Falkville Blue Devils pioneers in state

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Falkville High School doesn’t have any athletes participating in the 12th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week this week in Huntsville, but the Blue Devils were certainly in the spotlight.
Falkville was one of 92 schools honored Wednesday at a special banquet from athletic programs with no ejections or fines for the last school year.
Falkville is the only school in Morgan County to earn the honor.
The school received a special sportsmanship banner commemorating the award.
Of the 92 schools honored, several have state championships to their credit during the 2007-08 academic year. Falkville won a boys’ state track championship, while Leroy High School won both state football and state basketball titles in Class 2A this past year.
Falkville’s honor is part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s STAR Sportsmanship program, an online interactive program that promotes good sportsmanship in all high school athletic events in the state.
The program was developed by former Auburn punter Brian Shulman.
Apparently, the program is paying off with immediate returns. In its first year of implementation, ejections have been reduced by more than 40 percent.
The 92 schools who went through the past school year without fines or ejections should certainly be applauded. The accomplishment reflects well on the schools’ communities, athletes and faculties.
But the sad fact is that more schools were left out of the STAR Sportsmanship banquet. Reducing ejections and fines by 41 percent is a remarkable testament for the program. But the AHSAA should accept nothing less than a 100 percent success rate.
Hopefully, as the program grows, so too will the number of schools earning the honor each year.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or by email at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com