Reader response: Glenbard N. vs. Fremd

Our intent was not to cause fear we were only doing a victory lap to celebrate.

Areli Alaniz

Glenbard North

GN a classy school

On behalf of all the students at Glenbard North I would like to apologize for overshadowing our victory on Saturday at the Fremd vs. Glenbard North game.

We realize now we shouldn't have gone onto the field but in retrospect our intentions were nothing more than to do a victory lap around our track. We had no choice but to stop at the visiting team's side because of the debris being thrown at us (i.e. beer cans, Gatorade bottles, 2 x 4's).

Glenbard North is a school of class and respect; what happened on Saturday was a huge misunderstanding. The story produced by the Fremd fans was completely one-sided. They failed to mention that the week before they were writing negative comments toward Glenbard North on their web site.

This affected us very personally because they had poor comments to say about our recently deceased band director. Although we were extremely hurt from these comments, we were never planning to retaliate because of it.

We feel like Glenbard North needs to get our story out also, so that our reputation isn't interpreted falsely. On behalf of all the Glenbard North students we would like to apologize to our principal and the administration for the entire situation.

Alicia Nitti

Glenbard North

No excusing this

Glenbard North should be very proud of its victory. Twelve other teams this season have been unable to beat Fremd. But GBN should be saddened by the behavior of their fans, who sullied their victory.

My son was on the field during the assault; my husband and I were behind the sideline fence at about the 40-yard line. Thank goodness our 12-year-old had other plans that evening. After a hard-fought loss, my son and his teammates exited the gate to the jeers, taunts and profanity of students and adults in GBN "spirit" wear.

Any team slated to play GBN should take warning from this incident. They should quiz GBN closely on how GBN will prevent abuse of their fans, staff and athletes. Note: "pregame announcements" are not sufficient -- all of the required IHSA conduct announcements were dutifully read over the PA system during the game. GBN fans took no notice.

I am proud of my son, proud of his team, and proud of Fremd. Like Fremd, GBN taught its players to play great football -- but unlike Fremd, GBN has failed to teach true sportsmanship to its fans. Any adult who minimizes or excuses GBN's behavior is part of the problem.

Colleen Bajjalieh

Fremd parent

GBN gets bad rap

I do not find this story acceptable in any means. You are only taking Fremd's side and you are not talking to any of the Glenbard North fans. The game simply got a little out of hand, but it was also Fremd's doing.

My friend was hit over the head with a 2 x 4, and a couple others were punched. This is not fair that a newspaper is using a biased account of a story in the newspaper.

There is also the fact that Fremd has a video that is deeply disturbing.

Please try to rectify this mistake by looking farther into the story and not just trying to take one side. If this mistake is not rectified, and I know that many students are angry by this fact, then many students will be contacting national news organizations in order to show that GBN is not a bad school.

Furthermore, there was also a very disturbing remark made by Fremd students. They said, "It's amazing how it takes some dead teacher to attract more attention than a football game."

This, of course, is regarding Mr. Schraft, a band teacher who suffered a stroke and passed away on Oct. 31. This hit the students of GBN very hard and might have been the reason for the victory lap.

If the story is not fixed then many, if not all of the parents that have students attending Glenbard North, along with their friends and family, will discontinue their subscription to the Daily Herald.

I may seem to be coming off as harsh, but I am furious at the animosity that Glenbard North is receiving, along with Fremd's blatant attempt to try and get Dr. Mensik, probably the best thing to happen to Glenbard North, fired from his job.

Please try to get this to stop, we have already suffered enough from this and do not wish to cause anymore drama than it already has.

Patrick Hannon

Glenbard North parent

No forfeit, please

I was at the game, my son is a starting safety for the Fremd team. It would be a shame for the (Glenbard North) football team to forfeit the game as it was a well-played game on both ends and GBN deserved to win and progress to the semi-finals. The fans that stormed the field, the administration and police that did nothing should be the focus of punishment.

The GBN fans stole helmets and bags from Fremd players, harassed players and fans and had a lot of inappropriate slogans on their shirts. I wonder how that kind of fan support will work when GBN travels to play Mt. Carmel in the inner city. I'm guessing it may end a bit differently. Kudos to the Fremd fans and team for not getting down to GBN's level.

I'd like to focus the attention and punishment toward the fans, police and administration that let something like that happen. Pull their prom, fine the school, replace the 20 or so helmets and personal property stolen. We had 10-year-old kids on the field as water boys who were harassed! Fremd has a pretty lively fan base too. Nothing close to that has ever happened at a Fremd game.

Karl Hipchen

Fremd parent

Terrifying ordeal

I was at the game -- Fremd parent. My daughter is a cheerleader; son a football player.

Those kids never intended to "make a tunnel" for the players or "take a victory lap." They came straight over and stopped in front of the stands. Immediately began the verbal assault of obscenities. Throwing rocks from behind our stands. Followed the cheerleaders to their busses and continued to abuse.

Glenbard parent also screamed in my daughter's face. Pushed and shoved her. One kid screamed he was going to kill my daughter. There were also GBN football players and cheerleaders involved. I have never experienced anything like it. What a school of thugs. What would have happened if we had won?

Cindy Tauchman

Fremd parent

Blame both sides

I would like to address your story on the Glenbard North-Fremd game. I too was at the game, as most Glenbard students were, and witnessed the Glenbard victory run.

It was supposed to be a lap around the track and bypass the Fremd stands. The students were stopped by police and Fremd students and coaches. It is only plausible that our fans would start to verbally assault those of Fremd, or vice versa, due to the fact that we were halted right in front of them.

As to who started throwing water bottles and such, no one can say for sure. However, if the Fremd fans know so many "important life lessons," why did they respond? Shouldn't the ultimate life lesson be to walk away from a fight?

I would also like to give you more of the story that you did not address in your article. Days before the game, the Fremd fan site had a blog that was trashing our school. One such comment stated that Glenbard cannot get a crowd to the game unless our band director dies. This is an incredibly low statement, given that he did die a week before, and should never have been thought of in the first place.

Also, there were many instances where a Fremd student referenced "Invading Carol Stream," or "Invading Glenbard North." This was a strong comment that the students of Glenbard would not tolerate. We did not wish for anyone to 'invade' us.

Many things happened at that game most of those things were instigated by the feelings we had toward the comments Fremd was making about our school.

I would appreciate it if everyone involved in that game could take a step back and look at the entire picture. Yes, Glenbard did some bad things, but Fremd also started verbal attacks on us that instigated our feelings toward them.

Jacqui Kukulski

Glenbard North

Authority was MIA

Thanks for looking into the terrible events that happened at Saturday's game at Glenbard North. I just wanted to give you another perspective.

I am the mother of two Fremd varsity cheerleaders, one freshman football player and a 10-year-old son. My husband and I brought our youngest son to the Fremd-Glenbard North game on Saturday as we have for almost all of the Fremd football games over the past couple of years. Our oldest son was traveling on the student pep bus and sitting in the student section and our girls were cheering on the sidelines.

I just want you to know from a mother's point of view how frightening it was to see the Glenbard students storm the field after their win and taunt, scream, shove, throw things at us, the parents, grandparents, siblings besides our students in the bleachers.

We felt completely helpless as no teachers, coaches or security officers came forward to help the situation. The only people acting as authority on the field and trying to remove the students were the Fremd coaches.

These out of control students were right next to our cheerleaders and we watched as they pushed and shoved anyone in the area as they tried to get to our student section. Then they stole helmets and bags from the football players. I was terrified for the safety of my children as well as anyone else at that game.

Then we had to make the very long walk back to our car. The entire way out all we heard were more Glenbard students swearing, screaming and belittling the Fremd fans.

At Fremd the football games have always been a wonderful family event where many young children, grandparents, students and parents all enjoy the game. At the same time we have a wonderful spirited student section that really enhances the atmosphere without anyone feeling like the students are out of control.

We were in no way prepared for the assault we experienced at their school. I am hoping there is some serious consequence for their behavior. I for one would like to see Glenbard North suspended from hosting any future football games.

Glenbard North needs to address the obvious problem with lack of security and lack of class on how to host a sporting event.

I am proud to be the mother of Fremd students and thrilled that my children attend the school that lost the football game but is obviously winning at many more important life lessons.

Thanks again for your work in bringing this to the public's attention.

Mary Schaeffer

Fremd parent

Hard to believe

On Saturday, my husband and I with our 12-year-old son, witnessed the most terrifying scene I have ever experienced in my 47 years.

My daughter is a senior on the Fremd Varsity cheerleading squad. As the swarm of Glenbard "fans" crossed the field, in the most aggressive behavior I've seen, toward our stands, many of us stood in disbelief. The terror at not being able to see my daughter, who was in the very spot where they were shoving and punching at each other, seconds earlier packing their cheer bags to go home.

That was a fear most parents could relate to.

We were wedged so tight in the packed stands, no one could move to go to their child's aid. We were helpless. As our security and finally the police were able to get their mob off our kids, I still couldn't see my daughter. When I finally caught up to her, we embraced and sobbed.

As we walked to our car there were a half dozen shoving matches going on, and not nearly enough police. We kept telling kids to just go home.

I think the vision that I most don't understand is the Glenbard dad who had one of the Fremd students grabbed by the collars of his shirt for over 10 minutes as we urged him to let the kid go. As this irate "man" shouted at me something to the effect of the kid pushed someone, all he had to do was look around to see what was brewing. This "adult" went on pushing this kid all the while holding on his clothing. He then went on about he thought the kid was drinking, at which I said, maybe it was his own breath.

Both this man and his wife were going on about how I should mind MY own business and he would not let the boy go. Both my husband and I could clearly smell alcohol on their breath. He also said he was "making a citizen's arrest."

We calmly tried to explain that he was violating this kids rights, and go cool off, still he shouted in this kids face and told us to go home, he'd take care of this. I've heard of parents behaving badly, but I've never seen such out of control behavior. He was egging on the whole riot-like behavior. So FINALLY the police and one faculty member from Glenbard showed up, urged the crowd which had formed and looked like both sides were ready to pounce, for everyone to leave.

We assumed the boy would be sent on his way. Now I hear this did not happen. I am still, three days later, having a hard time telling of our experience. I get a visual recollection that I hope I soon will be able to shake.

Lisa Ochoa

Fremd parent

How disappointing

Last Saturday night was very exciting watching two great football teams, Fremd H.S. and Glenbard North H.S., fight to go on to the semi-finals in the class 8A playoffs.

As disappointing as it was for Fremd to lose, It was more disappointing to see the poor sportsmanship we received after the game from the Glenbard North student body. While we stood in shock over the loss, a swarm of Glenbard North students stormed our side of the field. They mocked us, swore at us, and totally rubbed the loss in our faces.

Pushing and shoving ensued. Police had to call for reinforcements to control their mob and get them out of there. PARENTS, YOU MUST BE SO PROUD...NOT. Their football team will go on, as they deserve to do, but their student body doesn't deserve to go on. This is not the kind of behavior the IHSA promotes!

Congratulations to the Fremd football team and coaches. You had a great season and deserved to go all the way. All I can say is GO Mt. Carmel.

Sue Poynter

Fremd parent

Just a victory run

On behalf of Glenbard North, I apologize for what was suppose to be a victory run until reaching Fremd sidelines. The victory run was ruined when objects were thrown at the Glenbard North fans.

Amongst these objects, drunk Fremd fans threw empty beer bottles and objects #8230; so it should not be just our school to be viewed as unsportsmanlike.

Sure the victory run was unsportsmanlike, but it was a celebration for our berth in the state football semifinals. Aside from this, Fremd fans made a web site making terrible comments (about) the death of our Band Director with blogs about walking through Carol Stream raiding our town with a picture of our football stadium with in parenthesis "We will take over this field."

Edgar Cantu

Glenbard North

Fremd started it

I am a proud parent of a GN cheerleader and I was at the game. Yes, the students ran to the other side of the field, but as fast as they ran over there, administrators and police came and shooed the kids away. It lasted all of a couple of minutes, maybe 2 minutes.

I did not think it fair that you did not try to interview any of the Carol Stream parents and get their viewpoint of the event. Yes, it was unfortunate that helmets were stolen, but I do not think the kids meant any harm. If you would have done your research you would have found that Fremd Football has a You Tube video showing their fans (who call themselves "THE DARKSIDE") and the You Tube video outlines how crazy they are --they were also trash talking GN Panthers all week long on the You Tube blog. Just type in FREMD FOOTBALL on You Tube. Everyone at GN saw it: students; teachers; parents; administrators. The video shows their rowdy fans, breaking bleachers, cheering loudly. We were told that the fans get dropped off blocks before the school and march with their "DARKSIDE" banners etc.

So I really think when we won, the kids wanted to take the victory lap, probably stopped to taunt the "Fremd kid fans" a little... and then the Fremd fans started throwing bottles at our kids.

I really think MOST of the kids meant no harm. This was definitely not a MINI RIOT. Yes, the kids should not have done it, but it was not a mini riot. The Fremd kids did their part too!

How dare they try to take a great victory away from our football team, they are blowing this out of proportion.

Patti Fornino

Glenbard North parent