COMMENTARY: Post-game scuffle has no place in rivalry

 COMMENTARY: Post-game scuffle has no place in rivalry

By Keno Sultan

C-Town Radio statistician and announcer

CANTON--It was a horrifying scene. 

It was bad enough that pushing and shoving happened at midfield. But it was even worse when it escalated to the other end of the stadium.

The rivalry between Canton McKinley and Massillon has had it's share of big plays, touchdowns, hard hits and everything else that comes with it. There are coaching stratagems and full intensity. But regardless of the contest, there was always respect between the two schools and the players who played in the game.

Saturday afternoon however, what transpired at the end had no place in the annals of this rivalry. Massillon head coach Nate Moore said it best about his feelings about what ensued after his team's 35-0 win over McKinley.

"It was really sad what went down. It was a melee seemingly out of nowhere and where it started from, it got out of hand real fast," he lamented.

What happened to the meaning of student-community-athlete in all of that? Players from Canton McKinley and Massillon are students first, members of the community, and then athletes. When players put that jersey on that reads 'MCKINLEY' or 'MASSILLON', they are playing for those who played before them and those who will play after them. You have to think about the kids in the stands watching the melee that ensued. Although the competing players are also high school athletes, there are elementary and middle school students who were watching as well. The lack of sportsmanship in all of that was painful and had no place in this rivalry.

Players also have to keep in mind that they not only represent their school and community, they also put their family surname on the line when they are in competition. Flagrant transgressions like what occurred today are a step closer to critics potentially bringing even more shame on the family name of those who were involved in that situation.

Let's face it. Massillon at this point is obviously better than Canton McKinley. Even though I am a graduate of the school without the Victory Bell now spanning eight years, Massillon is just a well-tooled football team. And until McKinley can find the right formula to defeat the Tigers, losses like the one that occurred today will continue to happen year after year after year. And it hurts to say that but the truth is the truth.

But the flagrant fighting at the end? Totally unacceptable. Don't be surprised if any parties involved end up with suspensions ranging from being out of school (worst case) or being suspended for a playoff game that may have significant ramifications behind them. 

How many times have you seen players shake hands starting with pee wee and maturing all the way to junior high, then high school, along with college and up to professional status? It is a custom taught as early at the pee wee level. Think about it. What if those players today who scuffled ended up facing each other in college? What if they ended up as teammates at the college level?

Both teams will advance to their respective playoff brackets, Massillon in Division II and McKinley in Division I. I do wish both schools nothing but the best of success in the playoffs. But however, what ensued was a very horrifying scene that isn't indicative of what this rivalry is all about.

Hopefully the 135th meeting will be nothing like what happened today. Let's not have something like this happen ever again.

Keno Sultan can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.