Poll:
Do you think the P-Crew students were fairly disciplined?
Pflugerville ISD says it is using the P-Crew's lapse in judgment as a teachable moment for all students; an opportunity to learn about good sportsmanship and treating opponents with respect. Meanwhile, Pflugerville High School awaits word from the UIL's district executive committee, about possible sanctions.
They call themselves the P-Crew, an unofficial cheer squad. The P-Crew says it was never their intention to rain on the Pflugerville Panthers' parade at Friday night's football game against Reagan-San Antonio, when the Panthers won 45-33.
Julia Cisneros, a member of the P-Crew says, “We were just going to go and congratulate our team for doing a good job because we had no idea we were going to win."
Ryan Rios, a P-Crew crew leader, added, “So we lined up on the fence, 30 seconds before the game ended and waited for the countdown, and finally when the clock ended, we, everyone jumped over the fence and started running to the end zone.”
Little did the P-Crew know, their move could jeopardize their school. Spectators storming the football field while the players are still on it is against UIL guidelines.
Cisneros says school officials were in disbelief.
“They didn't believe that half of us did it, because we're all such good kids,” Cisneros says. “I know half of us, at least half of us are in the top 10 percent. We're in NHS. We're all good kids.”
Pflugerville ISD released this official statement:
“Pflugerville ISD takes the safety of our students very seriously. By disregarding pre-game announcements instructing spectators to remain off the field, and ignoring the instructions of Pflugerville High School administrators, these students put themselves at risk for injury while climbing a locked fence, and also created an unsafe condition for the PHS football team, band, and players from the opposing team.
In response to this situation, the principal proactively notified the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and the District Executive Committee (DEC) about the incident. It is up to the DEC to determine if any violation took place. If a violation did occur, the school could receive a public reprimand, probation for the sport involved, probation for all UIL activities or even loss of playoff eligibility. At this time the District has not received a response from the DEC.
Pflugerville High School holds its student leaders to a high standard, and expects them to represent the school and the PHS community with integrity and honor. The school and students are working together to turn this lapse in judgment into a teachable moment for all PHS students – an opportunity to learn about good sportsmanship and treating opponents with respect.”
The P-Crew members involved are now banned from all games and pep rallies; a punishment that hurts.
Rios said, “All of us agreed that we would have never done it if we had known our school could get in trouble.”
Cisneros added, “Because we respect our fellow team mates out there.”
The district says it has not heard back from the UIL’s district executive committee. There is no word on whether school officials might change their minds about students' punishment, but some of the students involved tell KVUE that the principal plans to meet with them again Wednesday.
