With what’s expected to be a rather large crowd for Bridgeport High School’s next sporting event, Principal Matt DeMotto has a message to those planning on attending Friday’s Class AA quarterfinal football playoff game between the Indians and Robert C. Byrd. In fact, he has a message for anyone planning on attending any sporting event from this point forward.

 

“I think everyone needs to understand that the cost of the ticket earns the privilege to observe a high school sporting event. That’s it,” said DeMotto. “That privilege doesn’t extend to inappropriate comments made toward opposing players and coaches or toward our own players and coaches.”

 

DeMotto isn’t singling out Friday’s game because of past incidents. Rather, he said, most of the games between BHS and RCB usually show proper decorum. That said, with a huge group likely on hand he’s letting everyone know what’s expected in a season where he’s been disappointed by behavior.

 

“I’ve been disappointed at times this season to hear some of our fans yell criticisms to our young people and coaches. This isn’t just in football, it is multiple sports,” said DeMotto. “It’s a small minority, but sometimes a minority can leave the wrong impression that it ends up reflecting on the majority.

 

“One thing we try to stress at school is respect. Young people, more often than not do a great job of demonstrating that,” DeMotto continued. “We expect our adults to do the same. Poor behavior won't be tolerated, and it shouldn't be tolerated.”

 

DeMotto said he anticipates a few thousand people at Friday’s Bridgeport football game against Robert C. Byrd where a berth to the Class AA semifinals is on the line. He also expects proper decorum.

 

“We hope both fan bases cheer hard for their teams and support their players and coaches. We expect all to do what we expect of our students and that’s to act respectful to each other,” said DeMotto. “We typically do not have a lot of problems at the BHS-RCB games, but anytime you have a chance to have 3,000 people in attendance in a high-stakes game with plenty of emotion, the potential for someone to behave badly is increased. We simply don’t want it and won’t tolerate it.”

 

DeMotto said the schools have the right to remove fans from the stands for unruly behavior. He said it’s happened this year and it’s happened in the past. In most instances, when someone that's out of line is asked to leave the situation is remedied.

 

“If an individual doesn’t, that’s when you have to ask the police to get involved. It’s never fun to have to get the police to remove anyone. Thankfully, that’s a rare occurrence,” said DeMotto.

 

DeMotto encourages the Bridgeport fans this year, and all visiting fans the remainder of the year, to keep a few things in mind.

 

“We call on all spectators to remember these are high school kids and we’re here to support them. Sometimes fans take it personal when they don’t get the result they desire. If it hurts them that bad, imagine how much it hurts our players or another team’s players because I can assure you it pales in comparison,” DeMotto said.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Principal Matt DeMotto. Bottom photos shows the BHS student section during the regular season game with RCB where DeMotto said students have generally shown good behavior. It's the adults he's been more concerned with. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.