High School Football Fans Hang Sheep From Goalpost

[matcom]

<snip>

The rivalry between two Sevier County high schools runs hot - so hot that Richfield football fans are suspected of killing a sheep and stringing it up at South Sevier on the eve of game day.

With a chain wrapped around its neck, an ewe dangled from South Sevier High School's goalpost in Monroe Wednesday morning in an apparent mockery of the school's mascot, a ram. The animal reportedly died of a gunshot wound to the head.

"This rivalry has been going on for years and years," said Sevier County sheriff's Deputy Russell Mason. "Maybe it got a little out of hand."

While the Richfield High School Wildcats and South Sevier Rams have clashed historically, competition has intensified this season as the two schools, just eight miles apart, battle for a fourth-place slot in the Division 2-A playoffs. The teams' seedings hung on Wednesday's game. South Sevier won 26-6.

Instead of spicing up the rivalry with a little spray paint - as Richfield fans did once by adding an "A" in front of South Sevier's signature "SS" on the mountain - authorities say at least two Richfield fans shot a sheep, dragged it onto South Sevier's football field and fastened it to the goal post with a chain and padlocks.

"This not just a childish prank," said John P. Fox, chief investigator for the Humane Society of Utah. "An animal died because of this."

Fox urged prosecution of the pranksters, whom he condemned as destroying life for entertainment.

Sevier County authorities say the perpetrators could face charges of vandalism, criminal mischief, trespassing, cruelty to animals or theft, depending on how the story unfolds. They also could face school discipline.

"We do not condone that ," said Sevier School District Superintendent Brent M. Thorne. "It is highly inappropriate."

The superintendent said the student offenders - if there are any - likely would face suspension.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4479576

[Haole Girl]

1. Well, isn't this line precious....

Although a bit grotesque, South Sevier football coach Travis McAllister said the sheep slaying fired up his players.

[Taverner]

3. We haven't evolved much since the stone age have we?

Learned to do a little math, form complete sentences, but still primal beasts at the core...

[bedpanartist]

19. What is utterly amazing to me

is that so many people don't realize the obvious. Yes, we are primal beasts at our core. Why don't we factor this into anything.

The lack of understanding of human nature never ceases to amaze me.

[Broken_Hero]

4. that line caught my eye too...how stupid...:(

I can understand stuffed animals, we use to do that against the Crimson Bears of Juneau/Douglas, but a real animal? Thats ...just plain wrong.

[Jamastiene]

7. Yes, that sounds fair enough, using

stuffed animals, but using real dead animals that were killed probably solely for that purpuse is just plain savage.

[Broken_Hero]

9. fully, agreed...:) nt

[BarenakedLady]

2. Ugh

I couldn't even read past the first line of that. WTH is wrong with people?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Those animals!

All that delicious mutton gone to waste.

Sigh.

[Jamastiene]

6. The cheerleading floats in our Homecoming parades

have had dead deer carcasses on them in years past to signify death to the rival team, the Bucks. I'll never forget seeing the blood run down the side and drip onto the streets in a line that one year I actually went to that particular parade. I thought it was disgusting, personally. It was a dead deer head and the flies were buzzing everywhere. Those cheerleaders had these glazed over looks in their eyes as they rabidly cheered for the Raiders. They looked so excited and happy, honored even, to be standing there next to the dead deer. That looked scary to me. The deer head was disgusting, but that look in their eyes and in the eyes of some of the spectators just sent frozen cold chills down my spine. Those people are savages.

[Haole Girl]

8. Your description of that scene sounds like a good opening ...

..scene for the next horror flick, or something. That really is creepy. :scared:

[TheGriz]

14. Maybe they just. didn't care

that somebody shot a deer. People do that on a fairly regular basis, it is called hunting.

And you have to do something with the head.

I don't find it particularly tasteful, or amusing. On the contrary, I think it is rather stupid, but I have to say that getting worked up over seeing a piece of a dead animal, and that animals blood is not logical and it is not worth it. For some perspective, we eat pieces of charred cow flesh. We aren't savages, and neither is the person that shot the deer, and neither are the people that were in the general vicinity of its carcass.

[GOPisEvil]

10. MAYBE it got a little out of hand? MAYBE?!

Ya think?!?!

[aquaman]

16. My thought exactly.....

What a dumbass.

[Mutley]

11. Little fucking serial killers in the making.

:grr:

[reyd reid reed]

12. Maybe a little out of hand?

Maybe? A little?

This is over the top.

Disgusting. Wrong. Abhorrent. Just...I can't think of a word....what were they thinking????

[hickman]

13. McAllister urged his players not to reciprocate?

How? Hang a mountain lion from the goal posts? He did find it amusing so maybe he meant not hanging feral kittens from the goal posts.

[AspenRose]

15. That's disturbing beyond words.

And you know what they say; people who abuse animals are more likely to be violent towards people.

[BreweryYardRat]

17. That's sick.

Geez, if they wanted to do that with a sheep carcass from a butcher or something, that'd just have been tasteless. To go out and kill some poor farmer's innocent sheep is fucking evil.

[xchrom]

18. people who abuse animals are not a hairsbreadth

away from people who abuse people.

find out who did this and throw the book at them.

[trof]

20. This would be difficult for Alabama-Auburn fans.

Elephant and Tiger, ya know.
;-)