CULLMAN, Ala. – Social media users in Cullman have no doubt been made aware of a controversy brewing around high school football during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the question of even having a season was answered when local teams kicked off this week, some of the “Friday Night Lights” sparkle was missing at some area competitions: marching bands.
Preparations for the season have been complex, with coaches and administrators having to abide by Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) (https://bit.ly/34oazFN) rules (https://bit.ly/3aKHLbX) and Gov. Kay Ivey’s Safer at Home Order (https://bit.ly/3laHfZk), and follow guidance from the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) (https://bit.ly/3aKHLbX).
Citing those and the consensus of superintendents, principals, coaches and band directors in Region 8, Cullman City Schools administration and Cullman High School (CHS) leaders made the decision that, at least for the first game of the season (which happened Thursday night), the full CHS band would not attend. Instead, a pep band made the trip, only performing in the stands, all spaced 6 feet apart.
Earlier in the week, CHS band parent Scott Edmondson made his opinion on the matter perfectly clear: if all the football players and cheerleaders can go, then full bands should be able to travel to away games.
Thursday night, CHS’ full football team (approximately 65 players plus coaches) traveled to Alabama A&M to take on Grissom. The CHS pep band (approximately 35 band students plus the director) attended and performed. Neither the CHS band, nor the Grissom band, performed a half-time show. While the band practiced social distancing and wore masks when not playing instruments, CHS football players, cheerleaders, fans and students were observed shoulder to shoulder and celebrating in a traditional fashion after the Bearcats won the contest. Social media users, including CHS band members and parents, took to the internet Thursday night and Friday to cry foul over what they say are unequal rules.
Adding to the confusion is that some Cullman County schools, which are in different AHSAA classifications than CHS, did take their full bands on the road Thursday night and Friday night, leading to more questions about why the rules are different for different schools in Cullman County when it comes to COVID-19 precautions and football games.
The Tribune reached out to CHS administration Friday for a statement on why the full band was not able to travel Thursday night.
In a statement Friday afternoon, Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson said, “We have worked closely with superintendents, principals, coaches and band directors in District 8 and our Region to reach consensus and develop similar practices for athletic events.
Next week, we are excited to have the band at full capacity (at home) with a social distant senior night recognition as well. As we learn more from the AHSAA and the ADPH, we will continue to increase the capacity of our travel band where it is possible.”
Administrators are aware of the behavior of the athletes, fans and students Thursday night, and while it is unclear what will be done to address it, CHS Athletic Director Mark Stephens said Friday, “In regards to our coaches, athletes, fans and students at the game, we must do a better job managing appropriate distance if our goal is to play a complete season. Yesterday was the first day of school and we have not had the opportunity to specifically address expectations of our students sections outside of general guidelines and google meetings. With a ‘soft’ opening of school, we have not had the opportunity to meet with our students as a group, we plan to address them this upcoming week.”
He continued, “Many of our students and families are making sacrifices during this difficult time, going back to March when our teams completed less than 25% of their seasons in spring sports, loss of spring band concerts and theatre productions. This has been disappointing for us all and we look forward to returning to all events as we have known them in the past.”
Friday afternoon, CHS Principal Kim Hall said in a statement, “Band directors are a close knit group; they work well together and communicate often for the benefit of the entire arts community. The goal for the 2020-2021 school year is to implement new ways to teach and educate our students while learning to safely navigate education and extracurricular activities during a global pandemic. We will not have all the answers every day. Guidance continues to change. We look forward to expanding our opportunities for our students throughout this year. The ultimate goal is to stay in school and be together as high school should be.”
CHS Director of Bands Christopher Smith, who has taken some personal heat over the issue on social media, said Friday, “The Cullman Bearcat Band is looking forward to performing next week at our first home game versus Jasper. Our students have worked hard at band camp and throughout our early season rehearsals while also adjusting to new regulations and expectations due to COVID-19. As the season progresses, our travel group may look different from week to week depending on the expectations at each stadium and the most current regulations from the state. However, in whatever form you see us, we will be cheering on the team and enhancing the game atmosphere throughout each performance. I look forward to the day that we can put COVID-19 behind us and return to a more normal life. Until then, I assure you that the Cullman Bearcat Band will be everywhere that we can be to make music for everyone to enjoy.”
Friday, AHSAA Assistant Director Denise Ainsworth sent an urgent memo to school administrators. The content of that memo, in full, is below:
Last night was the end of a long spring and summer journey to get back to high school sports. It was so exciting to see our student-athletes, bands, cheerleaders and fans once again doing what they enjoy and communities coming together! Now that we have started the fall season, our next goal is to continue sports throughout the season. While opening night was exciting, it also made evident we have many areas that need improvement. If we want to continue to play the games we love and provide opportunities for kids, everyone must do their part to follow the state health order and the AHSAA Best Practices for Return to Play. Administrators are responsible for their student-athletes, fans and facilities as required by AHSAA bylaws, Rule VI. Administration. Section 2. Principals’ Accountability:
The Principal of a school shall be held ultimately responsible in all matters that concern interscholastic athletics at his/her school.
Note: The Principal is responsible for the conduct of spectators and fans at all athletic contest, keeping current Emergency Action Plans (EAP) for all sport facilities and all required documents for eligible athletes and certified coaches on file in the principal’s office.
This responsibility requires following ADPH guidelines and doing everything possible to mitigate the Covid-19 virus.
The following are areas that immediate improvement must occur:
- Wearing of Masks
Any time physical distancing cannot be maintained by students, coaches, spectators, etc. wearing a facial covering is required as set out in the state health order. Players, coaches, officials, and spectators shall wear a mask or other facial covering that covers his or her nostrils and mouth at all times when within 6 feet of a person from another household except when a player or official is directly participating in the athletic activity. (Based on the July 29, 2020 Current Order of the State Health Office)
- Social Distancing of Students, and Fans
In accordance with the Current State Health Order, paragraph 11.b. and c., spectators are allowed to attend athletic events, but attendance at events will be significantly reduced as “spectators shall not congregate within 6 feet of a person from another household except to the extent necessary.” Furthermore, “spectators shall wear a mask or other facial covering that covers his or her nostrils and mouth at all times while within six feet of a person from another household.” (Based on the July 29, 2020 Current Order of the State Health Officer).
Venues used to host athletic activities are not subject to a specific capacity limit, but capacity will necessarily be limited by the requirement to maintain proper distancing between spectators from different households.
- Social Distancing of Players and Coaches on the Sideline
When possible, team bench areas should accommodate proper physical distancing. When not feasible, other mitigation methods, such as facial coverings, may be implemented. According to the state health order, “players coaches, officials, and spectators shall not congregate within 6 feet of a person from another household except to the extent necessary and only to the extent necessary—for players, coaches, and officials to directly participate in the athletic activity.” (Based on the July 29, 2020 Current Order of the State Health Officer).
Only school personnel, certified coaches, athletic trainers, and student-athletes should be present on the sidelines during games. Attendance of non-essential personnel is not recommended until further notice.
The Best Practices Document, available online at www.ahsaa.com clearly outlines the required practices that must take place in order for us to continue to have sport.
The health and safety of our student-athletes, opponents and communities must be a priority. These are indeed unusual times and require unusual measures, as well as unusual leadership in order for sport and the benefits of sport to continue.
Thank you in advance for your immediate cooperation.
Edmondson, in a statement sent to The Tribune Friday evening, was very candid about his thoughts on the matter. (It should be noted that Edmondson had not seen the statements from Patterson, Hall, Stephens and Smith or Friday’s memo from the AHSAA at the time he sent this statement.) Below is that statement, in full:
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. This is the biggest pile of crap I have ever heard in my life. Explain to me how all of Cullman’s home games can be a Coronavirus Safe Zone and the full band is welcome, but the away games are a Coronavirus Hotbed Danger Zone that only band members dare not attend? How is the west side of a football field more susceptible to coronavirus than the east side of the field? I am to believe some school buses play host to the virus, and some buses have developed immunity to corona? Really, so it comes down to what group of kids is traveling on that bus at any given time?
“It is amazing that 11 football players take the field at any given time, and all 65 football players traveled. Now you want me to believe only 28 band members out of a 135 can safely carry a tune at an away game. Funny how Cullman students are not susceptible during a long 40-hour school week in a 30×30 indoor classroom, yet the outdoor football stadium is not large enough to social distance a full marching band. Are you kidding me? Show me documentation where the spit valves on the trumpets can spread the coronavirus faster than 22 sweaty football players piled up during a fourth-down goal line stand? What happened to no kid left behind?
“Why are public school facilities, which are paid for with tax dollars, now being restricted to the public? Let the kids and their parents decide if they can safely attend the game. If a few choose to stay home, just adapt. I doubt you can be called a racist for not supporting the band, but it is at least discrimination. Clearly the football teams have pushed the issue, clearly the cheerleaders’ sponsors have pushed the issue. Let me tell you who has fumbled the ball and turned it over to the opposing team……well, I don’t know really because that is where all the finger pointing starts. Bands not showing up is a PR problem, and it’s going on everywhere; statewide and nationwide. Fans, parents, players, students and anyone else with an opinion, who love competition and have school spirit, should be outraged.
“These band kids have not been deprived by the opposing school system, and I appreciate Grissom High School’s Principal Jeanne Greer for clearing that up for me. Band kids will still be at the games, and hopefully all can afford to travel to away games. They will have moms and dads take them, or students that can drive will shuttle their friends, but upon arrival they will be there in unofficial capacity with no uniform and no instrument. How could that possibly be safer than taking a big yellow school bus? Letting the kids drive their own vehicles to the away games is now less liability for the school than catching the coronavirus? I think you are more likely to die from a car crash than coronavirus. What is the difference in them playing an instrument in the stands while pulling for their team versus just being an average spectator?
“These band kids have put in countless hours, made great sacrifices, and are game time-ready and deserve to participate just like the football team, cheerleaders, and what about you student section. Cullman High School should be inviting any away team that wants to come, and they should not restrict the opposing team’s capacity. If Cullman expects to be welcomed with open arms and no restrictions at the opposing teams’ stadiums, they have to offer the same thing in return.
“There is a need for the citizens of Cullman and all the other communities in Alabama to face the powers that be and tell them it is all or nothing: the football team, cheerleaders and entire band travel together as one, or they do not travel at all. What is good for the goose, is good for the gander. I have heard all week about a “state mandate,” been asking to see it since Sunday; to date no school officials have produced such a document for me to review. Look online, and there you will find AHSAA and ADPH, even they are finger pointing at each other.
“School administrators are scrambling now because some of the Cullman County schools took their full bands (Thursday night). I guess the county school board read the same state mandate I did. I am sure back at the home office, they now have that secretive state mandate for all to finally see, just in time for the newspapers to publish, but it is a week too late might I add. I am sure it will be followed by the perfect ‘CYA’ statement from school officials. I challenge everyone to take a stand for the band. If the school board, faculty and staff do not stand up for their own kids, and give everyone the equal opportunity to perform or play on game day, then who will? Parents, it is your turn.”
While explanations were given as to the guidelines involving athletic events, no specific long-range plan for the season regarding the CHS band was presented by the administration.
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