A California high school football program has been suspended for a week after players and its mascot allegedly crossed the line during a heated rivalry game.
Victor Valley High School defeated host Apple Valley High School, 20-7, on Friday and claimed the rivalry’s annual “Bell Game.”
The victory was followed by behavior officials described as excessive and unsportsmanlike, including an obscene gesture from Victor Valley’s mascot toward the stands. The school responded by suspending the football team and forfeiting its next game.
Victor Valley Superintendent Carl J. Coles and Principal Darius Robinson said in a joint statement that members of the team had “crossed a line.”
“Members of the Victor Valley High School football team behaved in an unsportsmanlike manner toward the opposing team and its fans, including offensive gestures and language,” Coles and Robinson said.
“There is a clear line between passionate competition and unacceptable conduct. That line was crossed at the Bell Game on Friday, September 11,” they added.
One video shared on social media appeared to show the Jackrabbits mascot moving across the school track before making an offensive hand gesture toward the opposing sideline.
The school said suspending the football team and coaching staff from football activities this week “reflects the seriousness with which [the school] holds [their] athletic programs accountable.”
“Over the coming week, school leaders and district administration will work directly with the coaching staff and football team to address what occurred, review our athletic code of conduct, and reinforce the standards required of every student-athlete and coach representing Victor Valley High School,” the statement said.
“There will be accountability, there will be reflection, and there will be a clear expectation that this cannot happen again.”
The statement continued: “We are proud of our student-athletes, but athletic success cannot take precedence over character. Our responsibility as educators is not simply to develop better athletes; it is to develop better human beings.”
Coles and Robinson also apologized to Apple Valley High School for the conduct of Victor Valley’s team.
It remains unclear which specific actions by the players led to the suspension. Additional videos appeared to show members of the team making hand signs after the game.
Another clip appeared to show the Jackrabbits mascot knocking over Apple Valley’s mascot along the sideline.
As a result of the suspension and forfeiture, Victor Valley’s football team will not return to game action until the Friday after next.
Victor Valley High School is located in Victorville, which is about 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County.
