By Mr. Wm. McCrystal
This month’s revelations in Sayreville, NJ have rightfully been met with disgust and confusion. Now, seven young men, boys really, face years in juvenile detention, prison, or ostracizing probation if found guilty of heinous sexual assault crimes. The accusations go beyond ritualistic hazing. The alleged actions are sadistic, criminal, but most importantly and unfortunately, avoidable. As a teacher and a coach, I cannot help but wonder where the coaches were as football players were subjected to humiliating and debasing actions. The Sayreville War Memorial football team had nearly a dozen well-compensated coaches, many employed by the Sayreville district as teachers, aides, and administrators. Yet, innumerous young people were neglected by adults, contractually and morally obligated to protect the very same individuals who were mistreated. Student athletes were neglected by grown men who should have known better. The tenants of a good coach, as a responsible adult, must center upon awareness, open communication, and understanding. A good coach does not allow athletes to wholly police themselves, subject teammates to negative environments, or unilaterally control a locker room. A good coach is cognizant of locker room etiquette and behavior, maintains verbal or electronic contact with athletes, and has a consistent pulse on team culture. Am I perfect coach? No. Will I ever be? Probably not. Are there circumstances that create discord on high school teams? You betcha. However, I know a team succeeds and a culture positively flourishes if teammates are at ease, are held accountable according to upright principles and guidelines, and respect one another. A high school senior, aged 18, and a high school freshman, aged 14, must work interdependently as teacher and mentor, big brother and little brother, captain and friend. To foster anything to the contrary is wrong. To turn a blind eye is egregious and dangerous. To argue “boys will be boys” alludes to indifference. Consequently, this is also why Sayreville Coach George Najjar and his staff should be fired and quite possibly criminally charged. Ignorance is not defendable. Ignorance is negligence.