Maplewood Richmond Heights has made national news and beyond by the simple act of putting its football program on hold for a season. In the past week The New York Times, CBS News and National Public Radio has covered the story. Now it’s gone wider.
News outlets from Iowa, Utah and Russia have reported the story in the past few days. All have focused on injuries and low interest.
KMA Land, Shenandoah, IA:
“A suburban St. Louis high school has dropped its football program because so many players were injured it couldn’t field a team. Just five years ago, the Maplewood Blue Devils were playing in the Missouri State Championship game, but the school doesn’t have a team this year.” Read the full story in KMA Land.
Desert News National, Salt Lake City, UT:
“In June, the school axed the football program, only partly out of safety concerns. The real problem was that fewer than a dozen students wanted to play. The school apparently hopes to restart the program, if it can hire a coach and generate enough interest. The school did field a soccer team, which will play for homecoming.” Read the full story in Desert News National.
RT (Russia Today), Russian state-funded television network:
“In Maplewood, a St. Louis suburb, the Friday night lights are now shining on a different sport.
“The boys I’ve seen, they’re growing up with soccer,” Betty Pearson, whose oldest son played football at Maplewood but whose youngest son plays soccer, told The New York Times. “I come out, and there are 10 kids kicking the ball around in the street. I don’t think I’ve seen that with football.” Read the full story in RT.
Inquisitor, international news:
“Even though the decision in Maplewood had nothing to do with Evan Murray’s death and happened months before the tragedy last Friday, it is clear school board officials are concerned something similar could happen at one of their high school football games. The report indicates another school in New Jersey, Ridgefield Memorial High School scrapped its varsity football team this season due to lack of interest. Only 13 young men tried out.” Read the full story in Inquisitor.
KWMU, St. Louis public radio, covered the story on Sunday:
“Maplewood only has about 300 students total, so fielding a football team was a lot harder than it is for other schools in its league. Though some students were disappointed at the football program ending, the team kept losing players to other fall sports, Isaac (Pearson) said.” Read the full story at KWMU.
Update:
Atlanta Journal-Consitution: A Missouri school board boots football, and students shrug, A re-print of The New York Times article.
Deseret News, Statesboro, GA