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Should school have fired coach who ran up basketball score?
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A Texas high school girls’ basketball coach was fired Sunday after major controversy over his team’s 100-0 win over Dallas Academy's team.
Micah Grimes, former coach of the Covenant School, was fired shortly after he posted a message on a youth basketball Web site stating that he disagreed with school officials who publicly apologized for the blowout game.
"We played the game as it was meant to be played and would not intentionally run up the score on any opponent,” he said.
“Does forfeiting really help Dallas Academy girls? We experienced a blowout almost four years ago and it was painful, but it made us who we are today.”
He was responding to a statement on Covenant’s Web site that said it "regrets ... the outcome of the game…. It is shameful and an embarrassment….and clearly does not reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition."
The school agreed to forfeit the game, which had spectators and an assistant coach cheering wildly as their team edged closer to 100 points.
Grimes also kept his starters in for most of the game, and the team continued to make three point shots, even in the fourth quarter.
The girls’ team from Dallas Academy, a school for students with learning disabilities, has not won a game in four seasons.
“We don’t play to win, we play to have fun,” one of the players told NBC.
However, she admitted that she was relieved when the game was over.
"My girls never quit," said Dallas Academy Director Jeremy Civello.
"They played as hard as they could to the very end.”
He said that he has never been prouder of a team than he was that night.
Many others empathized with the losing team, and they were even invited by Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban to see an NBA game from his suite.
There is no mercy rule in girls’ basketball that shortens the game when scores become lopsided.
There is, however, “a golden rule” that should have applied in this contest, said Edd Burleson, the director of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
“On a personal note, I told the coach of the losing team how much I admire their girls for continuing to compete against all odds,” he said.
“They showed much more character than the coach that allowed that score to get out of hand. It’s up to the coach to control the outcome.”
According to the Dallas Morning News, parents of the Covenant team's eight players met with school officials Saturday and outlined three goals for the program.
"We want to represent Christ with the highest respect; we don't want to humiliate anyone ever; and we want our students to be enthusiastic in everything they do."
Coach Grimes was fired shortly after that meeting. He did not otherwise teach or work at The Covenant School.
Click here to read statements from the fired coach and his players, as well as a statement from the Covenant School.
You may also enjoy reading "Will Your High School Athlete Play in College?"
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