Mississippi High School Football Coach Refuses To Allow Pink Cleat-Wearing Coy Sheppard To Return To Team Despite Agreement; Lawsuit Re-Filed

An update on a previous post, the Clarion Ledger reports that Coy Sheppard, the 17 year old high school football player cut from the team after wearing pink cleats during a game October 8th, was to return to the team for a playoff game Friday, an agreement having been crafted Thursday between an attorney for Sheppard and the Simpson County School District that would fully reinstate the kicker to the Medenhall High School team, and in return damages would not be pursued against the Mississippi school board. Inexpiably, prior to the game, Sheppard was told by the coach that he was not going to dress for the game. Sheppard’s attorney, Oliver Diaz, said “Coy was devastated. He was fully expecting to join his team as a full participant. And when he was not allowed to so, he was crushed.” Diaz added that the coach’s action constitutes a “bad faith breach of the settlement agreement” and that he is considering an amended complaint seeking additional damages. Sheppard was removed from the team’s roster after wearing pink shoes, a gift from his 82 year old great grandmother, who along with Coy’s step-grandmother, are cancer survivors. All damages awarded to Sheppard will go to the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Friday, Coy’s mother had to be hospitalized because of what transpired at the game, where she remained Saturday. Mr. Diaz, comparing the incident to that of Constance McMillen – the Mississippi high school senior forced to sue after authorities denied her request to escort her girlfriend to prom – Diaz saying “This whole situation didn’t have to happen,” adding that this is “another example of a school district in Mississippi acting in bad faith after they’ve entered into a voluntary settlement.”