Community reacts after Mount Olive Rec Varsity football canceled

MOUNT OLIVE – The Mount Olive Recreation Varsity football season has been canceled with one game and the playoffs left to play.

The Junior Marauders, who are in eighth grade, were 7-1 and tied with rival Long Valley for first place in the Iron Division in the National Conference, according to standings on the Morris County Youth Football League website.

"I was made aware this morning by a parent whose child participates on the team of the decision by the Morris County Board to suspend play for the Varsity team," Mount Olive Mayor Rob Greenbaum said. "For the past several weeks, some have urged me to get involved with the program and I have repeatedly indicated that the Mount Olive Board is elected by the membership and the issues needed to be dealt with internally."

The Morris County Youth Football League confirmed Thursday night the Mount Olive Varsity team's season was brought to an end.

According to the bylaws, when a complaint is made against a team, a Grievance Committee – made up of representatives from about half of the 19 teams in the league, not the MCYFL Board of Directors – comes up with recommendations for penalties or sanctions.

From there, a representative from each program votes on the suggested sanctions, which is what was done in this case. It was unclear if the program under threat of sanctions - in this case Mount Olive - gets to vote.

Maria Delpesce's son Jon Jon has been playing football in town since first grade and said the players and parents are all taking the news hard.

"This is a very difficult situation," Maria Delpesce said. "This is an unbelievable team of boys. Awesome, respectful kids."

Maria Delpesce said a player on the team was accused at the beginning of the season of an "illegal tackle." The boy was suspended for the tackle that injured a player on the opposing team because he allegedly led with his helmet.

"They took our better player to try to make us lose and we didn't," player Michael Arnone said. "They can't beat us on the field so they tried to beat us off it. I feel like it's not fair."

The core of group of boys on the team won the junior varsity championship last year and the pee-wee championship the year before that. Over the past three years, their record is a combined 22-2.

During the season, the team's head coach was removed for the duration of the season. Maria Delpesce said the suspension was because the league said he could not control his players. Another coach sent a letter in protest and was removed as well, she said.

"And they still managed to beat everybody," Maria Delpesce said, adding the team was punished following the Oct. 26 game against Long Valley for reasons including excessive celebration after the win, carrying out the suspended player's jersey to start the game, and because the suspended head coach talked to other coaches from the stands.

"There was a grievance after the Long Valley game saying the boys over-celebrated when they won," Maria Delpesce said. "Now the last game is canceled. No playoffs. This is a huge disappointment to everyone. They have badgered these 13-year-old boys, made them suffer. They're very upset. It's terrible."

Parent Mike McMullen said the team was informed Thursday night, less than two days before their final regular season game, that their season was over.

"There's been a lot of tears," McMullen said. "A lot of conversations to keep these kids' chins up."

McMullen said the team feels they are being ganged up on by the rest of the league.

"The boys were out there for a half hour after they won, celebrating with parents and cheerleaders," McMullen said. "This is as big as it gets for 13-year-old boys in these two towns. I don't know how any celebration could be deemed excessive after the game is over."

The parents and the former head coach are having a meeting Saturday at Turkey Brook Park at 1 p.m. to discuss the situation.

"We're all just kind of upset about it, we're just 13-year-old kids," player Jon Jon Delpesce said. "I hope we get to play but I don't think it will happen. I think it's ridiculous."

Greenbaum said he would be happy to look into the matter but only if the Morris County Youth Football League Board of Directors asked him to do so.

"I remain committed to the youth of Mount Olive to do what I can to move the Mount Olive Youth program forward in a positive direction if the Board asks me to get involved on their behalf," Greenbaum said.

He said on his Facebook page Saturday that the issue should "always and only" be about the kids.

"Whether you blame the league, Long Valley or Mount Olive for the need for the suspension, it is the kids being hurt which just isn't right," Greenbaum said.

The Board of the Mount Olive Junior Marauder Football Association released a statement Sunday.

"Please know there is not one incident that has led to this suspension, it has been building since Game two when one of the Varsity players got ejected and has continued for the remainder of the season. After the initial player penalty, there was a series of events, many of which were brought on by the Varsity Coaches themselves, that escalated this situation," said the Mount Olive Football Board.

"The final blow came at the Long Valley game, but not due to anything that occurred during the game on the field, it was due to things that took place outside of the game itself."

The group said three spotters from the Morris County Youth football league witnessed things they deemed "unethical."

"The main violations were that a suspended eighth grade coach took it upon himself to get into an unprovoked altercation prior to the game and it was witnessed by one of the spotters as well as the announcer's comments and taunting by the players, which were the final straws," said the Mount Olive Football Board.

"The fact that the Varsity Team was already on probation due to the earlier events caused the Morris County Youth Football League to take this to the grievance committee where again the Mount Olive Football Board attempted to negotiate terms that allowed our Varsity Team to finish out the year, but the vote went against us."

The group says the team will be on probation for the next three years, and their conduct will be reviewed during each year to determine if they will be eligible for the playoffs.

No one on the Morris County Youth Football League Board of Directors could be reached for comment.

The Daily Record plans to update this story as developments warrant.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com