The Dolores High School Football Team will not board a bus today and drive to Centauri High School to play a much anticipated game.
The team forfeited the game, which was to take place Saturday at 1 p.m., because not enough of the players are eligible.
Dolores School Superintendent Scott Cooper said that 10 or more boys are ineligible because of misconduct and a large number of others are ineligible because of poor grades. All students sign a code of conduct before playing and violated that code can result in suspension from play.
“It’s unfortunate,” Cooper said. “But it amounts to enough boys on the team who can’t play.”
The boys were going to make the over four-hour drive to Centauri today, for play tomorrow, after a local business donated hotel rooms for the players so they would have to drive there and back on the same day.
When contacted, the business woman said she was able to get her money back from the hotel after being notified of the situation last night.
Cooper would not elaborate, but said the boys “definitely broke the code of conduct.”
“It’s sad for the boys that did conduct themselves,” Cooper said.
The code of conduct was revisited last year when a group of wrestlers were told they were banned from a hotel in Grand Junction during an away match.
Here is how the code reads:
“Every student must abide by the school code of conduct while attending any school sanctioned event. Any inappropriate behavior may result in an ejection, detention, suspension or expulsion.
Alcohol/Drug: A participant found in possession of or using drugs, alcohol, tobacco or steroids on or off campus, while at home or another location or traveling for competition shall be suspended from season play.
Criminal: A participant charged or with using drugs, alcohol, steroids, public fighting or disturbance, DUI/DWI or any felony shall not participate until s/he is found not guilty of the offense or has repaid his/her debt and released by the court system.
Expulsion:No expelled individual shall participate in any CHSAA sanctioned athletic/activity.
Quitting:A participant, who quits a sport three (3) weeks into the season, shall be suspended from season play and may not participate in the next sport season.
Removal: A participant who is asked to leave a sport due to attitude and insubordination issues toward the team concept shall be suspended from season play.”
The Dolores Bears are expected to play Ignacio in Ignacio next week and Cooper said they may attend that game, their last game, if everyone behaves themselves and gets their grades up.