Amador High School varsity football team suspended until further notice over "disturbing" online chat
SUTTER CREEK - Amador High School's entire varsity football team is suspended and its school district is investigating players and coaches after a chat thread the district calls "disturbing" was discovered before Friday night's game.
The district did not go into detail about the thread but some parents CBS13 spoke to said the chat had racial undertones.
All varsity student-athletes are banned from games and practice, and three staff members have been placed on administrative leave.
Amador County Unified School District Superintendent Torie Gibson issued a statement reading in part:
'The District is aware of the chat thread associated with the Amador Varsity Football Program. The nature of the thread was disturbing, and its content was not in line with the values that we instill in our schools or expect from our student athletes.'
Josh Kern is a parent at the school who is pleased with the drastic action.
"I think they made the right move," Kern said.
Kern's daughter saw the chat, which some allege has racial undertones.
"It's just a bad situation, can't let that happen," Kern said. "It paints a bad picture for the school; it paints a bad picture for the community. I think they had to do what they did with the coaches, I think they've gotta do what they've gotta do with the kids."
Amador High School is in the small rural community of Sutter Creek and was hosting Rosemont High School from Sacramento County Friday when the chat was discovered by the district.
The game was canceled just before kickoff.
The vague notice the district sent to parents is leaving some asking for more details about the decision to suspend the season.
"We don't know," Tracey Garrett said. "Yeah, if it's that serious, you'd think somebody would be letting us know."
High school football is on hold.
"It's huge," Kern said. "It's a big deal."
As an investigation begins, an entire team is in timeout. CBS13 reached out to the Amador High School head football coach. He did not respond to requests for an interview.
The school is not suspending any of the student-athletes on the team from going to classes.