@coachdominickhernandez: There's a lot of discussion surrounding Middletown's undefeated season, the Section 9 championship, and the decision that has left these young men unable to compete for a championship they worked so hard to earn. First and foremost, I feel for those players, especially the seniors. To put together an undefeated season, accomplish something that hasn't been done since 1961, and then potentially have your final opportunity to play high school football taken away is heartbreaking. No question about that. I understand why so many people are saying, "Let them play." These kids have put in the work, sacrificed their time, and earned the respect of their community. But there's another side to this conversation that I think deserves attention. Rules are rules. Whether a violation was intentional or unintentional, there are consequences when those rules aren't followed. We teach our kids that in sports, in school, and in life. We teach them that accountability is part of being a responsible person. What I haven't heard enough discussion about is this: Who made the decision to add an ineligible player to the roster late in the season? Who was responsible for that decision? Was the rule misunderstood? Was it an oversight? Was it a deliberate decision? These are legitimate questions that deserve answers. In my opinion, the people responsible for making that decision should come forward and be transparent with the players, parents, and the community. This isn't about pointing fingers at the kids. They shouldn't be the ones left carrying the weight of decisions that may have been made by adults responsible for overseeing the program. But leadership also means accepting responsibility when things go wrong. If someone made a mistake, own it. If someone misunderstood the rules, acknowledge it. If a poor decision was made, have the courage to stand behind it. What better lesson could we teach these young athletes than that? We can support these players, feel for the seniors, recognize an incredible undefeated season, AND still demand accountability from the adults involved. You can't teach accountability to young athletes while avoiding it yourself. The players deserve our support, but the parents and the community deserve transparency, too. At the end of the day, winning and losing are part of sports, but character, integrity, and accountability are lessons that last a lifetime. We ask our athletes to own their mistakes, take responsibility for their actions, and lead by example. The adults responsible for leading them should be willing to do the same. These young men deserve better, and so does the community that supports them. Respectfully, Coach Dom

Coach Dom

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Wednesday 11 November 2026 15:01:51 GMT