Texas high school player who hit referee apologizes, gets ban at league hearing
Des Bieler, The Washington Post
Dec. 15, 2020
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In what were reportedly his first public comments since his act of violence made national headlines, a Texas high school football player offered an apology Monday.
Eighteen-year-old Emmanuel Duron spoke during an executive committee hearing of the University Interscholastic League, which was conducted remotely via Zoom. The committee augmented a suspension already levied against Duron that effectively ended his high school sports career, and it voted for additional punishments for his school, Edinburg High, and its football coach. I d like to say that I m sorry for what happened to my coaches, my family and to the UIL, Duron said (via McAllen, Texas, newspaper the Monitor).
After one player’s assault of a referee, a Texas high school team wonders why it was sidelined Glynn A. Hill Edinburg (Tex.) High School player Emmanuel Duron is pulled from the field by a coach after charging a referee during a Dec. 3 game. (Joel Martinez/the Monitor/AP) Some players hoped to redeem last season’s disappointing finish. Others hoped a run in the Texas state football playoffs would boost their chances for a college scholarship. Edinburg High School had earned a spot in the playoffs with a 35-21 victory over Pharr-San Juan-Alamo on Dec. 3. But the game brought national attention upon the South Texas community of 100,000 for an ugly incident in the second quarter, when Edinburg’s star player angrily bowled over a referee after his ejection. A video clip went viral. The player was charged with assault. And a week later, the entire team was banned from the postseason.