piratebg
09-01-2005, 05:58 PM
A co-worker from Ingleside told me about this and I just wanted to get some opinions.
INGLESIDE - An Ingleside family is upset that the student who allegedly caused the death of their son is being allowed to play football. In fact, the situation has become an extremely sensitive and divisive issue in the Ingleside community. Some say the player deserves a second chance, but others argue he's getting undeserved special treatment.
Quarterback Brandon Stacy is arguably the star player of the Ingleside squad, and helped to lead them to the playoffs in 2004. But in March, he was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter for the death of 18-year old J.R. Jasso, a fellow football player and the youngest of five children.
J.R. was the passenger in Stacy's car when Stacy allegedly ran a stop sign. J.R. was killed by an oncoming car.
"J.R. loved football, said J.R.'s mother Rita Jasso. "I mean he was a character." She can hardly talk about it, and it's been especially hard for his father, as well as his friends.
"It was a big shock, because I mean, nothing like this had really happened to us, at all," said friend David Miller. Although Brandon Stacy has not been indicted or found guilty yet, J.R.'s family is angry that a second degree felony suspect is allowed to continue playing.
According to the UIL, as long as an athlete makes the grades, is a full-time student, and lives in the district, he's ok to play. Criminal charges have no impact on eligibility. That policy is left up to local districts.
Obviously, if Brandon Stacy is still playing, then there is no local rule preventing him from doing so. School officials tell us he was punished and put on probation at the end of last year, but as of right now, he is off probation. They're hoping he can prove to everyone through this season that he's not the bad guy many are claiming him to be.
But Rita refuses to give in, a nd feels his playing sends the wrong message to the rest of the students and the community.
"Is this the kind of person Ingleside wants to represent as a star player?" Jasso said. If Stacy is convicted, he would be forced to quit athletics and attend an alternative school program. Stacy's family chose not to comment on the charges.
Meanwhile, the Jasso family and others are working to change the eligibility requirements for high school athletes with pending criminal charges.
Online Reporter: Bart Bedsole
KRIS6 News
INGLESIDE - An Ingleside family is upset that the student who allegedly caused the death of their son is being allowed to play football. In fact, the situation has become an extremely sensitive and divisive issue in the Ingleside community. Some say the player deserves a second chance, but others argue he's getting undeserved special treatment.
Quarterback Brandon Stacy is arguably the star player of the Ingleside squad, and helped to lead them to the playoffs in 2004. But in March, he was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter for the death of 18-year old J.R. Jasso, a fellow football player and the youngest of five children.
J.R. was the passenger in Stacy's car when Stacy allegedly ran a stop sign. J.R. was killed by an oncoming car.
"J.R. loved football, said J.R.'s mother Rita Jasso. "I mean he was a character." She can hardly talk about it, and it's been especially hard for his father, as well as his friends.
"It was a big shock, because I mean, nothing like this had really happened to us, at all," said friend David Miller. Although Brandon Stacy has not been indicted or found guilty yet, J.R.'s family is angry that a second degree felony suspect is allowed to continue playing.
According to the UIL, as long as an athlete makes the grades, is a full-time student, and lives in the district, he's ok to play. Criminal charges have no impact on eligibility. That policy is left up to local districts.
Obviously, if Brandon Stacy is still playing, then there is no local rule preventing him from doing so. School officials tell us he was punished and put on probation at the end of last year, but as of right now, he is off probation. They're hoping he can prove to everyone through this season that he's not the bad guy many are claiming him to be.
But Rita refuses to give in, a nd feels his playing sends the wrong message to the rest of the students and the community.
"Is this the kind of person Ingleside wants to represent as a star player?" Jasso said. If Stacy is convicted, he would be forced to quit athletics and attend an alternative school program. Stacy's family chose not to comment on the charges.
Meanwhile, the Jasso family and others are working to change the eligibility requirements for high school athletes with pending criminal charges.
Online Reporter: Bart Bedsole
KRIS6 News