Reader comments
Syracuse High School football players charged in crime spree

They'll still play this fall.

When it comes to choosing between upholding respect for the law or winning the state or region championship, most principals and coaches will take the trophy every time.

They liked the rush huh. Sent them to prison for a few years, that'll give 'em a real rush!

if they were in some other jurisdiction and had all their backing ,,, they would still play..watched many a pothead get to play by an administration that always looked the other way..while the honest ones sat the bench and knew the real deal...then they want to talk law , order , integrity...whooop-di--doo to you!!

Poor kids. Mixed up in the wrong... It's hard today for kids. Most of us prude, Utah mormons don't understand that right and wrong is so much harder for the younger generation. They knew it was wrong, but they didn't care. The joy, the thrill from doing something bad... There's a rush alright. It's a sad thing.

Do the right thing and suspend these five for the football season. Give them the rush of having to sit out something that they enjoy. If they play they will probably be the team captains.

These kids will probably still play, but it won't be because the coach and principal want to win. They will play because the principal, superintendant, and coach won't want to deal with these kid's parents whining about "Why isn't my Johnny playing!?!" and threatening to sue them, the school, and the district if their kids don't get to play. It is their god-given right after all. Heaven forbid these kids learn a life lesson by losing something they enjoy because of their poor choices.

Poor kids? Are you kidding me? I am the owner of one of the businesses they robbed. They not only stole from my faily but destroyed heirlooms and other items that cannot be replaced. Send them to jail to rot.

I hope they're out picking up trash on the freeway this fall and not playing football. The UHSSA should have the ability to ban individuals like this from participating in any extracurricular events, EVER. Maybe if there were a true consequence for their actions, the rush wouldn't be quite so attractive.

Maybe they should have to donate labor to the struggling small businesses that they destroy with their actions.

I agree with Tom. Any incident involving alcohol, drugs, streroids, theft, etc. should also carry with it a lifetime ban from participating in any UHSSA sanctioned activity, PERIOD.

These kids should also have to make adequate restitution to the businesses, as well as fulfill any penalties required by law.

If you do the crime you do the time. This isn't about revenge or sympathy. It is clearly about facing the consequences for their actions.

The Coach should have done a better job with these boys. He could have set the tone for the whole team by setting some standards.

What are you thinking to the one that wrote about the coach. It's not the coaches fault!!!! It's the parents!!!! The coach has a whole team to lead and make rules, but the parents of these 5 kids (imature) need to take the fault!!!!!

What a disgrace... these kids should be off the team permanently. As a resident of Syracuse these kids acts have embarassed the community, and the fact that "home confinement" is their punishment to this point is disgusting. I will be calling, emailing the school demanding their expulsion, I suggest others do the same.

Are the names of these kids out there anywhere for us to see to verify if these kids do eventually in fact get kicked off the team?

Re Coach:

I wouldn't blame this on the coach. Our job is not to make sure they pass class, go church, stay out of trouble. There are other people who effect players besides a coach. All a coach can do is teach them, just like a parent. In the end it was the kids poor decision and that is where the blame should be put.

The coach has no blame these kids are still minors the parents are 100% responsible for there kids. The coach sees them 2 hours a day during the fall how is it his fault
?

These kids won't play, I know the Principal and the Coach of Syracuse, they are done, and this is not the fault of the Coach, this is all on the parents.

Is there a high incidence of criminal activity among students at Syracuse? Give me a break!

Kids make poor choices. FACT OF LIFE.

Sometimes poorly parented kids make poor choices.

Sometimes well parented kids make poor choices.

Should there be consequences? Definately. If they are under 18, prison probably won't be, and probably wouldn't teach them anything other than how to be criminals.

I say restitution. Work at real jobs, pay everything back no matter how long it takes.

Unfortunately, heirlooms can't be replaced. Nor can the time these boys should lose by working and missing sports.

I know people who did dumb things when they were young, spent jail time, and turned their life around.

IF the right guidance is given from here out, and IF the boys respond well, maybe some good citizens will come of it.

I'd have to say, no offense to Tom, if this these kids are put on the right path by this, that is the most important thing, though again, the owners should receive restitution for their losses.

I have noticed that some kids develop a 'pack mentality' when they are found in large groups. Homeschooled children almost never yield to this kind of thing. The family is their pack. When kids allow the peer group to be their pack they have more influence on each other than the parents.

I homeschool and my children have never shown any inclination to do 'what everyone else is doing'. My children are always more concerned about what the family thinks than anything else.

Restitution should always be the consequence for crimes against property. This way the punishment always fits the crime. If they burn down a house, they should be required to spend a lifetime replacing it.

A certain couple had a child who was born blind. Who sinned a made this happen? Who was at fault? The Father? The mother? The doctor? Or the child?

Everyone wants to assign blame. What if the parents did all they could to raise these boys, or at least some of them, to be good citizens. Are they at fault?

What about the coach? If he was a good example, set some rules, provided a positive, hard-working environment for his players, is he at fault?

And what about the kids? They are old enough to now right from wrong. They're also young enough to influenced by a ring leader. Peer pressure makes 16 year olds dumb.

Is it possible that no one is to blame. These boys did some wrong things. A lot of them. And there will likely be some punishment. Great. If they learn from it, if they return what they stole. If they make ammends.

Can we forgive them and not blame them?

Forgiveness is required of all men...