Calif. high school football team suspended after rivalry game that included obscene mascot gesture

· Yahoo Sports

FILE: Victor Valley High School football team in Victorville, Calif., Sept. 7, 2012. (Matthew Peters via Flickr CC 2.0)

A Southern California high school has suspended its varsity football team, and will forfeit its next matchup, for unsportsmanlike actions in a heated rivalry game that also saw the school's mascot flipping off the opposing crowd.

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Victor Valley High School defeated Apple Valley 20-7 on Friday in the 56th edition of the annual rivalry game known as the Bell Game. The winning side not only gets bragging rights but also possession of the rivalry trophy, a large bell that is currently painted green to match the school's colors. However, Victor Valley's celebrations, and the antics of their jackrabbit mascot, crossed a line, according to district officials. Victor Valley Union High School District Superintendent Carl Coles and Victor Valley Principal Darius Robinson released joint a statement announcing the team would be suspended as a result.

"There is a clear line between passionate competition and unacceptable conduct," the statement read. "That line was crossed at the Bell Game on Friday, September 11. Members of the Victor Valley High School football team behaved in an unsportsmanlike manner toward the opposing team and its fans, including offensive gestures and language."

With the suspension, Victor Valley will forfeit its upcoming game against Brea Olinda.

While the district's letter did not specify the actions and gestures made that warranted this punishment - the letter also didn't identify offending players - videos circulating on social media seem to provide some insight into what led to the decision. For one thing, the Jackrabbits mascot gave the middle finger to the Sun Devil crowd early on in the game as it walked down the track surrounding the field on Apple Valley's side of the stadium.

@solisdigitalmedia SPORTSMANSHIP MATTERS - even when you're wearing the mascot suit. Victor Valley High School suspended its varsity football players and coaching staff for one week following what the district called "unacceptable conduct" during last Friday's Bell Game against Apple Valley (9/11/26). The team will also forfeit its Sept. 18 game against Brea Olinda. Video posted by @chriscfore on X shows the Victor Valley mascot making an obscene gesture toward the Apple Valley side. The district has not said exactly why the coaches were included, but suspending the staff too certainly suggests administrators viewed this as more than just one student making a bad decision. Players, coaches, fans - and yes, mascots - represent the school. Video: @chriscfore / X Reporting: Victor Valley News Group #HighSchoolFootball#Sportsmanship#VictorValley#AppleValley♬ original sound - SolisDigitalMedia

Then there were the postgame celebrations, which is likely where most of this stems from. After the final whistle, Victor Valley players ran onto the field and taunted the opposing crowd before their coaches came over and brought them back to the other sideline. It's not clear what the players were saying, and a video of the celebrations mostly shows the kids waving at the visiting team's bleachers. 

The closest evidence of "offensive gestures" that exists is in postgame celebration photos published by the Victorville Daily Press. As the players brought the rivalry trophy onto the field, some posed while flashing middle fingers, and others posed with some variation of three fingers pointing down. The latter, however, could at least be explained by the fact that Apple Valley's mascot is the Sun Devils, meaning it's a "horns down" style reference.

It's no wonder that Victor Valley was excited about the win. In recent years, Apple Valley had dominated the rivalry with 12 straight wins. Victor Valley snapped the streak last year - in a game where three players were held out over concerns about transfer violations, no less - but when the two teams met in the Southern Section Division 7 playoffs, Apple Valley got revenge and ended Victor Valley's season with a 28-20 quarterfinal win. But thanks to Friday's win, the Jackrabbits get to hold onto the bell trophy for another year. 

Satellite view of Victor Valley High School in Victorville, Calif. (Screenshot via Google Street View)

Still, the district ended its announcement with an apology to "the players, students, staff, coaches, parents, and community members of Apple Valley High School, as well as to the proud Jackrabbit supporters."

"As the host school, we fell short of the standard of respect, sportsmanship, and hospitality that our neighboring community deserved," the statement continued. "We accept responsibility, and we are committed to doing better."

This will not affect future editions of the rivalry, as the Victorville Daily Press reported that the game will continue as scheduled next year.

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This article originally published at Calif. high school football team suspended after rivalry game that included obscene mascot gesture.

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