"Get out of here! Leave! Leave!"
Those words are clearly distinguishable from the crowd as the Detroit Denby High School football team is herded off the field and onto a waiting bus amid shouting and jostling between the team, their Almont opponents and fans -- presumably parents -- in the stands.
But what exactly happened between the two teams and who was at fault is still a question.
Staff from both sides released statements today blaming the other for the fracas that ended the state semifinal game in the fourth quarter on Sat., Nov 23. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office released a statement afterward saying it is actively investigating.
What is clear from the video is that an ugly brawl ended the season for both teams.
On Almont's part, they released a statement saying there is no evidence of misconduct by the football team, football coaches or staff.
And the school pointed out that the MHSAA officiating crew, represented by Mr. Brent Shoemate, reported officially that "Almont displayed exceptional sportsmanship and composure during the semifinal contest with Detroit Denby High School. Almont never retaliated or complained while they were receiving illegal hits from the opposing team- such as blocks in the back and blind side blocks. Almont maintaining their composure greatly helped the officiating crew maintain as much control as could be maintained in what was a difficult game to manage and officiate. Almont should be commended and praised for their role in this game, and maintaining focus and sportsmanship."
As for Denby, the school decries Almont's assertion that the team did nothing wrong, saying their actions in the game were racist. Detroit's Superintendent Nikolai P. Vitti released a statement saying, "It is disappointing that high school black student-athletes would be blamed for their reaction to racist hate—spitting, racial slurs, and objects being thrown at them. It is irresponsible to identify "blocks in the back" and football penalties as the cause of the unrest that occurred after the game. Let's get this straight—teenagers—high school student-athletes---who are black—were spit on, called racist names, and had objects thrown at them after the game. Period. Young men were disrespected by adults—who were white--and in turn our students were rightfully angry."
Vitti claimed the students were only standing up for themselves, "their teammates, and in some cases their coaches and administrators."
No slurs can be heard in the video; One adult woman clearly tries to stop a Denby high schooler from jumping into the stands as his teammates angrily hurdle a barrier to get to fans.
Though Detroit Denby coach Deon Godfrey said one of his players was punched by an Almont parent as his team was heading toward the locker rooms. Godfrey also said his team was victim of racial slurs and spitting from Almont fans.
Almont is 93% white, Denby is in Detroit, which is 83% black.
The game took place at Walled Lake Central High School in Oakland County, and according to the statement from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, "[d]amage was done to the locker rooms, individuals were spit on, physical altercations took place, and allegations of racial slurs occurred immediately following the game being called."
The sheriff's office said the game was called with 3:28 left in final quarter due to "unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness." Deputies can be seen running into the melee on the field to escort the teams off the field.
While some are blaming both sides for the aggression, Vitti said he will absolutely not agree that there were bad actors on both sides.
"I will not equate hate and responding to hate as equal acts. In fact, buried in the Almont superintendent's statement he acknowledges what we have been saying from the beginning—that there was evidence of hateful acts occurring from Almont fans (although he isolates it to one fan). To be clear, this is not about making this issue about race—the issue is about race. When student-athletes are called the n-word from white fans it's about race."
He added that Detroit fields should be used for playoff games and an effort should be made for more diversity in game officials.
"Moving forward, we would like to see the Michigan High School Athletics Association work with Detroit Public Schools Community District to ensure more Detroit fields are used for later playoff games, that we actively recruit and develop more diverse referees, that playoff games are officiated by crews who work in the leagues teams play in, and that referees are trained in issues of power, privilege, and race, and use their authority to dismiss any and all fans that use racist chants, language or threats."
