Deseret News | 3 East High football players arrested, kicked off team

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3 East High football players arrested, kicked off team

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Adam | 10:08 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Good on the coach and administration acting swiftly after learning what was happening. Hazing is making the first year players carry your equipment to the bus, what happened here was flat out criminal.

For those that think the coach should have known all along, it's one thing to keep track of your own children, try to keep track of 50+ high school kids all at once. I used to teach and saw 130 students a day. I can promise you, the only thing I could keep track of was their grades.

Why not praise someone for doing their job, they darn sure get flak when they don't.

Doug | 10:08 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

To those who consider ï¿½hazingï¿½ an OK activity, it is precisely the acceptance of hazing with a wink and a nod that leads to more intense hazing as those that were victims of hazing will want to ï¿½get evenï¿½ by stepping up the activity that is perpetrated on their victims. It should come as no surprise that the deviate behavior would intensify over time, which is what happened here. It is not about sex or homosexuality, and can easily be blown off by using those terms. It is about having power over another. This is exactly why hazing of any kind must not be tolerated.

Dan | 10:10 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

The depravity of mankind. Repulsive and ever worsening.

Comments continue below

czar | 10:13 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Memo to Athletes' Mom, whose "athletes" don't attend East High. Where I come from, they are called "children" or "sons/daughters."

Greg Melville | 10:15 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Well, boys will be boys. Whats the big fuss? Pranks like this have been going on for generations. For all we know it could be just a simple misunderstanding. This is America where you are innocent until proven guilty!

Hmmm | 10:14 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

When did the gay club merge with the football team? This is why gay clubs shouldn't be tolerated. Sexual preference is not a legitimate differentiator.

Bixby | 10:17 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

This sort of thing was a common practice in the wrestling program at our high school in the late 80s early 90s. It is perplexing as a lot of these guys are really homophobic, yet they do things like this.
Odd.

Dan | 10:21 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

This just shows there is more to these 3 boys motives than simple "hazing", if that was ever their intention. As a heterosexual male, I would think there needed to be a certain level of "arousal" for these 3 boys to be convinced this is something they needed to do. Leaving sexual preference at the door, the only thing left is forced sexual intent.

Mauna | 10:23 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Being a coach's wife, I know there is not much that goes on with these athletes that coaches don't know. This was a sexual assualt. Their names should be entered in the "sexual predator" lists, so something serious can be done about them WHEN they commit this crime again. Attacks do occur in the locker rooms more often than are reported. Most of them are muggings by two or three athletes usually against the last one to leave the locker room. They obviously have it planned. They know exactly what they are doing, and it is not hazing.

Practical Radical | 10:23 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

To those who defend 'hazing' and who hesitate to call these repugnant acts 'rape,' your conscious self-blinding reactions are only going to maintain the level of danger the victims of these crimes faced or will enhance the danger. To those who say 'if your child doesn't go to this school, it is not your business,' you are also sheltering yourself from the part of the world that lies outside your little community. Wake up. You are probably Christians defending rape by omission of protest. What would Jesus do? Well, the Jesus I know wouldn't tolerate such life-changing violations upon these young individuals. He'd smote you for being so goddamn ignorant.

to kevin from dullsville | 10:29 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Why would punishing the victims and bystanders by canceling the season ever be considered the right thing to do? "Gee, some football players were victims of assault, so let's add insult to injury by canceling their season" is a lame and uninformed response.

An Old Midwestern Gal | 10:29 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Jocks have been hazing kids when i was in school 30+ years ago and always got a pass because they were jocks. But this story really illustrates how sick our society is and how that sickness shows up everywhere including our schools. I'm just thankful my son is grown, I really fear for kids being born into the world today.

Dave_D | 10:30 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

In this stupid PC world of ours we have way to many overreactions to things that don't amount to a hill of beans but this is different. If the facts are correct it sounds like these little perverts need some jail time where someone may just put them on the receiving end of a rape. Three cheers to the coaches and school for stepping up and handling the situation.

well said | 10:30 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Ricardo you are correct sir.

NYker | 10:46 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

I think this incident is getting blown way out of proportion. Hazing is something thats gone on for thousands of years more or less without consequence. While i do not condone the actions, i catogorically disagree with police intervention.

to: ricardo | 10:49 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you for your comments.

Chris | 11:13 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Cancelling the season is the right thing to do if you want to hammer home the point that this behavior will not be tolerated and an individual's actions impact more than himself. This kind of behavior is abhorrent, and it seems that the hyper-religious community that Utah is is turing a blind eye to it. They're ignoring the brutality of it and changing subjects by saying that the coach is a good guy.

Michael | 11:14 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

I really feel bad for the victims. This was not hazing it was rape!

Chris | 11:15 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

beth ann | 11:15 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

oh, the attackers will probably get off with a slap on the hand and wind up with half of this country feeling sorry for them...the victims will wind up being the horrible ones...there will be busloads of people going there to stand up for the poor boys whose childhoods led them into this way of life...ever heard of Jena, LA??

Over Looked! | 11:16 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

You've got to remember that this incident did not involve ANY varsity players! It is in the program and i understand that but the news did not make it clear that they WERE SOPHOMORE PLAYERS and that it occured away from the varsity team. The varsity team is doing too well to have anything taken away from them just because of a BAD HEADLINE. The media needs to realize this and they owe East an appology. Good luck the rest of the season leopards! Hold your heads up high!!

Racer | 11:18 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

To NYker...what an idiodic statement.A sexual assault is a felony.Police involvement and a strong justice system is CERTAINLY what is needed.

Stubbs | 11:23 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

For everyone that thinks this is being blown out of proportion, what if the victims were girls, would you still feel the same way?
I hope that this attempted rape of a man gets treated the same way an attempted rape of a woman would be treated, but will see. It normally doesn't, the double standards must be removed. Attempted rape is attempted rape.

JimR | 11:25 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

NYker | 10:46 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007
"While i do not condone the actions, i catogorically disagree with police intervention."

I wonder if you'd feel the same way if somebody tried to put their private part up your behind.

Tom in Texas | 11:32 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

I cannot buy into anyone's assertion that this was hazing. True hazing is good-natured, and can bring people closer together. Most things that are passed off as hazing nowadays are really violent actions that would be prosecuted if they happened on the street.

This was rape, or attempted rape at best. This is an attempt by one group to assert dominance over another, and it takes us back to the stone age. This is not acceptable and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The school and coaches are to be congratulated for their quick action in contacting authorities. However they should be castigated for creating an environment where the perpetrators would even consider that this was acceptable behavior.

Throw the book at 'em!

Tony | 11:42 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

I can't believe this article never says the word rape. This was rape, and those rapists should be locked up for years and years.

Hil Clinton | 11:42 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

The ACLU needs to step in and defend the civil liberties of these children.

Anonymous | 11:53 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

this isnt hazing. those 3 are a bunch of perverts

Rocky | 11:55 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Chris, I find your comment about cancelling the season to be a gross over-reaction. It wasn't the team that committed these heinous crimes; it was a few individuals who are being held accountable for their actions. The team (and their opponents who want to play against them) should not be punished for what a few players did. The team is responsible to police it's own, but such gross aberrations need to be ferreted out for what they are, and not imputed to the rest of the players.

CarlNB | 11:57 a.m. Sept. 28, 2007

When I was that age 50 years ago, we did not even know that such behavior existed. Our culture now is all about perverted sex. We need to clean up TV, movies and music.

knowsmore | 12:02 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Hmmm comments are just sad. These are not gay boys, they are straight boys who think it's "funny" or "just a joke" to force another human being into doing something they do not want to do. It's no different than if they had attacked a woman. They are seriously disturbed - sexual preference had nothing to do with it.

Anonymous | 12:10 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Are these fine young men LDS

Amazing G | 12:12 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Now that Drudge has picked up on this story it goes national. Hopefully now these disgusting thugs will get the prison time they deserve and it won't be just swept under the carpet.

Rich | 12:15 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

This is why we should all play hockey.

Captain3292 | 12:16 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Names were withheld due to they are minors. Any minor who commits a felony should not be protected. Being 15 years old they are mature enough to understand what the law is. Names and photos should be public knowledge not withheld. It goes with the crime.

Anonymous | 12:29 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Chris, your comment that this type of behavior is abhorrent is correct. Problem is the rest of your post is pure garbage. Yes, 3 boys took did something aweful but what does that have to do with the rest of the team or program. Why punish the whole team and community for their actions? That would be stupid.

If the coachs had not done their job (tried to hide this or someting) then something along the lines of canceling the season/shutting down the program should be considered. But that isn't what happened.

As I see it, the leadership has made a very strong statment by their actions. They have kicked them off the team and turned them over to the police (they did their job). But further is the leadership they are showing by not getting involved in the hazing vs rape (I believe it is rape) debate. They have strictly said neither is tollerated here and they will not have it. A great message sent to the players and the whole community. Second is the leadership they are showing torwards the victims in how they have been treated. I believe this is their job, and I say WELL DONE!

Krazy Kansas | 12:37 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

The suspects in this case have real issues and will most likely get some time. Will this happen to them while they are inside, maybe, but most likely what will happen is they will continue to victimize smaller guys in their new home as well. If the previous posts were accurate and they were starters I would assume they are pretty good sized guys.

I have to agree it is about power but there is a sexual component in how they chose the victims. Once the identities come out, you may see more victims come out of the woodwork including females who may have been date raped

Krazy Kansas | 12:40 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Capt.

Depending on thei criminal history, they could be charged as adult, depening on the policy of the media or your state they names may become available.

Echo4Kilo | 12:47 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

To Rich--
Hockey? I played hockey for fourteen years, and hockey players are the most disgusting, disturbed people I've ever been around.....aside from maybe firemen......so I don't think that hockey is the answer.

pattern? | 12:49 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

The same hazing happened recently in Virden, IL...

Bubba | 1:12 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

These 15 year-old rapists will get to experience some real rape after they get thrown in prison with the big boys. FRESH MEAT!

pohaku-1 | 1:12 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

93 comments and it wasn't until
comment # 75 that someone tried
to tell us that "it was Brigham's
fault", ad nauseam [# 88 +/-}.

Only two (2) warts in an otherwise
civilized exchange of thoughts.

Hmmm | 1:12 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

No, they're gay alright. And openly granting legitimacy to gay groups gives perverts like these perpetrators a green light in their minds to committing perverted acts in public with non-consenting victims. How else do they get the idea? In church?

Bullykilla | 1:14 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Typical jock behavior. Look at what kind of 'heroes' these kids have. I have quit all participation and support of any professional sport.

Betty Boop | 1:17 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Who knows, perhaps these boys will grow up and become conservative Republican senators.

Sad state of affairs.. | 1:20 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Freaks are raised by freaks. Bet the adult supervision was close to zero. There are bad eggs everywhere. You'd think the fellow students would be somewhat aware - this story would have ended better if the students were the ones to come forward and rat out the offenders. I'm sure they knew...

deroy | 1:22 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

discontinue football and all other sports.

do all classes via cable TV.

no more school buses.
that would be the end of GM who have been behind bussing kids to school all these years.

curfew for all chill-runzz from 8A to 4P.

those are school hours.

JusticeForAll | 1:24 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

Since the boys names cannot be released because they are minors, why not release the names of the parents. They should be hanging their heads in shame for what their children have done and deserve scrutiny from the community. The parents are responsible for teaching their child what is right and wrong. Right?

jamie | 1:29 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

this is crazy. why dont you print what it really is. RAPE or attempted RAPE. what a shame that they dont call it what it is. maybe it would make young men wake up and realize it is NOT HAZING. as far as the coach goes. i think it is sad it would take an act like this to make a team play better. makes me wonder what signs where there before that should have been a huge red flag to do something about it before it ever went this far.

Sharpton | 1:36 p.m. Sept. 28, 2007

time to play the race card?

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