Prescott coaching staff during Sept. 14 game with Hope
A Smackover football fan is facing battery charges after allegedly striking a Prescott football coach at last Friday night’s game there.
Coach Brian Glass, the team’s offensive coordinator, was struck in the face by the fist of a man described as a 20-year-old Smackover football fan. The assault occurred while the Prescott students and coaches were attempting to leave the field after rallying to a halftime lead.
Superintendent Robert Poole says the Curley Wolf players and coaches were attempting to leave the field at halftime when they encountered a barrier of Smackover fans and were temporarily held up. While the Prescott team was unable to move forward, the Smackover team and coaches approached the area and began filing through the Prescott team trying to exit the field as well.
Coach Glass says that as he was turning his head he was caught by the young man’s fist, cutting both of his lips and requiring stitches.
Smackover authorities were initially reluctant to arrest the suspect even when the individual was reportedly held by another Prescott coach and turned over to them while Coach Glass was bleeding from his lips. It’s reported the fan was allowed to return to the stands and continued to watch the game until he was finally later taken into custody and charged.
Coach Glass says he is doing fine and doesn’t like calling attention to himself over this incident. When asked if he returned to the game after halftime he replied, “I’d have to be dead not to coach.” He said he continued to call the offensive plays even though his speech was somewhat slurred due to his injured lips, and he continued to bleed. The coach waited until the end of the game to seek medical attention. He says he is recovering ok now from his wounds.
Because of the incident at halftime, fans at the Smackover game were asked to return to the stands, which didn’t happen. Also, at the end of the game Prescott Head Coach Tommy Poole and Smackover Head Coach Brian Strickland met at center field to shake hands, but the players remained on the sidelines. The Smackover team was held on the field until the Curley Wolves had safely exited.
Prescott won that game 45 to 23.
Shame shame shame on smackover &I'll I hope they smack it 2 u that so called fan!!!!!
There r always 2 sides to a story.