71 Comments

If Gus apologized because he had to, but then kept making comments and hasn’t really been a good teammate to Carter since the incident then I would want nothing to do with him on my team. Learn from your mistakes and become a better person or just go away please.

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This story got alot of traction on the SC messsage boards. Listen: I was a kid who did dumb things too. Reckless and dangerous even. This incident seems beyond that. It’s seems pretty malicious: “hey let’s see if he’s telling the truth or exaggerating his allergy. If he is we will expose him. If he’s not oh well maybe he gets real sick but cmon he ain’t gonna die”

How very Texas of this kid. SMH.

I don’t think Cordova should get a life sentence. He’s been punished. But there are lingering consequences and one of them is frankly as an SC fan I don’t want him on team. I don’t wish him ill in fact I hope he gets a scholarship and plays well and turns it into a redemption thing which is totally possible. Cool.

I want Carter on the SC team. I’m already rooting for him.

I feel bad for both moms. It’s tough being a good parent of a kid who does something dumb or dangerous. Everyone else should just move along.

Good recap of the story, John.

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Felt bad for all parties. Empathize with them both. DA says no crime. Feels to me that the school should have been more proactive with getting the parties in the room and fostering some peace. Not sure the bad feelings would have survived that.

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Right on, John. That would have been a much better message to these kids: how to see the other person's side, a real life lesson.

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Man, you covered every point I thought of with this story better than I could, sc. well done.

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Thank you Ed

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Now this is what I pay $6.99 a month for!

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Appreciate that you are here.

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You don't mess around with peanut allergies as they can cause anaphylaxis and the cessation of breathing.

That said, the kid apologized, tried to make it right, and seems genuinely remorseful. The authorities considered the matter and determined that the football team penalties were appropriate and sufficient. His mom reached out and did what she could. Plus he is, you know, still a kid.

Now it looks like it's just turning into mob rule. And unfortunately for the other mom, she doesn't now get to decide the legal penalties.

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Amazing how the trolls can make this an anti-Duck thing.

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The minute I read he is being recruited by UO I knew there would be a few barbs.

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John, when someone with your talent and influence writes a story like this, it increases the possibility that it will cause thought, discussion and prevention of a similar reckless act somewhere else. Appreciate it!

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Thanks Ed. I saw a lot of irresponsible things on socials. Didn’t think it was fair to anyone.

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You hit it on the head, John. Gus did a dumb thing and, only by the grace of God, he had a conscience and went back to the locker to make it right--and Carter is still with us. I only hope and pray that this act doesn't permanently affect his football future. We're praying for the families!!

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Hoping everyone moves through this in one piece.

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Unfortunately it’s not unusual for 16-17 yr olds to pull off stuff like this. Fortunately they don’t kill people most of the time. Makes a pretty good argument for reconsidering reducing voting age to 18!

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Did you mean reconsider increasing the voting age from 18? 18 year olds can vote. And some want to reduce it to 16 in Oregon. BTW I personally believe voting age should be 21 as well as Military service in any situation where live fire is involved. 18 would be fine for any stateside support roles. Sorry to go off subject but sometimes we treat kids like adults, and adults (21+) likes kids.

John, great story and recap! Thank you sir!

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From the viewpoint of someone who came of age at a time when you couldn't vote until you were 21 (I'm 81), I meant that in light of the immaturity and a typical lack of consideration of consequences to actions beyond the immediate in "teens", we ought to reconsider giving 18 yr olds the vote. I know, I know....."they can get drafted and go off and get killed, etc., etc.." Well I had friends from high school to whom exactly that happened, and I'm quite sure that their lack of enfranchisement at the time wasn't something that was really important to them. We have lower-end age limits on some political offices (ought to have them on all along with upper end age limits!) and I don't think it's unreasonable to have the voting age be 21. We don't think someone under 21 can use alcohol responsibly and I would submit to you that voting can sometimes be a whole lot more dangerous than alcohol!

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Informed voting is something that needs some maturity. We don’t think the average person can use alcohol responsibly before 21 and I would say that the same applies to responsible voting. I don’t recall anyone of my generation who was drafted during Vietnam complaining because we weren’t getting to vote yet! That was the last thing on our mind!

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Everybody except the school, coaches and families should butt the hell out of it. Once again the anti-social media has made this cosmically worse than it would have been. However, raising the awareness among the kids at the school is more than just a silver lining. It could be lifesaving.

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Agree

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High school kids do dumb things. EOS

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Yes

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John,

Interesting and unusual story, you do a good job presenting the facts. It’s unlikely anyone, outside the locker room knows the personal dynamics on this team. Conjecture is a dangerous thing. Of course, so are allergies. One young man lost his father, unless I missed something, the other’s father is not mentioned. Does this make a difference? Well, there I go; conjecturing!

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One kid trying to apologize one kid trying to accept but social influencers are determined to have it their way. It’s a byproduct of our country these days. Shake hands, graduate, raise a family and make something of your life ..

Hopefully you’ll out live the naysayers..

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A lot of noise for sure

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This might sound weird but when my 3 kids were young, I use to pray they'd make stupid mistakes that weren't life-altering so they could learn lessons in their youth that are more painful to learn in adulthood. My prayers were answered more often than I liked. Yes, this mistake could've ended terribly, but fact is, it didn't. Instead of focusing on the potential bad outcome, seems like the parents and school are trying to focus on the lesson. Good for them. Social media? No redemption there...ever.

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Wisdom

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What you are alluding to here is empathy: putting yourself into the other person's psyche and trying to understand them from their perspective, mostly what they experience emotionally. It's so easy to hate the other, seeing them as subhuman, like we did with Black people and Native Americans for centuries, and what the Israelis and Palestinians are doing today. And the more we demonize and attack the other, the more they will probably hate and attack back. That what is going on in the small Texas town, and it is tragic. But the adults are making these much worse with there hostility instead of trying to genuinely understand why this event happened.

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A lot of agendas for sure

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Austin Texas " small Texas town" hardly

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Well, everything is bigger in Texas is it?

Actions have consequences. Cordova placed the peanuts in Mannon's locker. Attempted to clean them out. Was disciplined internally by the coaching staff. Neither the school nor the DA believed that Cordova's actions needed further attention. Had both of them been just regular students, would the school/ DA view the incident differently?

Internet trolls/ anonymous sources isn't helping. At the end of the day, it sucks for both of them but don't believe Cordova should face additional punishment. High school age kids make poor decisions. Fact. Mannon was able to play in the game. It is a learning opportunity/ life lesson for Cordova.

I doubt it will be that simple.

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You get it.

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But it should be! If we were a different culture.

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As someone who grew up with a little brother with a peanut allergy, it is hard to forgive such a stupid act. It sounds so simple and innocent when you say “peanut allergy”. More deadly when you explain closed airway, shock, and eventual death.

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I hear you. The incident was definitely scary for the family. Glad everyone is ok.

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