The parent of a Western Hills High School football player last week alleged that coaches at Aledo High School were bullying as Aledo won 91-0 in football.

Aledo Coach Buchanon did everything he could to keep the score in check, said an Aledo alumni who was at the game. After reviewing the coaches’ actions, the administration dismissed the bullying claim.

“Aledo changed their play calling to take more time off the clock by running plays up the middle and trying to stay away from the sidelines,” Rosalee Hoffman said.

Given some recent scores in Tomball wins – 75-21 against Northbrook and a 35-0 halftime lead against Spring Woods that was called due to weather – could similar accusations be made here?

“I think the real issue is in the fact that we have such a society that believes a lawsuit solves this problem or that a lawsuit cures or rectifies the bullying that exists on another campus for whatever reason,” said Head Coach Danny Ramsey. “Coaches are not in the business to humiliate others and certainly not other kids.”

Ramsey said coaches are very keen on keeping kids from becoming discouraged about the sport, and go to great lengths to avoid overly lopsided scores. But it can be difficult because second-string players want to do more on their rare chances to play than just take a knee.

“Coaches coach because they care about kids and want to be part of their upbringing in an honorable manner,” Ramsey said. “Sometimes the view of that honor is skewed by outside factors with misconceived perceptions, but the purpose remains …  Coaches coach because they love kids.”

Hoffman said she agrees with the Aledo coaches that this accusation was ridiculous and unfair to the school, the coaches, and the players. The game is not only to win, and to excel, but to have fun and come together as a team.

“I saw nothing but good sportsmanship from our side throughout the game,” she said.

The school’s coaches did what they could to communicate with Western Hills coaches and keep the score from getting out of hand.

They left the clock running after halftime and, at one point in the third quarter, when Western Hills fumbled a kick return in the Aledo end zone, the Aledo players stood back to let them recover the ball. Afterward, they helped the player up and patted him on the back.

“Coach Buchanon did everything short of taking a knee to avoid running up the score,” Hoffman said.