High school kicker booted from team for pink cleats, naturally sues school

Terrible fashion sense? Yes; but sometimes, trying to save the world isn’t pretty. On Oct. 8 Mendehall High School (MS) kicker Coy Sheppard wore pink cleats (my eyes!) in a game, which his great grandmother had given him in honor of female family members who have suffered from breast cancer. But soon he found himself booted off the team for wearing them, and his family is suing the school, and his coach, to get him reinstated. From the Sun Herald.com:

“At halftime Coach (Chris) Peterson made it clear that he did not approve of Coy’s new cleats,” the lawsuit says. “He began to berate the kicker in front of the team for wearing the pink cleats. Despite this verbal abuse from the coach, Coy proudly finished the game wearing the cleats purchased for him by his great-grandmother, kicking several additional extra points. Coy’s family was proud of his accomplishments, and for having the courage to honor his family and take this public stand.”

The lawsuit also points out that a component of the NFL campaign to support Breast Cancer Awareness month in October was to incorporate pink football gear, including cleats. Generally speaking, Principal James said, football players cannot show up in any color jersey or football gear they please.

“Everything has to be pretty much uniform, according to the activities association,” he said. “If things are done the right way and approval is given beforehand — I’m just speaking generally here — many times they can do things. If you’re told, ‘No,’ ‘no’ means ‘no.’”

You may wonder what everyone’s get so worked up about, but remember that this is Mississippi, which didn’t even integrate its public schools until 1970; so one can imagine how differently-colored football cleats wouldn’t stand much of a chance. While its true that we don’t have all the facts here — young Sheppard may be the Ferris Bueller of his time — what is certain is that lunkheaded school administrators have once again failed to play the public relations game to their advantage. Great grandmother, breast cancer awareness month, plucky high school senior defying an uncaring system … the kid has claimed the moral high ground here, and the administrators aren’t going to get it back. Well played, dumb-a** coaches and administrators.

Oh, and in case you think this kind of thing only happens in the south …

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Kicker booted for wearing pink cleats, suit claims [Sun Herald]