VIGO COUNTY, Ind –   There has been some controversy over student athletes and whether or not they should be on the field during the playing of the national anthem.

It all started with some on Facebook complain that the student athletes were in the locker-room during the playing of the anthem during last weekends north south game.  It turns out that really anything new and was not part of a protest of any kind.

Monday morning school corporation director of communications issued the following statement:

“Terre Haute South’s gameday routine is to stay in the locker room during the national anthem, like many high school football teams choose to do. Terre Haute South showcases the band during the national anthem. 

Several years ago, the practice was, in the rivalry game, for North and South players to stand alternating North player-South player-North player-South player. The IHSAA asked us to stop this practice because it did not align with IHSAA rules.”

 

Later in the day Terre Haute South Principal Dr. Tammy Rowshandel also issued a statement on the event:

 

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For the past 22 years, Terre Haute South Vigo High School’s football team has stayed in the locker room until game time. This is a regular practice in high school and college football due to the nature of the game, not a political statement. Four schools within Conference Indiana also observe this same practice.

At Terre Haute South Vigo High School, we expect all of our students to be respectful, to be responsible, and to be good citizens. Our student section always honors the flag and the National Anthem at our football games, both home and away. The administrative team is present at these events modeling this act of citizenship. Our students stay after events and clean their section, again displaying responsible and respectful citizenship. At the game in question, three of the JROTC Cadets that presented the colors were Terre Haute South students.

In the recent past, the only exception to our pregame routine was the North-South game. The past practice of athletes lining up shoulder to shoulder when the national anthem was performed was an IHSAA violation. Once it was noted that it was a violation, we went back to our regular pregame routine. No disrespect of anyone’s beliefs or traditions would ever be tolerated or supported by Terre Haute South Vigo High School athletics or administration. We are proud of our students, our staff, our athletes, and our community values.

THS Athletics

 

 

Photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash