Carroll 2023 Homecoming

It has been an uneventful year for the Carroll High School Bulldog Football Team in Monroe LA. Last year at this time, the Bulldogs were having a "dream year", winning football games and headed to a playoff run. But that all changed with one football game. A football game against the Franklin Parish Patriots, which Carroll won, turned ugly when several Carroll coaches were involved in a skirmish with police officers and fans, leading to a head coach and assistant coaches being dismissed from the football program. The current football team will be having its homecoming game with all of the festivities on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 2:00 PM against the same team in a game where the opponent wanted to play at a "neutral" site. Citing "safety concerns", the Patriots' representatives appealed to the Louisiana High School Athletics Association for the game to be played at ULM. Supporters of Carroll vehemently opposed such a move. After behind-the-scenes negotiations, a decision was made to keep the homecoming game at Carroll, where the games traditionally are played. However, issues of safety concerns were not publicly explicitly stated, and not one such as crowd control or threats made against Carroll's opponents.

According to those familiar with Carroll football, except for a shooting that occurred after a Carroll homecoming activity a few years ago that had nothing to do with the school. The shooting happened away from the school, but somehow it was a " Carroll" safety issue. Many are convinced that there are those who will say things that if people don't pay attention to what is said minus any facts, people will tend to believe that what is said is true. Sources said there was "a report" of a gun being at a Carroll game against Wossman, but a weapon was found on an individual at Wossman, not at Carroll. There was an incident where not too long ago, a report of weapons at Neville was substantiated, resulting in an arrest and a conviction, but is Neville considered an "unsafe" school? Somehow, Carroll is blamed for having safety issues. There are reports that the homecoming activities will take place after the game is over, where Franklin Parish will be gone at 5:00 PM. What happened when the festivities are held during halftime when the Queen is introduced? Someone appears to be taking away the true meaning of homecoming, including the tradition where both teams are present. There will be those who will want to know who made the decision to alter the plans and if safety had anything to do with it. Homecoming comes once a year. Let the kids enjoy themselves. There are rules in place by LHSAA holding not only Carroll but all schools accountable as to what occurs at school functions. It is unfortunate what happened last year in Franklin Parish, as Carroll is paying a price. The focus now is to have a successful homecoming and have the best season the Bulldogs can have. The kids deserve it.