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>>> FOR ALL OF THE PRIDE AND
PAGEANTRY, THERE IS A DARKER
SIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
ONE THAT TAKES THE LUSTER OFF OF
THOSE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.
>> WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IS
HAZING, WHEN PLAYERS CROSS THE
LINE INTO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
WE’VE GONE IN-DEPTH ON SOME OF
THE MORE DISTURBING ACTUALLY
DISGUSTING CASES IN TEXAS AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> CHANNEL 2 INVESTIGATOR
JOEL EISENBAUM TAKES A CLOSER
LOOK AT WHY IT’S HAPPENING AND
WHAT ONE HOUSTON-AREA HIGH
SCHOOL IS DOING TO KEEP HAZING
OFF ITS KAMMUS.
-- CAMPUS.
-- CAMPUS. >> Reporter: JUST DOWN
INTERSTATE 45, YOU’LL FIND
TEXAS CITY HIGH SCHOOL.
THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM WENT 2-8
THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR. NOT A GREAT RECORD.
BUT THE COACH SAYS HE’S STILL
PROUD OF HIS TEAM, WHICH IS
REALLY MORE OF A FAMILY.
>> IT’S FUNNY, YOU KNOW, THEY
CALL BEGRANDMA SOMETIMES BECAUSE
THAT’S HOW IT TRICKLES DOWN.
I’M DAD OR GRANDPA AND WE GO
DOWN.
DOWN. >> Reporter: THIS FAMILY VIBE,
WHICH INCLUDES SOME FORMER
PLAYERS ON THE COACHING STAFF,
HELPS FOSTER TEAM SPIRIT AND BY
DESIGN MINIMIZES OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HAZING.
FOR HAZING. LIKE WE’VE SEEN AT SOME OTHER
SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS. >> ONCE THAT FAMILY, YOU KNOW,
THAT TAKES CARE OF A LOT OF YOUR
DISCIPLINE FAMILIES AND IT
INCREASES THE EXCITEMENT LEVEL.
>> Reporter: HAZING, HE SAYS,
SIMPLY IS NOT ALLOWED.
NIPPED IN THE BUD BEFORE IT
STARTS.
STARTS. >> IT’S A NO TOLERANCE ON
HAZING.
HAZING. >> Reporter: BRADEN TORRES,
CORDAY WILLIAMS, AND JACKIRIN
PRICE ARE ALL SENIORS.
AND AS WITH ANY FAMILY, EVERYONE
HAS A ROLE.
JACKIRIN ADMITS HE’S THE
JOKESTER.
JOKESTER. >> I MAKE JOKES, I MESS WITH
PEOPLE MOST OF THE TIME.
IT’S FUN.
IT’S FUN. IT’S FUN TO ME.
>> Reporter: BRAID AND CORDAY
AREN’T JUST TEAM LEADERS.
THAT ARE MORE LIKE BIG BROTHERS
AND PART OF THAT JOB IS STANDING
GUARD.
GUARD. >> WE DON’T BELIEVE IN THAT AT
ALL.
ALL. IF SOMEONE DID COME IN AND WERE
TO ACT LIKE THAT, JUST BECAUSE
OF THE TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY WE
HAVE, WE WOULDN’T ALLOW IT.
>> Reporter: WHAT THESE GUYS
HAVE DISCOVERED IS WHAT THE
EXPERTS KNOW TO BE A KEY TO
SUCCESS.
SUCCESS. STUDENTS SELF-AWARE ENOUGH TO
KNOW WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE.
>> IF I SEE IT AND IT’S
HAPPENING, IT’S JUST GOING TO
HAVE TO STOP.
I’M GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK UP
AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T
CONTINUE.
CONTINUE. >> I KNOW WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE
STARTING TO GET IRRITATED AND
STUFF, THAT’S WHEN I BACK AWAY.
>> Reporter: ADRIAN IS A
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNCILOR
WHO WORKS WITH ATHLETES AND SHE
WAS AN ATHLETE, TOO.
>> WHETHER IT’S RUNNING,
FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, I’VE STOOD
IN THEIR SHOES.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS HAZING CAN
CREEP IN INNOCENTLY ENOUGH.
NEW PLAYERS FORCED TO GATHER
BALLS AFTER PRACTICE, GET WATER
FOR TEAMMATES.
FOR TEAMMATES. IT’S ABOUT HIERARCHY AND MAY NOT
ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM.
BUT THE DIVIDING LINE HAS TO BE
CLEAR TO ADMINISTRATORS.
TO COACHES, AND TO KIDS.
>> MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO
ENGAGE AND CROSS THE LINE IN THE
MOST SEVERE ACTS OF HAZING
GENERALLY -- PROBABLY HAVE SOME
DEGREE OF PSYCHO PATHOLOGY.
AND THEY PROBABLY FEEL
POWERLESS, SO THIS IS AN OUTLET,
SO LET’S GO TRY AND ATTACK
SOMEBODY WHO I PERCEIVE AS
WEAKER IN A MORE VULNERABLE
POSITION THAN ME.
>> Reporter: WITH SO MANY
SERIOUS ISSUES AT PLAY,
COMBATING MAZING MUST START
WITH -- HAZING MUST START WITH
ADULTS ESPECIALLY IN
SUPERVISION.
SUPERVISION. IN MONTGOMERY THERE WERE ADULTS
ON THE PREMISES BUT THEY DIDN’T
SEE THE HAZING.
THE COACH SAYS IT’S IMPERATIVE
TO HAVE EYES ON YOUR PLAYERS AT
ALL TIMES, AND IT STARTS AT
SCHOOL.
SCHOOL. >> WE HAVE COACHES IN THE LOCKER
ROOM THAT ARE DESIGNATED IN THE
LOCKER ROOM TO MAKE SURE THAT
DOESN’T TAKE PLACE.
>> Reporter: THERE ARE CLEAR
COPSES FOR NOT STAND --
CONTINUES FOR NOT STANDING --
CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT STANDING
GUARD, NOT TAKING ACTION.
>> THE ONE THING YOU NEED TO
KNOW IS -- A KID TOOK HIS OWN
LIFE AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM
ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.
>> Reporter: A VERMONT SCHOOL
DISTRICT WAS FOUND NEGLIGENT IN
THE 2012 DEATH OF A STUDENT WHO
COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER HE WAS
HAZED.
HAZED. THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER.
>> ACTUAL TRAUMA, DEPRESSION,
ANXIETY, AND THAT JUST SHOWS HOW
INTENSE AND HOW DANGEROUS THESE
EXPERIENCES CAN ACTUALLY BE.
>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW ON
CLICK2HOUSTON.COM, WE HAVE A
DATABASE OF HAZING DEATHS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY SINCE 1959.
AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY,
HAZING’ RED FLAGS, WHAT TO WATCH
OUT FOR AS A PARENT OR A COACH.
JOEL EISENBAUM, KPRC CHANNEL 2
NEWS.
NEWS. >>> REMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE A
STORY FOR CHANNEL 2
INVESTIGATES, CONTACT THE TIP
LINE.
LINE. 713-223-TIPS.