Published: Sept. 27, 2012 Updated: 9:16 p.m.
Youth football in Tustin under investigation
By KEITH SHARON / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The head coach and league president who presided over the 2011 Tustin
Junior Pee Wee Red Cobras football team have been suspended, effective
immediately, pending an investigation by National Pop Warner into allegations of
a bounty program first reported in The Orange County Register.
"In light of new information and players coming forward who did not participate in the league investigation, National Pop Warner will intervene to further investigate the alleged bounty program in Tustin Pop Warner," said Executive Director Jon Butler.
"We will assign a local designee who is not affiliated with the association to lead the investigation and will work closely with the Wescon Region and Orange Empire Conference to ensure the safety of our participants and the integrity of the Pop Warner program. We take this matter very seriously and have asked Tustin Pop Warner Head Coach Darren Crawford and Tustin President Pat Galentine to step down until this situation is finalized."
The Tustin Red Cobras, a team of mostly 10- and 11-year-old players, advanced to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in 2011. They finished the season with a 12-1 record.
A group of parents from Tustin said Crawford and then assistant coach Richard Bowman offered players cash for big hits and more cash for knocking an opponent out of playoff games against Yorba Linda, Santa Margarita and San Bernardino last season. In one game, a running back from Santa Margarita suffered a mild concussion and had to leave the game after he was hit by a Red Cobras player. That player was paid for the hit after the game, said John Zanelli, a former assistant coach.
Crawford, Bowman and Galentine have consistently denied that any cash incentives were offered or paid. Thursday's suspensions do not include Bowman since he is no longer coaching.
The suspensions will last until the investigation is complete and a ruling is made, said Josh Pruce, Pop Warner's National director of scholastics and media relations. Pruce said he expects at least two investigators to be appointed in the next few days, and he said he expects the investigation will take "at least a few weeks."
Zanelli, who has been characterized by the now suspended coach as a disgruntled parent who convinced other parents and players to lie about the allegations, said he hopes the national investigators find enough evidence to take strong action against Tustin and against Bobby Espinosa, the Orange Empire Conference commissioner who earlier this year conducted a local investigation and found "no evidence" of a bounty program.
"They should get rid of the entire Tustin Pop Warner board and Bobby Espinosa," Zanelli said. "This is one of the worst examples I've ever seen and a failure of leadership in youth sports."
Galentine sent an email to Tustin Pop Warner board members Thursday explaining that the suspensions had been handed down.
"While it is with a heavy heart I deliver this news," Galentine wrote, "the singular focus of our Board continues to be the safety and well-being of our kids, and the continued success of TPW."
Former Tustin president Mark Gutierrez was named acting president during Galentine's absence.
Galentine ended his email by saying: "There is a group of kids in your community, players on the 2011 Jr. Pee Wee Red Cobras, 2012 Pee Wee Red Cobras, and all other Cobra Football and Cheer teams, that have been placed in the cross fire of this issue by no choice of their own. Please continue to give them all the love and support you can, and please extend your support to the players and cheerleaders of ALL OEC associations... they deserve it as well."
Over the past few months, Zanelli and six other sets of parents and players confirmed to The Register that Crawford and Bowman helped a player illegally alter his gear – making him weigh less — so he could be eligible to meet Pop Warner weight requirements. They said Bowman was involved in a physical altercation with an adult when the team was in Florida for the Super Bowl tournament.
One parent said they saw Crawford give his son cash after a big hit that knocked a Yorba Linda running back out of the game. The opposing player later returned to the game.
Crawford is in his eighth year as a Tustin coach.
"In light of new information and players coming forward who did not participate in the league investigation, National Pop Warner will intervene to further investigate the alleged bounty program in Tustin Pop Warner," said Executive Director Jon Butler.
"We will assign a local designee who is not affiliated with the association to lead the investigation and will work closely with the Wescon Region and Orange Empire Conference to ensure the safety of our participants and the integrity of the Pop Warner program. We take this matter very seriously and have asked Tustin Pop Warner Head Coach Darren Crawford and Tustin President Pat Galentine to step down until this situation is finalized."
The Tustin Red Cobras, a team of mostly 10- and 11-year-old players, advanced to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in 2011. They finished the season with a 12-1 record.
A group of parents from Tustin said Crawford and then assistant coach Richard Bowman offered players cash for big hits and more cash for knocking an opponent out of playoff games against Yorba Linda, Santa Margarita and San Bernardino last season. In one game, a running back from Santa Margarita suffered a mild concussion and had to leave the game after he was hit by a Red Cobras player. That player was paid for the hit after the game, said John Zanelli, a former assistant coach.
Crawford, Bowman and Galentine have consistently denied that any cash incentives were offered or paid. Thursday's suspensions do not include Bowman since he is no longer coaching.
The suspensions will last until the investigation is complete and a ruling is made, said Josh Pruce, Pop Warner's National director of scholastics and media relations. Pruce said he expects at least two investigators to be appointed in the next few days, and he said he expects the investigation will take "at least a few weeks."
Zanelli, who has been characterized by the now suspended coach as a disgruntled parent who convinced other parents and players to lie about the allegations, said he hopes the national investigators find enough evidence to take strong action against Tustin and against Bobby Espinosa, the Orange Empire Conference commissioner who earlier this year conducted a local investigation and found "no evidence" of a bounty program.
"They should get rid of the entire Tustin Pop Warner board and Bobby Espinosa," Zanelli said. "This is one of the worst examples I've ever seen and a failure of leadership in youth sports."
Galentine sent an email to Tustin Pop Warner board members Thursday explaining that the suspensions had been handed down.
"While it is with a heavy heart I deliver this news," Galentine wrote, "the singular focus of our Board continues to be the safety and well-being of our kids, and the continued success of TPW."
Former Tustin president Mark Gutierrez was named acting president during Galentine's absence.
Galentine ended his email by saying: "There is a group of kids in your community, players on the 2011 Jr. Pee Wee Red Cobras, 2012 Pee Wee Red Cobras, and all other Cobra Football and Cheer teams, that have been placed in the cross fire of this issue by no choice of their own. Please continue to give them all the love and support you can, and please extend your support to the players and cheerleaders of ALL OEC associations... they deserve it as well."
Over the past few months, Zanelli and six other sets of parents and players confirmed to The Register that Crawford and Bowman helped a player illegally alter his gear – making him weigh less — so he could be eligible to meet Pop Warner weight requirements. They said Bowman was involved in a physical altercation with an adult when the team was in Florida for the Super Bowl tournament.
One parent said they saw Crawford give his son cash after a big hit that knocked a Yorba Linda running back out of the game. The opposing player later returned to the game.
Crawford is in his eighth year as a Tustin coach.
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