Carroll/Franklin Parish Football Unsettling

The Monroe community is in support of a favorable outcome for the Carroll High School football team as members of the Monroe City School Board are scheduled to attend a hearing concerning the incidents of what happened at a Carroll-Franklin Parish football game two weeks ago. The Tuesday night board meeting held November 1, 2022 focused on other issues like how all restroom updates at the school are about 90% completed, construction work done on the Neville High School band room, and painting work done on the inside of Roy N. Shelling Elementary School. Still, the biggest response from those in attendance came when board member Rick Saulsberry addressed the Carroll-Franklin situation. Saulsberry was direct and blunt when he began to talk about what he allegedly felt "were the facts" of what happened during the moments when Carroll coaches were led through a sea of hostile fans on the Franklin Parish sidelines by the sheriff of Franklin Parish. After congratulating the Carroll Bulldogs on their 8-0 record, Saulsberry said that he had to make some comments about the unfortunate situation at the football game. Saulsberry said that he was at the game and the root of what happened was "not on our side, but theirs", countering what had been reported by some media outlets. He explained that he knew some people in the press box and was out on the field trying to diffuse the situation and make sense of what was happening. He said he called the people he knew in the press box immediately after the game to find out what happened. Saulsberry went on to explain that he talked to six people independently, and they all told the same story. He shared his opinion that the sheriff who showed up to the press box didn't have to come up and how differently it would have been handled if it had been the local law enforcement in Monroe. He then went on to share that the sheriff had allegedly been drinking; many others who attended the game and witnessed his behavior also shared the same observation. Saulsberry said that two of Carroll's coaches were on their way out of the press box as the sheriff grabbed the last coach and shoved him out of the press box, and the coach said that he didn't have to put his hands on him. According to Saulsberry, the sheriff cursed the coach, perhaps the same cursed words that the coaches were accused of using. Several people only a few feet away from where the initial exchange happened then revealed fans on the Franklin side, Saulsberry said, stood in the coach's way and began chastising him. As the situation moved further into the thick of the crowd as the coaches descended the steps, chaos ensued, as seen on social media feeds and news outlet media videos. The sheriff stepped in front, but that didn't stop fans from pouring coke and water on the coach's back right in front of the sheriff, Saulsberry continued. The sheriff still did nothing to diffuse the situation as a video shows a fan putting a chokehold on the coach, another fan pulled the coach down, and the sheriff allegedly got on top. Several more fans attacked the coach. While the commotion was going on, the referees stopped the game, and the game announcer called for Carroll's coaches, still on their side of the field, to "come get their coaches". That, said Saulsberry, is why Carroll crossed the field heading to the other side. Saulsberry then said that a White friend from Winnsboro asked him why he was the only one speaking out and that word needed to come from the Board, the superintendent, and leadership in Monroe, which were welcomed by applause from some in the audience, along with some groans. Saulsberry seemed to direct some comments to his colleagues, asking rhetorically why he was the only one speaking up about the incident. "I [am] doing this by myself. The Franklin Parish sheriff started that, and unfortunately, Carroll is suffering, our fans, our team, and that's what I have to say," said Saulsberry. Saulsberry received a very warm round of applause as he concluded his remarks. Board members discussed matters about the upcoming appeal, saying that they hoped that there might be a reduced punishment. Still, ultimately the decision would be up to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). What happened, they said, was unfair and that Franklin Parish was responsible for what happened. A hearing was scheduled for 3:00 PM, November 2, 2022 in Baton Rouge, and hopefully, the coaches can come back with no suspensions. Board member Bill Willson thanked Saulsberry for his comments while complimenting the Carroll football team, saying, "we all get knocked down in life whether it's fair or not but [its] what we do that determines true character." He offered that the people who stepped in to coach the players did an amazing job, beating a very good Richwood Rams football team, and that speaks to good character. He added that he did not think the Carroll players did not need to suffer the consequences of others' actions. As there are three sides to every story, many hope all three sides come out. One thing is certain, though; the coaches do not need to be punished to this degree.