MHSAA suspends Huron and Pioneer head football coaches; Ann Arbor Public Schools silent on actions
The brawl started as the two teams' head coaches met at midfield after the game. During the final minute of play, Huron head coach Cory Gildersleeve could be seen screaming at Pioneer head coach Paul Test from on the field and was asked to step back behind the sideline by officials. Gildersleeve was apparently upset that Pioneer, though well ahead in the contest, continued to run offensive plays, including long passes into the end zone, instead of simply taking a knee to run out the clock.
The game had several unsportsmanlike penalties in the final minutes.
When the two coaches came together at midfield the two exchanged words and Test was pushed. A Pioneer assistant coach saw the exchange, struck Gildersleeve and a fight broke out.
Once the fight started, players from both sides began throwing punches and tackling one another. At one point, a crutch could be seen being swung from inside the crowd. Gildersleeve confirmed that a Huron player was struck in the face by a crutch and sent to the hospital for stitches.
Coaches from both sides and officials tried to separate the teams, but were overwhelmed by the numerous fights taking place.
I walked up to coach Gildersleeve and said Im sorry we threw that long pass at the end, I didnt call it,"
Test said of the initial confrontation. "He said youre in charge what do you mean? You got to control that. I said 'I apologize,' I called the victory formation at the end there, and he was pushing me.
And one of my younger coaches saw that as being disrespectful to me and jumped in and thats when all hell broke loose.
Gildersleeve said he never pushed Test.
"We shook hands and I said, Paul what are you doing?' and he said Im really sorry about that, I didnt know that they were calling those plays," Gildersleeve said. "And I said Paul, youre the head football coach, you dont have control over plays that you think youre calling at the end of the game like that? You take a knee.
He did apologize and I said thats fine Paul," Gildersleeve said. According to Gildersleeve as that conversation was still going on he was struck by the Pioneer assistant.
As the Pioneer team broke from their post-game huddle, some players taunted and laughed at the Huron huddle, prompting some parents to yell back at the Pioneer players.
A Huron parent was told to leave the field by police.
Once the situation was under control, Test and Gildersleeve again met and heated words were exchanged for a second time.
Gildersleeve repeated to Test that Pioneer should have run the clock out at the end of the game. Test again apologized and the two eventually shook hands.
fukk HURON
The brawl started as the two teams' head coaches met at midfield after the game. During the final minute of play, Huron head coach Cory Gildersleeve could be seen screaming at Pioneer head coach Paul Test from on the field and was asked to step back behind the sideline by officials. Gildersleeve was apparently upset that Pioneer, though well ahead in the contest, continued to run offensive plays, including long passes into the end zone, instead of simply taking a knee to run out the clock.
The game had several unsportsmanlike penalties in the final minutes.When the two coaches came together at midfield the two exchanged words and Test was pushed. A Pioneer assistant coach saw the exchange, struck Gildersleeve and a fight broke out.
Once the fight started, players from both sides began throwing punches and tackling one another. At one point, a crutch could be seen being swung from inside the crowd. Gildersleeve confirmed that a Huron player was struck in the face by a crutch and sent to the hospital for stitches.
Coaches from both sides and officials tried to separate the teams, but were overwhelmed by the numerous fights taking place.
I walked up to coach Gildersleeve and said Im sorry we threw that long pass at the end, I didnt call it,"
Test said of the initial confrontation. "He said youre in charge what do you mean? You got to control that. I said 'I apologize,' I called the victory formation at the end there, and he was pushing me.And one of my younger coaches saw that as being disrespectful to me and jumped in and thats when all hell broke loose.
Gildersleeve said he never pushed Test.
"We shook hands and I said, Paul what are you doing?' and he said Im really sorry about that, I didnt know that they were calling those plays," Gildersleeve said. "And I said Paul, youre the head football coach, you dont have control over plays that you think youre calling at the end of the game like that? You take a knee.
He did apologize and I said thats fine Paul," Gildersleeve said. According to Gildersleeve as that conversation was still going on he was struck by the Pioneer assistant.
As the Pioneer team broke from their post-game huddle, some players taunted and laughed at the Huron huddle, prompting some parents to yell back at the Pioneer players.
A Huron parent was told to leave the field by police.Once the situation was under control, Test and Gildersleeve again met and heated words were exchanged for a second time.
Gildersleeve repeated to Test that Pioneer should have run the clock out at the end of the game.
Test again apologized and the two eventually shook hands.fukk HURON
