Southwind High School is weighing whether to end its policy of letting school-aged students attend home football games without a parent or guardian, after four to five separate fights broke out during Friday night's game against Germantown. More than 3,000 people attended the October 30 matchup, and district officials say security officers and sheriff's deputies broke up the altercations and escorted those involved out of the stadium.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools said its review of the incident found the fights rather than a single, larger brawl, according to FOX13 Memphis. “Our review indicates there were four to five separate physical altercations,” the district said, adding that the game was among its most highly attended sporting events of the year. District officials also said students running through the crowd may have contributed to reports of a larger disturbance than what actually took place.
Principal Apologizes, Floats Sweeping Policy Change
Southwind Principal John S. Bush apologized to attendees in the aftermath, calling the behavior unacceptable, according to Action News 5. Per the station's report, he said he is “seriously considering reversing” his earlier decision to let school-aged students attend home games without a parent or guardian present. In a statement reported by FOX13 Memphis, Bush said what happened “does not reflect the safe, welcoming, and family-friendly environment we expect and demand at Southwind High School.”
Bush also acknowledged the tension in restricting attendance for students who have done nothing wrong. He said many students come to games simply to support classmates and take part in school activities, and that he does not want to penalize those who consistently behave appropriately because of the actions of others. “Those students deserve that opportunity, and I refuse to overlook the many students who consistently make positive choices because of the actions of others,” he said, adding that student and spectator safety will ultimately determine the school's decisions going forward.
Changes Set Before Playoff Game Against Cordova
Southwind is set to host Cordova High School on November 6 in the TSSAA state football playoffs, and new procedures are expected to take effect before that game. Southwind families are expected to receive a detailed plan of student attendance requirements later this week, though the school has not finalized whether students must attend with a parent or guardian. The same formal policy changes were described by Action News 5 as taking effect this Friday ahead of the playoff matchup, with the detailed attendance plan to follow for families.
Bush said Southwind will enforce stricter expectations going forward and will hold people accountable for violations, stating the school will make no exceptions in protecting the safety of students, families, and the community. Memphis-Shelby County Schools, meanwhile, is weighing broader security changes across its sporting events, including increased security and ticket-sale caps, though the district has not announced whether or when any proposed measures would be implemented, per the same FOX13 account.
A Pattern of Crowd Trouble at District Games
Friday's fights were not Southwind's first brush with crowd-control scrutiny. In a separate homecoming-game matter, the TSSAA said it would allow Southwind to retain its privilege of hosting postseason events only if students were required to attend future home football and basketball games with a parent or guardian, warning that another similar incident could jeopardize that standing, FOX13 Memphis reported.
Crowd violence has surfaced elsewhere in the district's sports calendar as well. Memphis police said a 15-year-old assaulted an MSCS officer at a Whitehaven High School football game last year, and the teen was charged with assault against a law enforcement officer and criminal trespass, according to Action News 5. And in a Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association ruling this season, the TSSAA overturned a team-wide ejection of Ridgeway's football program following an October 9 game against Fayette-Ware but upheld the ejections of 10 players, suspending them for the following week's game against Craigmont, Yahoo Sports reported. Ridgeway's program was also placed on one year of probation and fined $750, per that same report.
