OAKLAND, Maine — Police have charged a former high school football coach with assault in the wake of an incident at a team practice last week.
Wes Littlefield, who resigned his position on Thursday after the Wednesday incident, was summoned for assault but not arrested, according to Oakland police Chief Michael Tracy. The victim was a member of the Messalonskee High School football team.
The Morning Sentinel said Littlefield previously characterized the episode as “a little incident with a kid that was blown out of proportion.” He declined comment on Tuesday.
Littlefield’s first court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 20 in Waterville District Court, according to Tracy.
Littlefield had been Messalonskee’s head coach since the 2003 season, posting a record of 43-40 prior to his resignation. The team is 4-0 thus far on the 2012 season.
Tracy said further charges are unlikely against Littlefield.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Buh-bye tough guy.
I guess a high school age, male, football player runs to the authorities instead of manning up to his age and the roughness of that sport. Don’t know him, or what level of ‘assault’ was visited on his person, but doubt it was too traumatic.
I’m sorry for jumping the gun. It appears you have more information about this case than the newspaper.
It was a “comment” (I do have the right spot to do that, don’t I?) with an opinion. 13 others appear to have understood that.
Opinions are like noses, most people have one.
When you put yours out there don’t get all fussy when someone comments on your opinion.
The difference might be that my mine have been civil. Yours are snide.
….Connection lost….
lol. You “manned up” and bailed. lol
I think he just got tired of you putting a cutesy spin on everything. Maybe you should man up and have a normal conversation with county. You have been pretty snawty in the last couple three
Pfft.
That, folks, is the sound of a puffed up troll delating
So sayeth the self-appointed hall monitor of the Comments Section. Yawn.
That’s funny, but being the ‘civil’ one here, I couldn’t be the one to say it.. :-0
What do you suggest be done in this case that you don’t know anything about?
If the teen had kicked the guy in the head a few times would have that been “manning up”?
Or is your idea of “manning up” having the teen sit and be assaulted in silence.
I did say that I don’t know him or the nature of the assault. I was merely suggesting that it might be a case of whining by someone who can’t take the pressure of a rough game and training. I assume it’s not touch football they are playing.
Well he was summoned by a police officer who does know about the case, so you can assume whatever you want.
People like you who think it is okay to smack around people to get what you want are the biggest whiners of all soon as someone turns the tables and smacks you back.
I DID NOT EVEN SUGGEST THAT ASSAULT WAS OK!
I DID SUGGEST AN ALTERNATIVE TO ASSUMED DETAILS THAT NEITHER ONE OF US IS PRIVY TO! over AND out
people love to twist everything said here
You noticed that too, huh? Makes for a less than good give and take, but we all knew that anyway! :(
The metrosexual everyone gets a trophy attitude these days. It’s football for goodness sake. We cant’t tell how bad the assault was by this story.
Have you happened to notice all of the football haters here and their thinly veiled articles calling for the ending of football programs at UMaine and even some High School programs?
Now that they’ve made the sudden discovery that thumping the head over and over might make you a loon, they are screeching foul. ( just ask Cassius Clay)
We only had baseball – no real threat and basketball – look out for elbows – we had no football when I graduated in ’73. But we also understood the physical risks of growing up to be a man. Sounds quaint now doesn’t it. Football is what it is. I thought everybody knew that and did’t join just for the glamour of being the star quarterback homecoming king. The one that’s so “manly” that all the girls fall at their feet. That happens, but not before bucking it up, sucking it up, and manning up to give you that reputation! Even today, women are attracted to the type and men can trust you in business with only a handshake.
Do I get a trophy for that? If my English teacher gives me an F for it, I’ll go to the authorities! Everybody deserves one. It’s only fair.
You are absolutely correct. If anyone knew what went on in the late 70’s and early 80’s when I played, some of our coaches would have gotten jail time. I agree with your “man up” comment as things were always kept in house. As team leaders we also ensured it stayed that way. I’m not excusing anyone, it’s just the way things were back then. The “wussification” of America marches on.
Thanks, Steve. Sounds like we’re around the same age.
While I didn’t want to diminish the possibility of a real assault, my dear old Dad would yell at we kids “you’ll loose a fingernail, but keep piling that pulp anyways or I’ll send you home to the women! We need to put biscuit on the table” He was a good and hardworking man. Taught us to love our mates and all wildlife, be honest in all things, etc, but wanted his sons to grow up to be men. It’s amazing how many times since I’ve said OH, there goes another fingernail! :)
We don’t know what took place here, but there was the time when I was in the 4th grade and working a pile of long length and one rolled down on my foot. Ma: take him for an xray. Dad: he’s ok. The next morning, with a black football for a foot, I got that xray and a 30 day cast on it! He didn’t realize the severity of it, nor do we know the severity of this. I do have a suspicion that your last line may apply here.
( Sorry for any incoherent ramblings.)
Kinda wordy but get your meaning
Don’t be sorry man! I loved your comment. Your dad sounds a lot like mine. I feel extremely lucky to still have him around. We were SO fortunate to grow up when we did. I feel sorry for the kids that are so coddled by the nanny state (you know, we are ALL victims). I just think that kids today are so quick to either place blame on others, or deflect it at all cost regardless of the consequences. My head football coach got into a fist fight with one of my teammates (though not ALL the coach’s fault I might add). The players, including myself had to separate them. This happened in 1980. Nobody, including the player involved would have said “shoot” if their mouth was full of it! There were many other instances that I could mention that would appall everyone on this thread.
The bottom line is that we have become a society of whiny little babies who have NO guts to stand up for themselves without throwing SOMEBODY under the bus. To me, this is unacceptable. The term “man up” has never been so prevalent than right now. It’s okay to be a man…
While it sounds like I graduated at least a decade before you and had left the County in ’76, it is nice to know that the Maine ethos lived on for at least a while. :) The last time I was up there even the pulp cutters were using ‘product’ in their hair! It proves that one can never go home…
Once again, we aren’t privy to what happened here, but we do have the luxury of speculating what probably did go down.
I’m happy you have yor Dad. Take good care of him the way it used to be done. My Father went a few years ago after years of what he called ‘old timer’s disease.
Ma died 18 years ago at 64 after a 10 year battle with brain cancer.
I really wish I had them to pamper. Even if they are financially sound, the elders need the small things like company. I will try to give you a link to something that really pertained to my Mother in law towards the end (she lived on Long Island NY)
Found it. Got your “I give damn for our elders’ tissues out? They are the ones we got our values from. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7X_h_kyfjw
That link requires tissues. Nice one but a real tearjerker reminding us of our need to take care of forgotten ones. If I remember right he sang his own backups and most of th instruments in his songs
What is the reason some people get summonsed and others have to go to jail?
Police chief’s son on the football team?
A misdemeanor that did not occur in the Officers presence = no arrest just a summons to court. It was not domestic related nor did it appear that without taking him into custody the assault would continue.
Correct
What a poor sport and horrible coach..this is whats the matter in the sporting world today some parents and over anxious coaches! shame on you coach!
What would happen if an 18 year old player went over the line by striking a 16 year old team mate. Kicked off the team-I doubt it.
They’d be charged with assault of a minor – learn the laws.
I doubt it. You didn’t play sports did you?
Three sports all through school – stop making assumptions and stirring nonsense with your idiotic remarks – “troller”.
Three sports all the way through Junior High. Didn’t play in High School right?
Lame goading.
Wrong Mr. Troll – get a life, all through high school, and yes – very lame goading
3 sports all through school – duh!
Ill be the first to admit that I dont know exactly what happend in Oakland but I do know that times have changed. If this coach actually struck a player he should be charged to the fullest extent of the law. Unfortunately, often times we find out it wasnt quite as bad as we were lead to believe.
Now for my soapbox rant…I have younger kids, one of which is little league age. I teach my kid to have fun, play hard, and try to win! Nowadays coaches are teaching it doesnt matter if you win or lose but if you had fun playing. Does every kid need to get a trophy at the end of the season? Even if they didnt win a game? What are we rewarding?
Paul Vachon, Gerry Kane, Bob Lucy, Jim Walsh, and much as it pains me to say this next name…Paul Withee. All coaches that were tough and didnt take any crap from parents or kids on their teams. At the same time they won and 99.9% of the kids they coached still rave about them to this day!
Now, my kid will probably never make it to the NFL, NBA, or the Majors but he will know how to be competitive and do everything to the best of his ability! If my kid is out of line I am hopeful that his coach will have the guts to speak to him harshly…if it takes grabbing his facemask so be it!
I think its about time that coaches and we as parents teach our kids that things arent just handed to you. You have to work hard to achieve success. Whether thats on the field, in the classroom, or in the work force. Its time to toughen up a bit!!!
Well said you make a good point. I played for a tuff coach in foo ball in high school. He worked our butts off and made us respect him. And was’nt afraid to put you in line and also praise you when you did well. I still repest him to this day 35 years later. Now adays I been told score in some games scores are not even counted. So there are no loser’s. Well if you do’nt win you never no what it’s like to lose. Many of life leason’s we learn from people good and bad. A winner never quits,and a loser never wins.
Another coach who expects discipline from his players, but has none for himself. What a jerk and a horse’s ***!
you must have voted for obmaaa. didnt you.
Only a complete fool would make this about Obama.
I played for Gerry Kane 3 years and he smacked me into a locker one night. So if thats 99% win rate someone needs some help. He smacked a good many players. That must have made him a man. So if someone smacks my kids or grandchild hold on. There is a new sheriff in town. Lets take the law in my own hands if you think it okay to hit players them its okay smack a coach. I will send in line if it involves my family.
I guess my question would be… Why did he “smack” you into a locker? Did you mouth off to him? Were you not doing what you were supposed to be doing? And no, I am not saying what he did was right (I wasn’t there).
it doesn’t matter if they mouthed off to him-no one deserves that. assault is assault plain in simple. and grabbing someone by their facemask is also abusive. I don’t care if they did it that way 20, 30, 40 years ago, it doesn’t make it right. woudl we tolerate a teacher smacking our kid around? what about a boss at a summer job? what message does this teach?
RocklandME – Did you seriously ask Mama Bear what he did to get smacked into a locker? These were 15-18 year old kids who were intimidated by Jerry Kane. Nothing was a secret. Bucksport allowed him free reign until he embarrassed the town on television. Generally, the number of assaults attributed to Kane is greatly exaggerated (I’m not doubting Mama Bear.)
Yes, I seriously asked her a question based on her response. Sorry, next time I will run it by you before I ask a followup question.
That was Gerry way with everybody he coached. If you did not understand then you where going to hit you. I always payed attention.
I had a hard time following this response so I responded on your other post…I could follow that one a little easier
Mama Bear – Did you play for Kane at Sumner or Bucksport?
Bucksport
Its time to toughen up a bit. Does that mean to you to let the coaches smack these kids around??? Whats that going to teach them kids alot I bet.Pretty good way of looking at it. If your kid does not produce in life then let the coaches show them how..
Where in my post did you see where I actually support “smacking” kids around? Again, my point is today if you discipline a kid during practice or a game for goofing off, not paying attention, or being disresectful, people like you are on the phone with the AD or Principal complaining.
You have to remember, coaches arent there for the money. They actually enjoy the kids and the game. People like you take the fun out of it when you’re complaining because your 5ft 6 Freshman isnt getting the same amount of playing time as the returning 6ft 6 senior all-stater!
Thanks for your response(s) you really just proved my point even more by making something out of nothing…
Never would you see me on the phone with the AD Office. I would deal with it head on with the coach. See I have some grapefru$ts and would deal with it one on one. So maybe you should know me before making a statement like that???
Does it really matter that his record is 4-0 this year? That has to do what with the crime? Just wondering.
If it was an opened hand hit to the face mask and is considered an assault, Many players from the 70’s and 80’s were assaulted every game and practice. And to think I thought they were either trying to make a point or test my equipment. And what about players head butting each other after a good play or score? Are they assaulting each other? Now if the coach hit the player and did physical harm that would be different. But if it’s just getting your feelings hurt?????
If it’s unwanted, it’s assault.
They should fire the whole coaching staff. Do you think the coaching staff will do there best to help try to cover up this whole process.
I think football should be taken out of high school sports in the first place. It’s nothing but a barbaric game that causes injuries to young men and (women). To see adults get all excited seeing their 15 year old kid getting all smashed up by another kid is awful. Already they are seeing TBIs with this sport. Unless they can make it friendlier and less violent, then perhaps it wouldn’t be as bad, but to see kids get torn ACLs, sprains, TBIs, fractured cervical vertebra, fractured legs, heat strokes, and other related injuries is abuse. Let alone kids using steroids and ‘other’ supplements to gain supposed strength, endurance, and speed. No, football is dangerous and barbaric and should be completely banned from schools.
said no one ever
You state the problem very well. Lifetime sports for all, that’s where schools should put their sports money. In other cultures, organized team games are the business of sports organizations dedicated to that end, leaving schools to tend to physical training and health education, which is where non-contact sports come into play. We have models for organized games in Little League, American Legion baseball, ski club racing programs community recreation department programs and the like. Some schools put a fair emphasis on physical training and health education programs but rare is the school system that puts them in front where they belong. Rather, they tend to be add-ons, and as such, often the first to get the budget axe. In this day of rampant obesity and sedentary “sports,” can we really afford to have the practically a whole school, any school, sitting cheering in the bleachers while a few wail away at each other. How healthy, how productive is that, one wonders.
1st let me say this… There is no one posting on thread, about this coach, that has ANY idea what transpired so let me fill you in on a little that I do know about this situation (and I am admitting to knowing very little, but it is obvious I know more about this then the majority of the folks here).
1) This Coach is considered to be a very good coach, well respected amongst his peers and amongst the majority of his players.
2) The incident that happened (which I know nothing about as I was not there and neither was anyone else posting here) has been described as an incident ranging from the coach grabbing the kids facemask, to an open hand slap upside the facemask/helmet, to an actual punch to the helmet. This all depends on who you ask on who was there and who witnessed the event.
3) The child in question did NOT go to the police. He complained to his parents (or mother from my understanding) and they went to the police instead of going through the Athletic Director of the school. This is how the police became involved.
My opinion on this is you have an over-protective parent who over-reacted to an incident that they were not present for. They went on the word of their child over everyone else who witnessed the issue (and no I am not condoning the actions of the Coach if in fact he did physically assault the child). With that being said, I do not believe that grabbing the facemask or a quick slap upside the helmet is “assault”. Stupid? yes, but not assault.
The police would not have gone on just the word of the mother. They can’t, anything from her is hearsay and can not be used. They would have gone and interviewed the people involved. After interviewing the people involved the police issued a summons.
As far as slapping someone upside the head not being assault – go read the law and you will clearly see that it is.
what a bunch of mambie pansies when i was in school kids showed enough respect not to get slapped up against the head because you knew that could happen and did and there were not parents out there taking up for these pansies today maybe the kid needs an i phone so he cna play games on that and the phone wont hit him up beside the head im sure sick of all these parents taking up for these brats when i grew up i wasnt worried about teachers or coaches i was worried about my parents and they really never did anything bad just some good old fashion learning respect which is what most of these kids need if you dont think so look around
You didn’t learn respect – you learned fear.
You don’t earn respect by hitting people – clearly in this case you earn a court summons.
no i learned respect and fear that you are not listening but i do respect your opinion
I see what your saying about respect as far as some kids growing up today but I don’t think smacking those kids around would have helped much.
I have 3 young adult children. Never once did I hit them, but I did teach them that hard work was the only way to get by in life.
My children never once got a “big” item for free not even for holidays or birthdays.
I wanted them to learn to respect what they had and never take anything for granted.
My boy earned his first bike at the age of 6 by doing extra work around the yard and saving his pennies. They respect me but never once have they feared me.
Under the law it is an assault.
I had my face mask grabbed by a coach once it’s not a pleasant experience. Any coach that would do such a thing is a loser and a jerk.
Really? I hated it too. But looking back, most of the time I deserved it. My coach was a fearless a hole! I could have mowed the field with him if I didn’t have as much respect for him at the time. I guess I had the feeling that what didn’t kill me would make me better. I still try to live with that metaphor in mind today. It has served me well.
OMG! Thanks for the info. If it was as you describe, all of my coaches from 8th grade on would have done time!!! What’s happened to our society? Toughen up!
If a math teacher smacks a kid because they didn’t do their homework (or whatever), the teacher is fired and probably will never teach again. The kid (and parents) are called “whistle blowers.”
If a coach smacks a kid because the kid missed a block (or whatever), the coach is often defended as a “tough disciplinarian.” And the kid (and parents) are called “whiners.”
There should not be such double standards between the classroom and the athletic field.
Athletes get the breaks all the time at schools, it’s disgusting.
I’m guessing you were picked on as a child by the “jocks” huh?
Sorry Rocky, you guessed wrong.
The problem with your argument stringah is that football is not mandatory, math is.
I confess that I do not see your point.
Football is an extra curricular activity, same as all sports, and the same as the debate team or the chess club or the band.
You seem to be implying that it’s okay for the band teacher to be physical with a student because the band is not “mandatory.”
Indeed if I follow your point I guess you are saying that as long as the student is participating in an extra curricular activity, then the teacher/coach/administrator has license to put their hands on the student in anger.
Is that what you think?
If so, I completely fail to see the logic in that, and I strongly disagree with your view.
Just my opinion.
After the court case is done and he is found guilt by a jury of his peers, he will lose his right to bare arms and with the criminal background check won’t be able to teach either.. Coaches think they are Gods and now and then need to be put in their place. Since they are paid for by the taxpayer I concider them public servants and being such should humble themselves and be grateful to even have a job….
I’m sure the sweat pants beer bellied couch potato sports freaks think it’s OK to bash kids around.. Go slap my 15 yr old 6 foot 4 inch 205 pound Grandson around at practice and we will see if it is respect or fear..
“….he will lose his right to bare arms… ” So he can’t wear short sleeve shirts anymore? Is this something new?
yawn
Why would a simple assault conviction not allow him to have guns Red? It’s not a felony.
I bet coach Littlefield is a proud man I mean coward today for what he has done..
Always a contentious subject when you are talking about player/coach boundaries. My suggestion is if you cannot take the physical, mental and social demands imposed by your coaches and teammates ….. there is always marbles.
If you want Football to be a feel good ‘Sports Done Right’ recreation experience – you are playing the wrong sport.
You have to be tough to play the sport in every respect. The coach should have done the right thing when he noticed the player simply wasn’t talented or tough (physical or mentally) enough to play – CUT HIM. These are the situations you will get when we give out roster positions like we give out Snickers’ bars on Halloween.
Kid lacked heart. Coach lacked good judgement. Class dismissed.