What was supposed to be a night of fun and commemoration for the senior class turned into chaos and fear. When Dr. Huynh spoke over the loudspeakers at the senior night football game on Friday, October 3, students were upset to hear that the game was canceled. Only minutes later, students were sprinting across the field and coaches were ushering athletes into the gym, shouting, “This is not a drill.”
Coaches told their athletes to stay in groups and leave campus as quickly as they could. Students were texting their parents, scared and confused. Friends were texting friends who were just as worried. For the rest of the football season, the memory of that night will linger in the minds of the student body. The impact it had on the athletes on the field that night will be felt for a long time.
“We were in a timeout and I was just locked in and ready to play the next down. Then the principal announced that we had to evacuate on the loudspeaker,” said junior varsity football player AJ McBean. “It was honestly crazy and scary. A lot of us wanted to play the game, and for it to be shut down that early just limited opportunities.”
The football players were not the only athletes affected. The cheerleaders and dance team seniors were also on the field and just as confused. As the dance team slowly walked around the track to meet their coach in the gym, the entire football team began running toward them and shouting for them to run faster.
“I was in the stands getting ready to watch the seniors dance when Dr. Huynh made the announcement,” said freshman on varsity, Tessa Holmes. “Everyone in the stands started freaking out and running. It was really scary.”
The chaos was mishandled by both coaches and administration. Moving forward, there needs to be more transparency in situations like this. The lack of information and clear direction is what led to the confusion and fear that affected every athlete. It is something that will stay with them during every Friday night football game to come.
“There really was a split second where I thought something seriously bad was going to happen,” said senior Riley Marsh, on varsity cheer. “It was supposed to be a night to celebrate how much work we had put into the last four years. I will remember my senior night as the night I thought I might die.”
Neither Mira Costa nor the other school plan to reschedule the October 3rd game. This decision has left a sour taste in the mouths of many people who attended. The days that followed the incident were filled with strange energy. Coaches made speeches to apologize to their players. Administrators emailed updates to parents.
In the end, there was no active threat and everyone was safe. However, the way the situation was handled left students asking the same question. “Why did this have to happen?”
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