CALAIS, Maine — An incident after a boys basketball game at Calais High School has earned a Calais student a one-game suspension from a Blue Devils home game.
The incident followed a Jan. 24 game against Jonesport-Beals, won by Calais 65-62. The outcome wasn’t assured until the final horn sounded.
“A student ran onto the floor before the teams had cleared the floor,” said Dan Cohnstaedt, Calais principal, who would not identify the affected student.
While on the floor, the student reportedly imitated a prayer stance popularized by Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.
“It didn’t matter about the gesture, it just mattered that he ran onto the floor,” said Cohnstaedt.
Randy Morrison, Calais athletic director, has seen the gesture performed earlier this season.
“I’ve only seen it twice,” he said. No one was suspended either time, Morrison said.
Other students took up the suspended student’s cause, thinking the suspension was longer than one game.
“They thought he was banned for life,” said Cohnstaedt. “I don’t know where they got their info.”
Cohnstaedt did say he knows the student and has discussed the incident and suspension with the student and his mother.
“He’s a good kid,” said Cohnstaedt, adding, “He could see if other people ran onto the floor, too, it could be a problem.”
It’s a longstanding practice of the school to allow the teams to go to their locker rooms after the game before allowing fans onto the gym floor.
“It’s a respect thing,” said Cohnstaedt. “We make [fans] wait until players from both teams have exited the floor.”
“It’s only 40 seconds or a minute,” he added. “Whatever it takes to get off the floor.”
That keeps the teams and fans from interacting when both sides’ tempers can be heated.
That was the case Tuesday night.
“It was a pretty controversial game,” said Cohnstaedt. “There was a lot of taunting and swearing on both sides.
“Both sets of fans were passionately advocating their positions,” he said.
The suspension for going onto the floor was a first for Cohnstaedt, who said the practice of keeping fans off the floor until the players have gone to their locker rooms goes back many years.
“To the best of my knowledge, it has never been invoked,” said Cohnstaedt, who is in his fourth year as the Calais principal.
The game the student is banned from attending is Tuesday night’s boys basketball game against A.R. Gould of South Portland.
Misleading headline. He wasn’t banned for “Tebowing”. He was banned for going onto the floor.
At least if you want to keep the “Tebowing” in the head line, write it like this so it doesn’t lie. “Calais student barred one home game after illicit ‘Tebowing’.” At least it doesn’t say the suspension was FOR “Tebowing.” LOL
It is for tebowing
actually i was banned for tebowing. this is the fourth different thesis on my punishment. that “longstanding practice of the school to allow the teams to go to their locker rooms after the game before allowing fans onto the gym floor” rule of his is false according to current students, alumni, and our student and sports handbooks.
The bdn should talk to the student personally.
That would almost be like journalism…. I dont know if they have anyone at the tabloid that can do that, wouldn’t that mean writing a story AFTER you get the facts?? How would they do that?
Typical garbage BDN editorializing.
is this really worthy of a spot on the homepage of bdn? who gives a crap ?
apparently the people that are commenting on it….
The only people that are commenting are commenting because BDN messed up the story, not because a high schooler getting a slap on the wrist is a big deal.
Look around, it’s in good company. The BDN staff reports just as they should, like a high school paper.
Well, they do have a relationship with The Maine Campus so not that far off.
Sorry but that, was pretty funny
….
So am I to believe that no fan at a Calais game has ever gone on the floor before the teams exit the court! Come on! The kid was disciplined for what he did, not for just being on the floor.
I just don’t care. If a Muslim went on the court and bowed down and praised Allah for his team–it all sounds inane to me. Anyway I am too old to make it down the bleachers fast enough.
….
i just cant believe it even made it to the news
Oh come on you have to be kidding. This is really sad that a school would do this. He wasn’t doing drugs or alcohol and you suspend him for this? Tebow is sending postitive infulence on kids.
Know the difference between righteous, thoughtful prayer and self righteous attention seeking.
Thank you, STG! It’s all about showboating and grandstanding and Tebowing!
He didn’t get suspended for “Tebowing”, he was suspended for rushing onto the court which is not allowed.
there is nothing in any of the calais handbooks stating that i cannot go onto the court after the game. EX POST FACTO. he made up that rule
I bet there’s nothing in the handbook that says students can’t be on the court during the game, either…
Yes, I agree with ryan…there are many things that are not allowed that are not written in handbooks…some things don’t need to be stated. In any school I have gone to, in almost any sport, as well as in pro-soccer matches and other pro sports it is customary to allow the teams to exit court/field/etc. Most people would probably agree that it doesn’t have to be written as a rule it’s simple respect. I can think of many other examples of comparable unwritten rules…
By the sound of the story, it seems that it’s the fans that should be barred for a game. It’s a kids game at the high school level. There should be NO excuse for the poor sportsmanship shown by those watching the game. What are you teaching them? How to play or how to whine and complain? The student in question may have violated a standing school policy but he still showed more class than some of those watching the kids play.
The only value in this story is for the student and his pals at their 40th High School reunion. “hey so and so, remember that time you got suspened for one home game for …..”
I try to not be critical of the BDN, but this is a completely misleading headline. He was not barred for “Tebowing”, he was barred from the next game for going on the court before the game ended. Think hte bigger was story is that there were tecnhnical fouls called on the fans of both tema s for swearing and taunting. Really? In high school basketball? That’s just pitiful.
Oh no! Banned from spectating one regular-season Calais B-ball game! How will he ever live with himself?! In light of that penalty, the stunt and the fame it garnered him was more than worth it. Handing down no penalty at all would have been more of a penalty for lack of garnering him fame.
So they change the title by taking out illicit but don’t change the fact that he didn’t get barred for tebowing but for running onto the court. BDN is becoming less and less of a NEWS organization.
Sounds like a killer game (score-wise)! Still a stupid suspension. I can just imagine the “language” in that gym LOL!
To the kid who was suspended….Keep up the good work, kid! =)
This headline is not just misleading, it is absolutely false. Come on BDN editors. Are you a newspaper or a tabloid?
the headline is correct. the information given in the interview is not
The headline has been corrected.
OMG ya got a crowd of twenty This is CALAIS . and these people can’t leave their seats until the teams are in the locker room. Good job, giving the athlete that entitled feeling early on. This is JUST ST–UP–ID__
The only angle that would make this newsworthy would be the TEBOW nonsense… Explain to us oh great and wise BDN exactly WHY IS THIS newsworthy? God you people LIE… And yet most of them don’t know anything about politics beyond what someone else TOLD THEM. Bunch of ignorant kids, those I’ve met have a DEFINITE LEAN TOWARDS the LEFT. and it’s not subtle when speaking to them. Forget the homeless. WE NEED MORE GREEN INITIATIVES, JUST ASK EM.LMAOOOOAMALAMAO
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=304342656283084Here's the video, and you can see the players and refs were still on the court.
Imitating the #1 role model for teenage boys in the United States by getting on his knees and praying for thanks in public certainly doesn’t seem to warrant being suspended from a game. Imagine if everyone rushed the court to “pray” what a catastrophe that could create. Oh Boy. “He could see if other people ran onto the floor, too, it could be a problem.” How many “rocket scientists” did it take to advise him to fabricate the story to this one?
#1? Please. Only if your are Christian. If Tebox were Muslim and got down on is knees to pray to Allah, would you still think he is the #1 role model?
this isnt the game that he got suspended for… the game he got suspended for there was already multiple people on the court, i could hardly see him from where i was sitting.
Ah… this was a story on a kid getting suspended for going on the basketball floor. How did you twist it into the 1% vs the world???
This story is completely one sided and very inaccurate. After some research, there is no rule, policy, or traditin at this school about stepping onto the court until the players are gone. I am the one suspended for tebowing, and this was the fifth game i tebowed at and i have never recieved any warning from any administration member advising me not to tebow.
Don’t start crying now.
not crying. stating the truth. why dont you go be a troll some place else?
…..
what do you mean “don’t start crying now?” i have been fighting this punshment this past week with the help of my colleagues. you try dealing with Cohnstaed
So you can’t go to one basketball game. Big deal!!!
Maybe you can spend the time “Tebowing” in your bedroom, thinking of something more original to do after the next game.
it was a dare… and why dont you try to a more original come back…. “big deal”
You will find negative people trying to stop you when you’re a positive role model and student.
So this is the FIFTH time you’ve rushed the floor and made a spectacle of yourself before the players have had a chance to exit? Why be disruptive? Are you so self-centered that you need to try to steal the players thunder with your stunts? Perhaps you should follow school policy. And if you were truly praying why couldnt you pray in your seat?
Dont bother answering….that was a rhetorical quesiton.
he wasnt being self-centered, he was doing it because all of his friends dared him to just as a joke. cleary you had no friends in high school.
look you dont have to be so rude he has a right to his religion this artical is one sided! being suspended was against the first amendment and the student hand book and i have checked there is no rule against going on the floor i do it all the time to talk to my friends on the team. and please before u go running your mouth look at the guid lines for posting:”Keep it civil and stay on topicNo vulgarity, racial slurs, name-calling or personal attacks.People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked”and u would be harassing people by the way….
speakthetruthnow101 has remained on topic and has not violated the rules stated above in any way. he has been respectful the whole time
So much that was given in this interview was false… it was stated that he was banned because he TEBOWED! not because he was on the court…there were other people on the court by that time.. I would like to know where HE got HIS information…the headline was right, the facts were wrong… so befor everyone attacks the editor..the editor was right. it was a good coverstory though…
Goodness knows in an age of a home centre around every corner we have to protect the surface of the holy basketball court.
Give it up, no matter what they claim, it was for the act. God forbid we bring respect into school.
OMG Yet again the people of Washington County completly blow something out of proportion. Got to love the rumors and desperate need for attention. This was all over facebook, with a “Free XXXXX” page created like the kid was Nelson Mandella or something! How many times did this kid practice his “faith” (or supposedly get in trouble for it) before this incident or better yet before the media focused on Tebow’s practices???
Yeah you are right, all people from Washington County are ignorant hicks. You are also right that young people should not stand up for something they believe in and that we should be robots that follow every command. We also should not use social media to help a friend when he was suspended from ALL games. I hope you can sense my sarcasm, ’cause I’m laying it on pretty thick. Also he comes from a Catholic family and he is a very nice individual. Have a nice day.
love the sarcasm lol
Coming from a newspaper in New England, clearly a one sided article to reference the BDN in fact does not like Denver. Oh wait did I just say the BDN was one sided?
This is dumb. They couldn’t just tell the kid to stay off the floor; they had to suspend him? Couldn’t give him a warning or a detention? It’s a “respect” thing? Get a life. Maybe consider having that stick surgically removed by a proctologist….
This whole thing is ridiculous! The kid got in trouble for being on the court before he was allowed?? Seriously? As far as I can remember, we have always gone on the court once the game was over..BEFORE the team headed to the locker room.. we being the fans, parents, family, and friends. Even after a Calais/Woodland game!! (those who don’t know, the teams are long time rivals)The fact that he got in trouble for this is completely absurd! Its not like he ran across the court while streaking…give the kid a break! He obviously went to the game to support his town, not to become todays headline. Although the punishment is minimal, the fact that there shouldn’t even be a punishment is the general consensus.
You all are questioning the wrong aspect of this article. Instead of focusing on the title, you should be focusing on the legitimacy of the article’s content.
THATS THE THING!!! It is not accurate what-so-ever
i agree….there’s a difference between thoughtful prayer and showboating.
What’s a Tebow?
A “Tebow” is “celebratory” gesture that looks like someone praying. It’s named after Bronco’s quarterback, Tim Tebow, who feels it necessary to make up for his lack of playing skills by making a spectacle of himself by wearing his Christianity on his sleeve. Diva nailed it above: The bible calls these grandstanders “hypocrites.”
oh my word seriously? BdN must be having a slow news day, so what if that kid wanted to tebow? I bet they would idolize the kid if he prayed to mecca though. either way though who cares its a high school basketball game its not like its the nba for c sake.
Here’s what the Bible has to say about this kind of thing:
Matthew 6:5-6
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Thank you! This kid is too full of himself, just like his “hero.” Watch, he’ll keep going until he gets another headline. The real story here is about priorities: “Taunting and swearing…” I only wish these people cared as much about their kids’ schooling as they do about basketball. The only reason JBHS exists is to field their stupid team. I still can’t believe what they did to their coach last year, replacing him after a terrible 18-2 record. Won’t do any better than that this year, will they?
JBHS exists to educate the students in their community. A high percent of JBHS students go on to college and are very successful in life. Most of the varsity team is on honors or high honors.
There were a number of reasons why the coach was let go. It had little to do with their record.
They say the student was not suspended for his ‘Tebow’. Funny thing is, though, I’ve seen many people enter the court before the team was completely off the floor and there was never an issue, so did they suspend him for being on the floor or for his Tebow? I mean, if this becomes the norm, we’ve got to squash it fast. If this were a muslim act, it would be tolerated.
We have also seen many people enter the court at Calais before the teams were completely off of the floor. It was absolutely adorable, appropriate, harmless, honorable and brave for him to thank Jesus publicly with all of his excitement to celebrate a victory. He didn’t interfere and the team was almost off. The student looks like a “pillar of the community” when you watch the video. It’s so nice to see that there are some good teenagers left in this world.
Except with all of the horrific things going on all around this planet, I think Jesus has better things to do then to make sure Calais wins a ballgame. Would you feel the same if he were Muslim and got down on his knees to pray to Allah?
Students giving thanks to any higher power is a breath of fresh air and Legal “1st Amendment”.
You all are not understanding what happened here. I was there, I am friends with the student. This article is complete crap and the facts are wrong. The principal said, ” You can return to basketball games when I say so.” No one thought it was forever. There is no longstanding rule we are not allowed on the court. People go on the court all the time. Our principal is power hungry and once he’s right he won’t change his mind. Initially it was implied for more then one game. Our principal is going back on himself to save face to the public. Our principal has decided to make up this “longstanding” rule but he has changed his reasoning three times now. He can’t come up with a legitimate reason for the suspension. Doesn’t know where our info came from?! It came directly form him!!
Ok so first of all, you know its a slow news-day when something like
this makes the news. It comes to my understanding that high school
students get in trouble all the time? Why is this any more news-worthy?
Secondly I would like to say that a
lot of the information in this article is false and/or misleading.
There is no “tradition” to keep kids off of the court. The student in
question, who is very religious and a good student, was suspended from
the games for tebowing. And also, it wasn’t just a one game suspension
at first, but rather a “suspended from all games until I say so”
suspension. That was the reason that we were fighting it. Regardless if
it was a religious act or just to be funny, there should have been a
warning given out first, not just an out-right suspension.
Now I get it. A “Tebow” is praying? I thought it was the act of getting fans hopes up before an Epic FAIL.
I think this whole article was pathetic….and I feel bad for the boy who was suspended over something so little…and in then to be in the BDN they obviously don’t have anything better to write about these days. I think they should be talking more on the lines of the economy and how it is affecting maine.
C’mon BDN…He wasn’t barred for a game for “Tebowing”. He was barred for rushing the court. Would your headline have states “Calais student barred for saying Pledge of Allegiance” if he had done that at center court instead of “Tebowing”? Please…be better than that.
actually it was for tebowing. the principal’s reason for my punishment has changed 4 times already.
Okay BDNshould have got more than one source on this article. I was at this game, and i work with the student who was punished and I am a Calais High School Alumni. Just so all of you know, this article was CRAP!!! The players were off the court, but not in the locker room. Also there has never once been a rule abou waiting, it’s just coincidence that by the time everyone packs their stuff and leaves the players are gone. Also the principal has never told the student this was not aloud, and the principal said that he was suspended from the games until futher notice. The reasoning behind the suspensio has een changed from ” being worried about the students safety” to ” rushing the court before the players were gone.” Last, the principal has withdrawn the suspension, since this article came out, so if he believes that he as in the right why would he change his punishment?
actually the superintendent revoked the suspension
“It was a pretty controversial game,” said Cohnstaedt. “There was a lot of taunting and swearing on both sides.
seems to me this would warrant suspensions also… sports are a way to build confidence, character, and work as a team, among other things, and I hope the parents and school realize, by the way this game was carried out, none of this teaching was practiced…
Such an incomplete story.
the thing that bugs me is that they never talked to the student really BDN?!