Young football player's suspension reversed

ST. PETERSBURG -- A young football player, suspended last week during a controversy surrounding coaches with criminal records, is back on the field.

Tyler Patrick, 12, and his family were banned from the Azalea Bulldogs Oct. 29 after Tyler’s mother, Michelle Patrick, called the St. Petersburg Times with a tip that several of the program’s coaches had criminal records.

Her tip resulted in the suspension of her son and husband, an assistant coach for the Bulldogs’ junior varsity Pee Wees. An e-mail, apparently from the Azalea Bulldogs board, said the Patricks were excluded from the program.

A board member called the Patricks on Tuesday night to tell them Tyler was no longer suspended, Michelle said.

He practiced with the team Wednesday.

The team heads into its first playoff appearance this weekend.

Tyler's parents are still banned from the program.

- Libby Nelson, Times staff writer

Comments

[?]

Good it's not his fault he has a "Busy Body" for a mother!

These people must be nuts. Banning kids and their parents from youth football becasue the parents have an opinion. The hell with the Board, I wonder why the rest of the parents in the orgaization do not jump in and tell them how things are going to go. Oh, and should a Board like this who bans free speech use our public school facilities? how about some neo-Nazi meetings on school property? Not much difference to me. This bull needs to be nipped in the bud.
Oh, and let these coaches just do their job please.

[Mo]

Depending on the charges parents may have had a right to know...however, why call the TIMES? Meeting with other parents maybe but the newspaper. Unless they were pedophiles; that's a bit too far.

[Big Tifosi]

If you call doing the right thing being a busy body them I am glad she is one. Alerting the media to coaches with criminal records was a good move on her part no matter what anyone says. I wonder if she could hit them with a whistleblower suit. The league sure deserves it.

[Katie B]

So what? the convictions were and are not specified. Today you can be felony charged with all kinds of things that used to be worthy of being beaten my the local cop.
If they were convicted of some crime against children then maybe they should be there as those people suffer from 100% recividism but if its just something stupid, then get over it

[asha]

Well thank goodness poor kid just wanted to play ball. But then what was the point of his mother telling the Times if she still has him being coached by the criminal coaches. HELLO was that not the whole point, to not have her kid interact with that type of coach. I think she is going back on what she started. She has a right to do what she did. They know they have a criminal background & its public knowledge that they are criminals.....regardless of when it happened thats what happens when u make poor choices. These charges are not minimal they are huge. Prison time, drugs, burgulary!!!!!! Sounds like great criteria to be a coach to me especially in Pinellas County!! Holy canoli!!!!!!!!

If those coaches were sex offenders, I could see the real problem.

I think this mother didn't need to call up the Times & get a hot story...she should had gone to the other parents & board FIRST. Plus, attend the required meetings, which I read in a previous article, she did not.

Everyone in this world has a past. Some of us have good ones & other's have bad. Just learn from it and move on.

[?]

She just had some sort of "Axe to Grind"!

[newres]

How can this organization be so stupid? First, not throughly investigating their coaches, then reacting negatively towards a responsible parent. If these coaches are such wonderful people, they should have been able to repent for their past and defend what they have been doing with their lives since their brush with the law. Like it or not, coaches are held to high esteem and respect. A marred past could be used for the good, or in this case of mismanagement, used as a lousy example of hiding and excuses.
Seems to me I wouldn't have my child participate in anything that I was not welcome to at least observe and listen to what is being said to him.
Please, find the child something else to do. This is not the end all to life.

Seems as though there's a need for a new board of leadership in this organization.
Good parenting trumps coaches every time!

[hmm]

I am glad they are letting the boy back in. What I do not understand is why are they banning the father? He didn't have anything to do with his wife going to the TIMES. They should let him back in too as Dad didn't do anything wrong.

As for the whole issue. I think anyone working with Children should have to have a background screening done these days (Sports, Scouting, Dance, Rec Centers, etc).

[Robby]

Maybe her husband was mad he was not allowed to be the head coach of the Pee Wee division.... Revenge....lol...UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

[Kim]

If the coaches are fine upstanding citizens who are great influnences on the children, why did the league punish the mother for going to the paper? Why not defend thier decision and speak out about how wonderful thier coaches are? Why not be proud to be giving these men another chance? Obviously, they are ashamed to have repeat offender felons as coaches. Maybe the real problem is they are desparate for coaches and cant' be too picky. As a parent, that is something that I would want to know. It's also something I will be asking about in all programs my child enroles in (honestly, it never occured to me that they would routinely have felons working with children)

What is wrong with you people? Unless they're sex offenders it's OK??? Are you crazy? Some of these were serious offenses which involve dangerous people. Not all of them were that long ago. You don't know what these coaches are all doing today, if they've all straightened up. They can have trouble follow them, and yes, near the kids. You don't know why she went to the paper instead of the board, or if she talked to members of the board beforehand. If this organization is like many youth sports organization, they may all be buds that cover for each other.
Many parents don't have the guts to do what's right because they are afraid of the fallout on their kids and themselves. This woman did a brave thing, and if the board had character like hers, they would be interviewing the coaches involved to determine if they are suitable coaches now. Instead, they are trying to punish her. One of the consequences of breaking the law is that your past follows you. You have to convince people that you've changed and will not cause them any trouble. Too bad.
More parents should have the guts to set this kind of example for their sons. The parents that are out to protect the coaches and punish her are teaching their kids to get even with someone that crosses you, even when it's the truth. I know which kid I want mine hanging out with.

[chuck]

Sounds like the coaches were doing a pretty good job at coaching and getting involved with their and our shared community. I seriously doubt that they were selling crack to their players, and it looks like mom is enjoying the spotlight a little bit too much. (Two posed photos in a week) I hope to see all the objectors out there coaching football next week. Otherwise, I guess I will see them in church confessing thier own sins this Sunday.

[Billy Ray]

Sound like the Mom is just upset that her son sits on the bench all the time!

[Tim]

Only parents living their life through their kids wouldn't care if their coaches were convicted criminals. You know darn well, that if one of these coaches happened to do something to their little darlings, they would sue the county asking why they were coaching theor sweethearts.

Go 5-6 years WITHOUT ANY CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS - THEN COACH CHILDREN!!! There has to be some proof that the coaches have cleaned up their act & are now law-abiding citizens. There are PLENTY of people willing to coach young people that don't have rap sheets. These are people that the kids are looking up to. If you think it's ok to have coaches w/ recent drug or weapon charges allowed to coach your child - YOU ARE A HORRIBLE PARENT. Yes - people do make mistakes & they should be allowed 2nd chances - BUT stay clean for 5, 6 or even 10 years before you ask to coach children & act as a solid role model!!

[Florida Mom]

I simply cannot understand why people would be upset at a parent who CLEARLY acted as an adult should when it comes to the health and welfare of their children. Are you all nuts? The fact that they initially took it out on the child and suspended him from play tells me all I need to know about the fools in charge. Shame on them for hiring felons to coach children. I suspect a great many of you must be convicted felons yourselves to feel the way you do that it is alright that these people are having contact with children. I guess Mark Foley must be your hero.

It doesn't really matter how we found out about the criminals coaching at Azalea. The fact is we found out about it. Who cares if the lady has an agenda - she probably does! That doesn't change the fact that criminals with serious records are being allowed to act as LEADERS of our children. Who cares how we found out (unless you are embarressed by the facts)- the fact is: WE FOUND OUT & IT'S A HORRIBLE SITUATION. STAY CONSISTENTLY CLEAN FOR 10 YEARS - THEN ASK TO COACH & INFLUENCE OUR CHILDREN. THIS IS ABSURD THAT PEOPLE THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD- HAVE SOME STANDARDS FOR WHO IS TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN!!

The Patrick's have been with the bulldogs for 5-6 yrs. Why now does she need to start stuff. The same coaches have been there just as long as her family. Hello Mom, did you ask if any of the coaches had a background when you signed your child up for football the last 5-6 years?? My guess is no. She is not one to talk she comes around kids at the field with no bra on and everything hanging out. Not a good look! Her son runs track and plays baseball those coaches better make sure they don't have a past cause she might just have a new story for the paper. GO BULLDOGS!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

[DEBORAH EDNEY]

Sue the school, you have rights that have been violated. To allow these men to coach children, should be against the law. Who allowed this to happen! THESE MEN ARE THE BEST YOU CAN GET FOR COACHES?? WHERE ARE ALL THE DADS, WITHOUT FELONIES????

[punks]

they tried 2 get my coach banned so hush my coaches did nothing wrong