Bad Sport?

Football coach is suspended for running up the score

EVERYTHING WASgoing much too well for coach Dan Lawrence (below) of East Hartford (Conn.)High in the second half against Fermi-Enfield on Sept. 29. So as his teamcontinued to put up points, he tried, he says, to apply the brakes, playingonly reserves and calling inside running plays. With nine minutes to go in thethird quarter and the score 52-0, "I tell my quarterback to take aknee," says Lawrence. "The kid looks at me like I'm crazy. After that Idecided not to do it, because I thought I was humiliating the other coach evenmore." The Hornets finally beat Fermi-Enfield 60-0, and Lawrence became thefirst coach suspended under Connecticut's new sportsmanship rule, whichrequires the coach of a team that wins by 50 or more to sit out the next game.(Coach Dave Cadelina of Bridgeport Central previously had his suspensionoverturned on appeal [SI, Sept. 19].) Last Saturday, as East Hartford beatWethersfield 42-38, Lawrence was on the road, scouting a future opponent.

PHOTO

HOLLY LAWRENCE (LAWRENCE)