Olsen: Stevenson HS Story 'Blown Way Out Proportion'
UPDATED: 4/15/2011 12:23 p.m.
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL (CBS) -- Due to the current NFL lockout, players are unable to use team facilities for off season workouts. As a result, Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen went to Stevenson High School's football field to do some field work, but was denied access.
According to Stevenson spokesman Jim Conrey, Olsen tried to access the field during a physical education class on Tuesday morning. A Stevenson teacher asked Olsen to leave, because school policy bars other people from using school facilities during school hours.
Initially, Olsen refused to leave, saying he had used the fields before, according to Conrey. Security was then called and Olsen left.
Olsen took to his Twitter page in an attempt to straighten out the issue.
"This HS field thing has gotten outa control. Just to get story str8," Olsen said on his Twitter page. "No class was on field. Met no teachers. Left when asked and called scool."
Olsen commented on the incident to CBS 2 when he was helping open the new Carhartt retail store in Wicker Park.
"You kind of need to get out there on a field and run. I tried to go out there; it's right down the street. It's the district I live in, and for whatever reason, they told me I wasn't allowed to be out there, so what are you going to do?" Olsen said. "They must be Packer fans at the school."
While Conrey acknowledged that Stevenson had made allowances for players to use their facilities in the past, the policies have been changed--largely due to liability and insurance concerns.
Conrey said Stevenson Athletic Director Trish Betthauser has called Olsen and left a message to discuss the issue.
"We are hopeful we can work out something," said Conrey, adding that Stevenson could make some fields available after high school teams finish using them around 6 p.m.
According to Olsen's Twitter account, he left a message with the school asking to sign paperwork allowing him to use the field, or if he could return at another time. That message was never returned.
"Also have been to the school to speak to various classes and groups with no issue since moved in district," Olsen said on Twitter. "Blown way out proportion"
Conrey said Stevenson has been happy to have Olsen, who does live in the district, involved with the school. The school, a few years ago, allowed the Bears to practice on the football field when there was a problem with the indoor facility at Halas Hall.
