Football fiasco should finally be put to rest
It’s time to close the book and put the helmet-throwing incident involving high school football coach Gerald Tidwell on the shelf to stay.
The coach has served his suspension and been forced to answer to criminal charges. Now that both the suspension and criminal charges have been handled, it’s in the best interest of the community, and especially the football team, to let this guy get back to coaching without any further distractions.
We all realize this was a regrettable incident. If there was a way to turn back the clock, a way to undo things which have been done, everybody involved would like Tidwell’s locker room tantrum to have turned out differently.
Unfortunately, in his bid to fire up his team, Tidwell let his anger get the best of him. In trying to provide a spark, Tidwell threw a helmet which hit fullback Mario Pezzimenti in the head and required 10 stitches.
If anything, this is an example of what can happen when anger isn’t handled properly. Throwing objects around a locker room packed with kids is not appropriate behavior. It’s almost inviting an accident to take place and that’s exactly what happened.
For that accident, Tidwell was suspended, with pay, from his teaching position and his job as football coach. As for legal ramifications, Tidwell has agreed to serve an 11-29 probationary sentence, pay a $500 fine and attend anger management counseling.
Whether the punishment is too stiff or too lenient is always subject to debate. But it’s a punishment which has satisfied prosecutors, Tidwell himself, and the Warren County School System. With that said, it’s time to write the last line, finish the final chapter and return to normalcy.
What should now be the focus is the football team itself and the fact the Pioneers play their final home game tonight against Clarksville. Warren County is still fighting for its first victory and we wish the Pioneers the best of luck as they try to win one on senior night.
It’s also noteworthy to applaud the efforts of Chris Madewell, who filled in admirably as head coach for Tidwell during his suspension. Madewell was forced to step into a tough situation, but he handled it with class and did a fine job representing this community.
Madewell did all this despite the fact he had little time to devote to coaching a football team. His thoughts are no doubt elsewhere as his brother, Manuel, is fighting a constant battle against leukemia. Our prayers go out to the Madewell family during this most difficult time.