[Publius Valerius]

It’s not about being prepared. The losing team may very well have been prepared, but just not good enough. Given the facts here, where the coach took out his starters in the first quarter, it doesn’t seem to be an issue.

But at the high school level, sports are about learning teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play. At higher levels of sports, the story is different. But embarrassing your opponent by running up the score teaches the exact opposite of sportsmanship and fair play that should be goal at high school level. It’s not appropriate.

[dfwgator]

But at the high school level, sports are about learning teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.

Since when? High school football is becoming big business.

[Responsibility2nd]

Who says the opponents were embarrassed? And if they were - then would you argue that embarrassment should be eleminated from ALL aspects of the high school curriculum? And if a child is blown out on a math test and gets a zero, we should just give him a D- instead to save from embarrassment? As you know - liberals love that approach even though it doesn't work.

[thefactor]

You're missing something. "Running up" the score means that it's an overt, intentional act to embarrass the other team. Just because the score was a lot to a little does not mean it was "run up."

"Running up" happens a lot in college football due to school rivalries, the coach's egos, and the way the BCS system works.

This instance is simply one team being a lot better than another. The winning coach actually took measures to slow down the scoring. But he wasn't about to tell some third-string running back to take a knee or a defensive lineman who never plays to NOT sack the other QB.

[oldbrowser]

But at the high school level, sports are about learning teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.

It is also about competition and dealing with adversity. Sometimes you're over matched, just like real life. That is fair play.