"And there's Marla Hooch-- what a hitter!" pic via CB West Facebook page

“And there’s Marla Hooch– what a hitter!” pic via CB West Facebook page

What the hazing scandal at CB West — which involved pseudo-waterboarding and “slap-lick-fondle” — has really been missing is some “back in my day” explaining. Sadly, we still don’t have that [Editor’s note: We do.], but we do now have the opinion of former CB West coach (and father of the coach of the Cleveland Browns) Mike Pettine Sr.

According to the Inquirer, Pettine Sr. called hazing a “hot button issue” and said the school district “gave little forethought regarding the ramifications of their overzealous, knee jerk, over reaction.” Pettine asks, won’t anyone think of the band?

“The canceled East-West game not only punished West players but also the band members, cheerleaders and general student body along with their sister school counterparts. It tainted the reputation of the entire coaching staff — most of whom I have the privilege to know and are the kind of high character mentors you want coaching your kids.”

High character mentors who have no idea what is going on, but high character mentors nonetheless. Pettine Sr. also claims CB West was painted in a negative light from coast to coast because he had to turn down interviews with CBS news, the Associated Press and ESPN — though hazing is also negative and they also want to talk to you because your kid coaches the Browns. But Pettine Sr. has the perfect solution: suspend (and force to resign) anyone who made the decision to cancel the season since they caused “unnecessary widespread hurt and damage.” THAT is the real travesty here.