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Did man kick, stomp a pheasant to death?

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Overexaggerated | 4:59 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

This is not a news story. Nor is it a sports story.

It is an attempt to fan flames about a pheasant. Humane Society? Get serious.

Worry about the animals killed by vehicles and hunters. This story was an unfortunate and accidental death.

Shame on the DesNews for even bothering to print this story.

Mark | 8:16 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

What arew these people saying? No one tried to kill the bird. The coach accidentally stepped on it as it was running through the players on the sidelines. It was an accident.

Orson | 8:18 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

Who cares? It's a bird and people in Utah hunt all the time anyway.

Comments continue below

Hunter | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

Also considered poaching as stomping is not recognized as a legal way to kill pheasants, which are in season and legal to shoot.

obyutah | 10:34 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

im sorry the pheasant got killed but it was an accident. give it up

PLEASE | 11:08 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

there was no crime here. i bet youve never stepped on an ant or spider neither, have you?

Not poaching | 11:47 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

It was an accident and it wasn't poaching. People just want to get all upset over something stupid.

hmmmm | 11:50 a.m. Oct. 28, 2007

Doesn't the Des News have more interesting and important things to do with its time and space. These are false accusations against the team and coach. The writer at the SL Trib should not have even put it in his story as it had nothing to do with the game. Shame on the Des News and Trib. Take some journalism courses and get a grip on what's really important.

I was there | 2:12 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

One of the MV coaches kicked it as it tried to fly off the field and then as it was laying there it got trampled. The initial kick was intentional but it's unclear whether the subsequent trampling was.

You were there | 4:27 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

You were there? Then you should know that MV (whoever that is) was not playing there. I was there and I saw nobody kick the bird!

Obviously you weren't | 5:31 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

Obviously you weren't there!! MV??? Who is that?? Nice Try "I was there"!!

What a Joke | 7:15 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

Tree Huggers go home. This is a waste of good space. Leave the coach alone. All he was trying to do was get the bird off of the field. It's a bloody pheasant we are talking about. Give it a rest....

gooseagone | 9:24 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

pretty interesting commmets from the people that believe God created everything, but you get to choose what is more important. A football game or Gods creation

I was there | 9:27 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

I meant VM - abbreviation for Viewmont. The entire AF stands saw what happened...the bird was at about the north 40 yard line - a man wearing black came off the AF sidelines and tried to catch it. #33 from AF tried to chase it - it ran towards the north end zone and then back towards mid field. One of the referees then chased it towards the VM (Viewmont) sidelines where it flew about 2 feet off the ground and it was then one of the VM (Viewmont) coaches kicked it as it flew by...yes I was there and was sickened by what I saw!

Killing Machine | 9:40 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

The human society kills more animals than all of us on this board combined.

A classic over-reaction.

Anonymous | 11:56 p.m. Oct. 28, 2007

There is such a double standard in this society. There has been thousands more of animals killed in Utah in the past couple weeks than at this football game. Give me a break, and give me a real article pertaining to HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL!!

What a waste of time! | 7:51 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

Now I remember why I don't take the news paper anymore! If your so gung ho about saving pheasants, thin down the stray cat population!

Michael Peterson | 8:14 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

Yes, the post by "I was there" is accurate. I was there too. Killing the bird was uncalled for. If it were a dog, would you do the same? A cat? The fact is, they could have chased it off the field. Killing it there for all the AF fans to see was a bad choice. I assumed it was an angry coach who took it out on the bird. The notion that it "flew up" and then was "accidentally trampled" is wishful thinking. It was clear that he stomped it to death then picked it up and disposed of it. And, no, its not hunting season.

Anonymous | 8:30 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

This is a worthless, inane discussion. It was an accident--the man stumbled upon the bird after it had come close to him and it was certainly not a malicious act. The American Fork principal then wrung the bird's neck and threw it over the fence. If any of you drive cars, you are participating in far more animal deaths than one pheasant. If you use electricity, you are contributing to the killing of animals. Give this worthless piece of literary garbage a rest. Elizabeth Stuart, next time you need to meet a deadline try and find a real story with both sides represented rather than artificially blowing an accident out of proportion.

Anonymous | 9:08 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

HUNTER'S GOING TO SMASH AMERICAN FORK THIS WEEK LIKE YOUR FAN DID THAT BIRD

Ironic | 9:40 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

That's funny that HUNTER is playing against American Fork, where the bird was HUNTED down and killed.

Freaky | 11:01 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

Micheal Peterson, If it was a dog they could have used a hot dog to get off the field and a cat would have just ran off anyway.
This was a freaky bird. This is what people mean by bird brain. I would step on it to if it was running at me .

Hunter 2 | 11:06 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

Get real people! It was a pheasant (you know, under glass and all that!). The only crime here was:

1. It was taken out of season, by unlawful methods.
2. The person who "harvested" it may have not had a valid hunting license.
3. Someone should have taken the bird home for supper. They could be cited for wasting game! And that is a crime!!

Anonymous | 11:26 a.m. Oct. 29, 2007

If an idiot fan runs out onto the field or court and gets decked by one of the players, there is not going to be any charges filed against that player, but rather against the idiot fan. Why? Becaues the idiot fan was in a place where he did not belong. It was to bad that the bird in question was killed. Had somebody not clipped it's wings or tailfeathers, the bird would have taken off and flown away.

By the way to both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News, please report on things that are worhty of being in dailey newspaper.

Anonymous | 3:31 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

Come on. Clipped it wings or tailfeathers? Matlcock thanks for the update. I'm not a person who really got upset by the fact the bird was killed. I only think that people on this board should realize that the likely hood of this being an accident is zero... I just hope the coach ate the bird... That would be the only humane thing to do..

"Fowl play" | 3:56 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

What a joke. I was a witness and even quoted in the article. It was a horible thing to witness, but that said, it was not intentional, and it was not criminal. It was an unfortunate happening at a very intense, very entertaining football game. I hope common sense prevails and no one is charged with anyghing. When I was called about the incident, I honestly at first thought it was a joke, how could this even be a story? Let's hope all ends well for the coach, the students, and our society. There was no "fowl" play, so don't turn it into one.

rokinute | 5:57 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

So what!! I grew up in the country side of rural Utah. I must have had a father who taught responsablity. He advised me that I would eat anything that I killed. And guess what--I ate a lot of pheasant and cottontail, and one old jack rabbitt.

AF | 9:57 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

No this was no accident! I was at the game and watched as people tryed to gently get the bird off the field. The bird then went to viewmonts sideling and a coach went out of his way to stomp the bird. And of course the head coach didnt hear anything about it. His teams season just ended, i doubt the team and other coaches are thinking about a bird.

Darkhorse | 10:13 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

This would never have happened in Manti...

Darkhorse | 10:32 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

In Manti it's pheasant BBQ

anonymous2 | 11:27 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

From the video on the news, it did not look like an accident. On video the man clearly stomped on the bird out of anger and a woman tried to stop him. I hope the man is punished to some degree. It looks like he lost his cool, I can't imagine what happens if he were to get upset with a human being. Animal cruelty is very closely tied to human cruelty. Killing the bird was uncalled for and disgusting. He should be ashamed of himself.

Anonymous | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 30, 2007

you guys are tree huggers

afraid of birds | 9:24 a.m. Oct. 30, 2007

Perhaps the person who allegedly stomped the bird has a phobia about birds. I do. And if a bird as big as a pheasant came running towards me, as it did in the video to the guy on the sidelines, I too would have reacted the same way. This doesn't make me cruel, just scared.

this is ridiculous | 11:28 a.m. Oct. 30, 2007

this is one of the most ridiculous things ive ever heard. I was on the sideline with the viewmont team as a player. i was standing next to the man who "squished the bird". all he was trying to do was get out of the way. go ahead, look at some video of it. he tried to kick it, he missed, then he tried to get away from it, and accidentaly stepped on it. am i the only one in this whole frikin world who thinks that this was an accident? anyone who thinks he purposely killed the bird has some problems.

N. Cameron Leishman | 11:32 a.m. Oct. 30, 2007

anonymous2: You certainly need to watch the video again. The man is seen backpedaling so as to avoid stepping on the bird.

To all those referencing Viewmont: While the man did accidentally step on the pheasant, keep in mind that it was the American Fork coach who wrung its neck, killing it, and threw it over the fence carelessly. Get real people. This isn't news--this is controversy that gives someone something to write about. How come there are no quotes of people saying it looked like an accident? The reporter obviously did not do their homework. There are people dying all over the world because of genocides and cruel leaders, and we're focusing on a pheasant that probably would have been shot during hunting season anyway? Shame on us. Shame on the Deseret News. I know several people who will never subscribe again as a result of this vacuous piece.

Birdmania | 11:38 a.m. Oct. 30, 2007

That bird should not have been on the field. However, that coach - what was he thinking? Especially in a game that the whole state was watching. It was the top story on one of the news channels. Duh. You don't see baseball players stomp on the squirrel that appears in wrigley. Bad form coach, bad form. What is funny, is that he should have used the timeout by the refs to regroup his kids. They lost a close one.

VHSFan | 12:51 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

You're missing the point--it was 100% on accident.

Mike | 1:10 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

N. Cameron Leishman, it was actually the assistant principal who wrung its neck. The coach put his foot down so he stopped the bird which did look like an accident, but then he stomped on it.

smart person | 4:42 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

the only stomping that I saw was AF giving the boot to Veiwmont.

emt | 4:45 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

why wasn't cpr gave to the bird, wan't there an ambulance at the game. should have put on a c-collar some O2 and rescue breathing could have saved the bird so some one could have shot it this weekend when the hunt starts, now just one less pheasant to shoot.

dave | 5:11 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

he stomped on it purposley, and is one lucky man that i wasn't there. dude would have found himself on the ground with no teeth!

Wow! | 5:16 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

Thats funny! It really is! Anyone who has ever hunted phesants knows that a lot of the time, you have to kick the pheasants to get them to fly. hahaha, so write me up a ticked for kicking it, and Ill feed your dinner after I shoot the thing!!!
Heck! Why dont you write all the football players tickets for hitting each other? Thats just as mean!!! Isnt it? Get real people!!!! Now Im hungry. I think Ill fry up some pheasant.....and watch a football game. I know............Im so violent.

Anonymous | 5:37 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

In response to Dave.

You would knock an innocent man out because he "stomped" on a bird? I hope you aren't serious. This is an extremely bias article. Shame on Deseret News.

Pheasant Kicking | 5:38 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

Lets have a new sport. Kick the pheasent through the goal posts. I would pay to see that.

anonymous2 | 9:36 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

The mentality of people in this state is so discouraging. I have seen the video multiple times on various news stations. Not only did he stomp it once but went back for a second stomp. The only reason he stepped back was because a woman tried to push him away. Maybe you should watch it again.

I think that this is a ridiculous situation and the asst. coach was in the wrong. But what is more ridiculous is the way people are acting like uneducated fools regarding the situation. What he did was wrong, the asst. coach needs to accept that and so does everyone else. He was not hunting, therefore it was not an acceptable situation to kill the pheasant. I am glad the boys who set the bird free are being held accountable. I hope the asst. coach is held accountable as well. He should at least admit he was wrong and apologize to the people who had to view such an act of cruelty. Suffer the consequences of your actions. It is something we should have learned in kindergarten

"Tree Hugger" and proud of it!

Lawyer's View | 9:47 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

The reality is that the video is inconclusive. The coach may have attempted simply to stop the bird's movement with his foot and stepped too hard, or he may have been irritated at the delay and intentionally injured it. Only he knows for sure. If it was intentional, he needs to reconsider his decision to coach...he's not a proper role model for high school students. However, no rational prosecutor is going to bring charges based on that video. What's much more troublesome is the fact that some of the individuals posting on this article appear not to care if it was intentional or not.

Anonymous | 10:05 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

I have watched the video more than once and the guy definately meant to step on the bird, it was a deliberate act. That being said, I don't think he should be legally punished for it. He should be ashamed of what he did and feel like an idiot, because that is what his actions reflect it. I hate to see animal cruelty, but I don't think the coach was thinking too clearly, let's not make it into such a huge thing! let it go, but quit calling it an accident, I don't know how you can see the video and not see the truth!!!!!

IT WAS NO ACCIDENT! | 10:15 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

THEY HAVE VIDEO OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Lawyer's View | 11:03 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

Hes not a proper role model?.......were talking about a football coach. A man who gets a bunch of teens ready to go out on a field and hit other teens. He killed a bird......not someones beloved pet. If it was wrong, then it was wrong. How do you know what kind of role model he is. Perhaps he appologized to his team for doing it. Thats a good role model to admit a mistake. So hes a barbarian, and not a soft handed pencil pusher. You obviously have no idea what football is all about. Or any sport with some physicality. He killed a bird.......just a bird. Im sure hes a great role model.

viewer | 11:24 p.m. Oct. 30, 2007

all you tree huggers need to come to your senses and realize it was a farm raised pheasant that would have died anyways in the upcoming hunt. Yes the man stomped on the bird we all know that, but it is not like you are going to call the animal control to stall the game for an hour. What is our society coming to, ten years ago nobody would have cared that the bird died. The only people who would get in trouble would be the kids who let it go. Some of you people need to grow up

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