Uniontown/Meadville double forfeit

[Sean Miller Fan]

Wow, terrible ruling by the PIAA.

This was a fan fight, in the stands, which spilled over to the players on the court but the players really didn't fight. Just kind of running around in chaos. In terms of basket-brawls we've seen with teams legitimately fighting and punching each other, this wasn't that.

I'm surprised there is no PIAA rule that states that if the crowd becomes unruly, the game must be finished in an empty gym. That's what should have happened.

The players did leave their benches in the chaos but they did little to no actual fighting. Bad decision. If anything, Meadville is up 8 with 2:30 left. Notorious Grooms's dad from Uniontown was the main inciter. Just award Meadville the win. Its extremely likely that if Grooms's dad hadn't left his section to walk over and fight guys in a completely different section, that the cops would have arrested the original fan fighters and the game would have been able to resume.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Wait, there's a dude named Notorious Groom? Sounds like a nickname for someone who got too inebriated on this wedding day and suplexed the best man through the cake.

 

[ratking17]

Wait, there's a dude named Notorious Groom? Sounds like a nickname for someone who got too inebriated on this wedding day and suplexed the best man through the cake.

Or a pedo

 

[New York Panther]

Wait, there's a dude named Notorious Groom?

Kind of like Evil Knievel. And there was a kid at out local high school whose first name was Violence.

 

[9782978]

I grew up in Meadville and graduated from MHS. Very embarrassing, but the penalty is a bit harsh given the fact that the chaos, for the most part, was caused by fans, not players or coaches.

 

[Upg bobcat]

I think the penalty is fine. If fans from both programs participate in fighting, then neither program deserves to be a part of the PIAA tournament. I don't care who started it, it doesn't matter. PIAA's insurance company probably requires them to have such a rule.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I think the penalty is fine. If fans from both programs participate in fighting, then neither program deserves to be a part of the PIAA tournament. I don't care who started it, it doesn't matter. PIAA's insurance company probably requires them to have such a rule.

The fans fought. The players didn't. They are kids. The kids shouldn't have been penalized because Grooms's dad walked across the gym to start throwing hay makers. The kids handled themselves relatively well. Have Meadville play Hershey in an empty gym as a penalty. Now, Hershey gets a bye.

 

[Upg bobcat]

The fans fought. The players didn't. They are kids. The kids shouldn't have been penalized because Grooms's dad walked across the gym to start throwing hay makers. The kids handled themselves relatively well. Have Meadville play Hershey in an empty gym as a penalty. Now, Hershey gets a bye.

That's not fair to Hershey having to play in an empty gym. Meadville was up but they hadn't won at that point so they had not yet earned the right to advance. I have no problem with a zero tolerance policy for fighting. Like I said, it's probably an insurance requirement.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

That's not fair to Hershey having to play in an empty gym. Meadville was up but they hadn't won at that point so they had not yet earned the right to advance. I have no problem with a zero tolerance policy for fighting. Like I said, it's probably an insurance requirement.

Hershey practices in an empty gym today instead of playing in an empty gym so I don't see your point. Or just ban Meadville fans.

The kids didn't fight. The parents did and it was primary a Uniontown dad. Meadville getting punished for this is crazy. What's the precedent here? Any time fans fight, both teams are eliminated?

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

The kids didn't fight.

You keep saying that. If you watch the video, that is obviously incorrect. There were players from both teams throwing punches during the fracas.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

You keep saying that. If you watch the video, that is obviously incorrect. There were players from both teams throwing punches during the fracas.

I didn't see any. I saw a lot of running toward a guy acting like you are going to do something and then not.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I didn't see any. I saw a lot of running toward a guy acting like you are going to do something and then not.

Then you didn't really watch the video.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Then you didn't really watch the video.

I watched it again. I've only seen the Uniontown network game broadcast. No punches or even a push by the players. Is there another video that shows a punch?

 

[upj87]

The fans fought. The players didn't. They are kids. The kids shouldn't have been penalized because Grooms's dad walked across the gym to start throwing hay makers. The kids handled themselves relatively well. Have Meadville play Hershey in an empty gym as a penalty. Now, Hershey gets a bye.

uh, what did Hershey fans do such that their player's friends and families cannot attend the game? Seems to me you would only sell tickets to them. That would be the penalty to the Meadville side of things.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

uh, what did Hershey fans do such that their player's friends and families cannot attend the game? Seems to me you would only sell tickets to them. That would be the penalty to the Meadville side of things.

What did Hershey fans do to deserve not being allowed to watch their team play a playoff game last night?

Also, yes, easy solution. Only student tickets sold in school to Hershey students and each player gets maybe like 10 tickets to give to parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles, etc. Would be 0 Meadville fans there. That's a sufficient punishment since the kids didn't fight.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I watched it again. I've only seen the Uniontown network game broadcast. No punches or even a push by the players. Is there another video that shows a punch?

I mean there is a kid from Meadville, wearing his warmup shirt so maybe you don't realize it's him, who goes into the crowd and clearly throws a punch. I have no idea if it landed or not, but he clearly threw at least one. And then, after all those Uniontown players came off the bench, which, incidentally, is an automatic ejection and an automatic one game suspension, one of them chases someone down the court and takes a swing at someone. Again, I have no idea if they connected or not, but there are at least two kids who clearly threw punches.

The game is a double forfeit because AT LEAST nearly every player from both teams left the bench area during an altercation. Which means that AT LEAST nearly every player from both teams would have been kicked out of the game, and AT LEAST nearly every player from both team would not have been allowed to play in the next game. If you don't have any players, you can't play a game.

 

[JRPITT]

I think the penalty is fine. If fans from both programs participate in fighting, then neither program deserves to be a part of the PIAA tournament. I don't care who started it, it doesn't matter. PIAA's insurance company probably requires them to have such a rule.

The PIAA is always screwing things up. Instead of doing things that make common sense, they're always in the CYA mode.
Several times the WPIAL has ruled a transfer player ineligible only to have it overruled by the PIAA. Now, in this case a SINGLE parent
initiated the fight. Some players scrambled onto the court. Didn't see any punches thrown. What should happen is that the game should
be completed on a neutral site. No fans and whichever players left the bench and were on the court become ineligible to play. Also,
IMO, the Meadville fan being attacked has every right to defend himself.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I mean there is a kid from Meadville, wearing his warmup shirt so maybe you don't realize it's him, who goes into the crowd and clearly throws a punch. I have no idea if it landed or not, but he clearly threw at least one. And then, after all those Uniontown players came off the bench, which, incidentally, is an automatic ejection and an automatic one game suspension, one of them chases someone down the court and takes a swing at someone. Again, I have no idea if they connected or not, but there are at least two kids who clearly threw punches.

The game is a double forfeit because AT LEAST nearly every player from both teams left the bench area during an altercation. Which means that AT LEAST nearly every player from both teams would have been kicked out of the game, and AT LEAST nearly every player from both team would not have been allowed to play in the next game. If you don't have any players, you can't play a game.

There was chaos in the stands. It started in the stands. Anyone leaving the bench was in reaction to that so I believe there could have been some grace given to the players since this was not a situation where the players started it. It's 100% the parents. I don't believe in penalizing kids for idiot parents. Finish the game with no crowd or penalized Meadville by not allowing them to bring any fans for the rest of the tournament. This also gives Hershey an unfair bye.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

There was chaos in the stands. It started in the stands. Anyone leaving the bench was in reaction to that so I believe there could have been some grace given to the players since this was not a situation where the players started it. It's 100% the parents. I don't believe in penalizing kids for idiot parents. Finish the game with no crowd or penalized Meadville by not allowing them to bring any fans for the rest of the tournament. This also gives Hershey an unfair bye.

Meadville players (plural, players) went into the stands. Idiot parents may have started it, but there is never an excuse for players to go into the stands to fight.

 

[PITTstorm]

The fans fought. The players didn't. They are kids. The kids shouldn't have been penalized because Grooms's dad walked across the gym to start throwing hay makers. The kids handled themselves relatively well. Have Meadville play Hershey in an empty gym as a penalty. Now, Hershey gets a bye.

You are way off on this. Watch the video. Totally agree with the ruling. Letting Meadville advance does nothing to deter fighting - on the court or in the stands - in future tournaments.

 

[Upg bobcat]

You are way off on this. Watch the video. Totally agree with the ruling. Letting Meadville advance does nothing to deter fighting - on the court or in the stands - in future tournaments.

Totally agree. Letting Meadville advance just leads people to think that fighting isn't a problem as long as you don't start it. And nobody in the world will ever think it's their fault for starting it.

 

[zucca]

I hope Old Man Groomes is proud of himself.

 

[CCHS82]

The fans fought. The players didn't. They are kids. The kids shouldn't have been penalized because Grooms's dad walked across the gym to start throwing hay makers. The kids handled themselves relatively well. Have Meadville play Hershey in an empty gym as a penalty. Now, Hershey gets a bye.

Man, how many times can a single person be wrong?

Go back and watch the complete video from the opposite stands. Several players were involved. One rushed into the stands immediately and was pulled back by a teammate and what looks like a coach. Another player was taunting and then he got chased AND shoved to the ground by an opposing player.

Several players DID indeed participate.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Man, how many times can a single person be wrong?

Go back and watch the complete video from the opposite stands. Several players were involved. One rushed into the stands immediately and was pulled back by a teammate and what looks like a coach. Another player was taunting and then he got chased AND shoved to the ground by an opposing player.

Several players DID indeed participate.

Can we just suspend those 2 players then? The rest of the players did nothing of note.

 

[ratking17]

Can we just suspend those 2 players then? The rest of the players did nothing of note.

Win and lose as a team.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Can we just suspend those 2 players then? The rest of the players did nothing of note.

I wonder if you noticed that for sure one, and probably four, players got arrested today for their part in the fight.

But yeah, there weren't any kids who did anything wrong.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I wonder if you noticed that for sure one, and probably four, players got arrested today for their part in the fight.

But yeah, there weren't any kids who did anything wrong.

1 Uniontown player. 2 16 year olds from Meadville who probably weren't players.

Bad day for the Grooms family. Dad and son both arrested. Can they share a jail cell?

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

1 Uniontown player. 2 16 year olds from Meadville who probably weren't players.

Three 16 year olds, who I would guess, but it's just a guess, actually were players.

But in any event, if none of the players did anything, why did they get arrested? That seems like a really odd thing for the police to do. They must not have checked with you before deciding to charge people.