Yet another California high school football team has suddenly canceled its season amid claims of player misconduct. In this case, police were called, one student was arrested, and the head coach was placed on administrative leave.
Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto, California, has suspended all football activities for the rest of the season after school officials discovered cellphone videos allegedly showing varsity players engaging in some sort of wrongdoing.
Apparently, whatever was on those videos was serious enough that the school district pulled the plug on all three of its football teams.
California High School Cancels Football Season After Student Arrested
According to the Sacramento Bee, Modesto City Schools announced on Friday that it was canceling all remaining varsity, junior varsity and freshman football games and practices. The decision came after school administrators received reports of videos allegedly showing misconduct involving varsity football players.
Police reportedly reviewed the videos and cited one juvenile for misdemeanor battery on October 29. Beyer varsity head football coach Mike Young was also placed on administrative leave that same day.
School officials haven’t explained exactly what happened in the videos or why Young was placed on leave. Police have, however, confirmed that the coach was not arrested or cited.
“We are deeply troubled by allegations involving members of the Fred C. Beyer High School football program,” the district said in a statement. “These allegations are extremely serious and have no place in our schools or athletic programs.”
The school district also said it was working to determine whether additional students were involved or affected. School officials also urged anyone with information about the alleged misconduct to contact the Modesto Police Department, Modesto City Schools, or Beyer administrators.
According to the latest information from Modesto police, they are no longer actively investigating the incident, but they did say they could reopen the case if new information surfaces.
Another California High School Football Season Ends Early
This isn’t the first California high school football program to have its season canceled or a game forfeited under troubling circumstances this fall.
In September, Hollister High School suspended its entire football season amid an investigation involving members of its varsity team. And in another bizarre incident, Victor Valley forfeited a football game after a controversial celebration.
As for Beyer, the Patriots have already had a tough season, going 1-8 overall and 0-6 in league play. However, the cancellation also meant the team would not play its final regular-season game against Lathrop, which was also Senior Night. So, players who had nothing to do with the alleged misconduct didn’t get to finish their football season.