sports // 8

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

Football team tackles drug suspensions

I have received, read and understand the Grosse Pointe South Football code of conduct and procedures. I understand the participation of
football is a privilege and requires personal sacrifice and that failure to fulfill my obligations as a member of the South football program
may result in penalties up to separation from the team. My signature on this document is acknowledgment and agreement to comply with
the Grosse Pointe South code of conduct and program policy.
JENNIFER MAIORANA & LAUREN PANKIN, both 16 // Editor-in-Chief & Supervising Editor

his code was violated on Sept. 16 by

two varsity football
players.
As the varsity
football team gears up to play rivalry and Homecoming games,
the team faces additional challenges with the Sept. 16 suspension of two players.
The Towers policy is not to reveal names of minors suspected
or convicted of illegal activity.
Through interactions with
staff members, players were
found to be under the influence
of marijuana at school, and one
of these players was also in possession of a marijuana-laced
brownie, Principal Moussa Hamka said.
The two incidents and occurred around 8:30 a.m.
Coincidentally, the Farms Police brought in a drug detection
dog around 1 p.m., Hamka said.
The purpose of the police
visit was unrelated to the earlier
drug incidents. Rather it was an
investigation of Souths off-cam-

Trust me, I agree

wholeheartedly with the
administration cracking
down on this stuff
because it needs to be
cracked down on.
TIM BRANDON

VARSITY FOOTBALL COACH

pus lunch, including lockdown

strategies, overseen by three law
enforcement officials.
We dont want (South) to be
a prison--the students enjoy a
lot of freedom, Hamka said. I
want to uphold that freedom, so
I have to put certain parameters
in place and have some reassurances to confirm and validate
that our school is safe and that we
are a drug-free campus. The dog
will be around throughout the
year very casually and will also be
around at North as well--its not
just South.
Varsity football coach Tim
Brandon became aware two of

his players were caught under

the influence at school around 10
a.m. and therefore excluded them
from the team, per the zero tolerance policy.
Because of the (drug) issues
we have had, I was angry at first,
Brandon said. Then I went to
lets see what we can do to take
care of the situation.
After school on Sept. 16, the
team met for regular practice,
Brandon said.
I addressed the team and
told them how disappointed I
was in those individuals, Brandon said. I told them that we
as leaders, coaches and football
players--leaders in our community--have to do a better job of
self policing these type of issues
This is our community, this
is our school, and we dont want
these kind of black-eyes on us.
Brandon also said that in his
first seven years as a South varsity football coach, the team experienced zero drug-related incidents.
Yet in the last two years alone,

there have been multiple.

Taking every incident on
its own merits, I think it is for
a lot of reasons, Brandon said.
I think that it is stupidity on
the kids part. Trust me, I agree
wholeheartedly with the administration cracking down on
this stuff because it needs to be
cracked down on.
As for the rest of the season,
the team could either unite or
disband, Brandon said.
You could say that we have
so many distractions and things
hanging over our heads, or we
could all bond together and say
that we are a family, a unit, and
we are going to overcome this,
Brandon said. I truly believe the
latter will happen.
Brandon said the Sept. 16
practice was a big indicator that
his players will triumph.
It was enthusiastic. It was focused. It was intense, and the kids
executed well, Brandon said. It
was an outstanding practice.
While the team does feel the
missing players absence, Cap-

tain Sam Jones 16 said the team

will continue to operate as a tight
unit.
Were just trying to move on
from it and not have that reputation pull us behind, because that
is not what this football team is
about. Its not what the school
is about, Jones said. We dont
want to show the school that that
is what we do.
Leading into his fourth game
on varsity, Dillan Finger 17 said
he agreed with his captain, and
believes his teammates are going
to pull together and win.
I think that before and probably during after weve always
been a really close team, especially this year, Finger said. As far
as suspensions go, I think people
have tried their hardest to look
past them and keep focused on
the goal, which is Port Huron.
Fingers prediction came true
when the team beat Port Huron,
32-21, on Friday, Sept. 18.
The team plays North on Sept.
25 and Eisenhower on Oct. 2 for
Homecoming.

Photo by THE MEMBERS OF THE GRIDIRON CLUB

Cross-town school rivalry game this Friday

RAY HASANAJ 18 // Page Editor
As the sun sets on Sept. 25, a civil war will be
fought on a grassy, green field. Helmets lowered,
Souths turf soldiers will battle rival school North
for bragging rights and glory.
Just like we do, North circles our game on a calendar, South varsity football coach Tim Brandon
said. Its one of the biggest games for them.
Historically, North has won nearly twice as many
rivalry games as South, Brandon said. However,
since Brandon switched from coaching North to
South nine years ago, the rivalry has become more
competitive than ever, he said.
Since my program has been here at South, were
4-4, so its been a very evenly matched rivalry,
Brandon said.
The players tend to shift into a different gear because of it being such an emotional rivalry, Brandon
said.
To prepare, Andrew Trost 16 said he gets hype
as s---.

We have to not fall apart. Not turn the ball over.

I can only imagine that the emotions got to be
Play focused. And play like animals, said Trost who sky-high, Brandon said. And as coaches thats one
plays safety, wide receiver and punt returner.
of the things we have to regulate--not letting them
Trost said during North week, everyone is hitting get too high, because theyre playing with too much
harder in practice and is more focused.
emotion and not enough skills and smarts.
I think about who runs the
Unlike Trost and Shook, Will
city, and that it should be us,
All that goes through my Poplawski 16 doesnt prepare any
Trost said. I want to show North
mind is that I only have two differently for this game, and he
important nights like this in my said he agreed with Brandons conall the hard work that we put in
life, and that I have to make the cerns about emotions overriding
and what we did the whole off
most of it.
season.
thought.
North to the morgue is what
I think that if you let your emoWILL POPLAWSKI 16
goes through kicker Cameron
tions get the best of you, you go
Shook 18s head as he looks forin nervous--rather than thinking
ward to the game, he said. His
what you need to do, youre all over
role as a punter requires even more concentration the place, Poplawski said. You also need to go in
than normal at the rivalry game.
with the fire in your eyes.
My brain is different, I tend to psych out my
This being Poplawskis last major high school
own brain, or as Coach Brandon says, over think football game, he said he takes it very seriously.
it, Shook said.
All that goes through my mind is that I only
Brandon said he can empathize with his players have two important nights like this in my life, and
in a big game like this.
that I have to make the most of it, Poplawski said.

Losing is not an option.

Poplawski thinks to be successful on Friday, the
team needs to contribute by not giving up big plays
so the offense.
Brandon said the teams strong defense has kept
the games close this year.
Patrick Nauert 17, defensive end and offensive
tackle, is a major contributor to Souths dominating
defense, Brandon said.
When Nauerts not laying people out, he is getting ready for big games like this one by watching
football replays.
You dont really need to prepare for a game like
this, Nauert said. Its the type of thing youre waiting for all year. I just want to win. We have no challenges. Were going to kill North.
Brandons goal is similar to his players he said:
win one way or another.
There are no moral victories, no win by x
amount of points, Brandon said. If we win by one,
we win. Thats all that matters.

SPORTS UPDATE

SPORT // Boys soccer

Record: 1-4-1
Team Traditions: Researching each team
before every game to know what theyre
up against.
Captains Quote: Sportsmanship is very
strong and every person, I believe, shows
up ready to play. -Zach Stanczyk 16, via
email

SPORT // Girls field hockey

Record: 3-2-1
Team Traditions: Pasta parties, Stick it to Cancer
game to raise funds for the Van Elslander Cancer
center and honor those who suffer from cancer.
Captains Quote: This year our team has quickly bonded and become a family because of the
smaller number of players compared to last year.
We work well together and hopefully can continue to win more games. -Becca Adams 16

SPORT // Boys cross country

Record: 2-6
Team Traditions: Team pasta party, playing Frisbee.
Captains Quote: I think our team has the
potential to go a really long way. We have a lot of
people working really hard so itd be really cool to
see where we place at regionals, and maybe even
get a few people to go to states. -Matthew Gross
16

INFORMATION AND PHOTOS BY LAUREN THOM 18 AND MACKENZIE HARRELL 17