like this happened and if it did it was usually handled by the school and the parents. How can you tell an 18yr old kid that he can go to war, have kids, be a father, have all the responsibilities and stress of being an adult and then condemn him for freaking smoking. This country gets worse every year. What happened to democracy and land of the free. We are being more limited every year as to what we can do and say legally. These school officials are like cops on the prowl hiding and just looking for a kid to screw up. The person that seen Lucas smoking should of had the decency to confront him and his parents about this instead of running as fast as he could like a little freaking kid tattling on another. It's freaking ridiculous.

Then why sign the code? He signed it knowing what the rules were. Fight the code before you sign it if you have issues with it, don't wait until you got busted a 3rd time to then challengeit!

[Attitude]

Originally Posted by wagon0619

So, if school is out, he can do illegal activity as long as it is not on school grounds?

The question is when you are not on school grounds, should the school have jurisdiction or is that the job of local law enforcement at that point?
There is no question the act was wrong legally but when should the school be the judge and jury vs. the local police?

[mamachase]

Well I know at GBN, if athletes are at parties were alcohol, smoking and or drugs are taken place and they are caught, even if they are Not par-taking in any of the activities they are still held accountable as if they were. They know better. If they have pictures on my space or face book that show them holding a cigarette or alcohol they can still get in trouble. Athletics, just like driving is a privilege not a RIGHT!

I guess my issue with this story if I read it correctly is that Mr. Roth is blaming the suspension as hurting Lucas chances for a scholarship and is he suing for monetary damages?

“Among other things, the suspension hurt Lucas Roth's chances for a college scholarship, Roth said, adding that some schools with large wrestling programs, like the University of Missouri, stopped recruiting him”

Because I would say that it is his actions and the smoking that hurt his chances for scholarships at a top program. Schools have to be very careful on whom they spend their 9.9 money on and I would think they might think twice about an athlete that smokes.

[Dondo]

Originally Posted by Attitude

The question is when you are not on school grounds, should the school have jurisdiction or is that the job of local law enforcement at that point?
There is no question the act was wrong legally but when should the school be the judge and jury vs. the local police?

Thanks Attitude.....you explained it better than I.