Quote:Yes, but you aren't considering the fact it was done in the heat of the moment.  You are presuming a lot by saying they were trying to paralyze him.  Were they trying to hurt him?  Yes, but I doubt the kids wanted the guy not to walk for the rest of his life.  

 

I didn't say not to criminally charge them.  I was simply saying let's deal with the facts and look at everything as a whole instead of getting out the pitch forks.

It wasn't done "in the heat of the moment". It was premeditated. The players said that he had missed "several" calls and used racial slurs against them (lolwutever), and there was enough time between the missed calls and the hit for those players to go to the sideline, potentially for multiple plays, maybe even an entire series, and decide to take follow their coach's instructions and take out the ref.

 

Even at 17, their tiny little brains had to be aware of the consequences of spearing an unprotected, unaware person in the back with your helmet at full speed. If they wanted to show their disappointment in the worst possible way, "bumping into him" heads-up at full speed would have gotten their message across. By lunging helmet first, they displayed intent to paralyze imo, and should spend time in prison along with their coach.

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