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Branding leads to resignation
Roswell football assistant leaves
By
BILL SANDERS,
PAUL KAPLAN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/05/06 Seventeen football players at Roswell High School branded themselves in a show of solidarity this past season, and an assistant coach who attended the rituals has resigned amid a county investigation, school officials confirmed.
Mario Hansbrough, the defensive coordinator for the north Fulton school, made a weekly routine of taking players off campus, behind the school, on Thursday nights and overseeing as they branded red-hot paper clips that left an inch-long scar on the chest of defensive players who were set to start that Friday, according to athletics department officials, including head coach Tim McFarlin.
<!--endtext--><!--endclickprintinclude--><!--startclickprintinclude--><!--begintext--> McFarlin said the players had seen a branded fraternity Greek letter omega on Hansbrough's shoulder, and decided to do something similar as a show of defensive solidarity.
He said Hansbrough talked the kids into using small paper clips instead of something more drastic.
"I'm disappointed he was there," McFarlin said. "He used poor judgment, but I know his heart and I know he didn't do one thing to hurt kids. He was doing this because the kids were intent on doing something anyway. We all make poor decisions at some point in life. If it was up to me, I'd retain him, but I know the liability issues here."
An anonymous caller told the Fulton County school superintendent's office of the brandings, school officials said. The matter was turned over to the Fulton County athletics office, and Hansbrough resigned during the investigation.
When contacted Wednesday, Hansbrough declined to comment, as did the parents of several players.
McFarlin said the kids who participated saw it as sort of a badge of honor. He said he didn't know about it until the investigation surfaced in mid-December.
Hansbrough is respected by the players on the team and has been a role model for them, several parents said. He's also highly regarded as a history teacher, they said.
"This does not portray his character or leadership at all — he's worked tirelessly for the boys," said Richard Niedzwiecki, vice president of the football booster club, whose son plays on the team but did not participate in the branding. "All the parents that I discussed it with are very supportive of the coach."
McFarlin said he too had spoken with several parents who were supportive of Hansbrough. "Mario has a real talent for this profession and for teaching and I'd recommend him in a heartbeat," McFarlin said.
Stephen Ehret, whose son was a reserve defensive lineman who did not participate in the branding, said Hansbrough was a tough disciplinarian, and Ehret meant it as a compliment. "He'd go after kids when other teachers were more timid and didn't discipline them," he said.
Ehret said he didn't agree with the ritual, but added: "I see things kids put on their bodies that are a lot more objectionable than that, like tattoos."
Niedzwiecki said it was his understanding that the branding was not presented to the players as a requirement for starting or for getting playing time. The Hornets won the Region 6-AAAAA championship this past season, and made it to the second round of the state playoffs.
Roswell athletics director Mike Power said he'd been out of the state on family matters for 28 of the last 30 days and didn't know all the details, but confirmed the investigation and Hansbrough's resignation.
"I do know that he'd been wanting to coach elsewhere anyway," Power said.
Hansbrough was a top candidate for the head coaching job at North Cobb High School before this happened, McFarlin said. He has been coaching at Roswell High for 8 years, and has a wife and small child.
