HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Judge denies Zuppo injunction request

The Girard High quarterback was hoping to play tonight.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
GIRARD -- Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Peter Kontos today upheld the suspension of Girard High quarterback Matt Zuppo from tonight's regular season finale against Liberty.
The senior was ejected from last week's game against Hubbard after receiving a double unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. His family appeared on his behalf before Judge Kontos this morning.
"There's a quantum leap between violent actions on the field and what my son did," read a statement released by the Zuppo family following the decision. "The OHSAA needs to bridge that gap. Maybe they can spend some of the millions of dollars they have in the bank to set up an appeals process for those who feel they have been wrongly accused."
John Dickerson, an assistant commissioner, represented the OHSAA.
"We're pleased, obviously, that the judge upheld the rule," said Dickerson. "We have over 13,000 dedicated officials throughout our state to uphold the rules that have been put forward."
Matt Zuppo, who was not at the hearing, also released a statement.
"I was certainly not brought up to ever question officials or coaches on the field of play. Although I don't agree with everything I was accused of saying or how I said it, anything said by me at that time was too much.
"I got caught up in the brutality of the game on what I thought was a pretty violent play. That is no excuse. I've taken plenty of hits, mostly clean ones and some that were not. I accept that as part of the game and yet I had never let it affect my composure ... until last Friday night.
"I cannot take that back, I can only learn from it and that can only make me a better person."
While the OHSAA rule is clear that an ejection carries a one game suspension, Girard athletic director Joe Cappuzzello was frustrated that there's no appeals process. He took his case before OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro.
"We think the kid was wrong in what he did, no doubt," said Cappuzzello, "but my argument is the inconsistency, and does the punishment fit the crime? Having no appeals is wrong. You're at their mercy. I'm not sure that's good."
Bad language
Cappuzzello said he makes attempts to keep negativity out of cheering, but, sometimes, there's no reciprocity.
"It's each school's responsibility to police their own," he said. "There are adult fans cheering 'Goodbye Zuppo,' at these games. How adult-like is that?"
He admits that mixed signals haven't helped.
"From the administration to parents and fans, everybody wants something until it affects them. That's why there are so many inconsistencies in what we do."