Mom: No Apology from Coach in Son's Death

(CBS)  The coach of a Kentucky teen who died three days after collapsing during an August 2008 high school football practice conducted in grueling heat -- a death that led to charges on which the coach was just acquitted -- hasn't personally apologized to the boy's mother, she told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith Monday.

It was a trial that could change the way a lot of college and high school coaches conduct their practices.

David Stinson, 37, was removed from coaching and teaching in January, when a grand jury indicted him on a charge of reckless homicide in the death of sophomore offensive lineman Max Gilpin, who was 15. The grand jury later added a charge of wanton endangerment.

Stinson was found not guilty on both counts in Louisville Thursday. He is scheduled to meet with school district officials this week about where and when he could return to the classroom, and possibly the sideline.

But on "The Early Show", Gilpin's mother, Michele Crockett, says she's yet to hear the words "I'm sorry" from Stinson.

Asked whether he'd apologized, Crockett said, "Not personally, no. During the funeral and all that, of course he, as everyone did, offer his condolences and those kinds of things, but as far as an apology, no.

Does she want one?

"Yes, I would like one. I just want him to take responsibility for what's happened. That's the bottom line. And I feel like, with the acquittal, that responsibility -- he hasn't stepped up to the plate at this time."

Crockett says she was "disappointed" over the jury's verdict but, "One of the things was we knew that this was going to be a difficult case. And the biggest point that we wanted to make to the community and everyone is that we are going to be watching and that hopefully it raises awareness for the heat illness."

Jefferson County, Ky. prosecutor Jon Heck told Smith he "had approximately 10 to 20 neutral witness, in other words, they were there to watch another game, they had no ties to the community or to the football team, and some of them played high school football and they said, 'This isn't high school football. What we're seeing out here is abuse.' "

Gilpin's half-sister, Anna Crockett, showed Smith a football player eddy bear she'd made for Gilpin while he was in the hospital -- a gift she never got to give him.


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had approximately 10 to 20 neutral witness, in other words, they were there to watch another game, they had no ties to the community or to the football team, and some of them played high school football and they said this isn't high school football. What we're seeing out here is abuse

[JT_in_Placitas]

Regarding the article, itself, I don't understand the purpose of the "But" in the sentence, "But on "The Early Show", Gilpin's mother, Michele Crockett, says she's yet to hear the words "I'm sorry" from Stinson."

Apologies, to have meaning, come from a person who feels he has something to apologize for. The coach believes he did nothing wrong. Regarding the criminal charge(s), the jury agreed with him.

Why is an apology expected from a person who believes he did no wrong? And why would suing mother expect an apology from a defendant coach who is denying liability?

When a parent loses a child, the lifelong sadness that ensues is so impenetrable that an unfelt apology makes not the slightest dent.

Julian Tepper

[magoo2u1]

The mother should apologize to the coach. According to the jury, SHE got it wrong in bringing a complaint that let to a prosecution. She needs to apologize for putting an innocent man though that trial."
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How'd ya get so stupid? When I played football we received frequent breaks and lots of water during pre-season practice in extreme heat and humidity. That was 30 years ago -how did this idiot coach not know this easy way to avoid heat stroke? How do not know this? Are you both cut from the same idiot cloth?
The kid was 15, the adults are expected to be responsible.

[Pope]

I wanted to sue the coach for everything he has and send him to jail for a long time. Then he is found not guilty and now I want my apology.

[momknowsbest]

As hard as it is sometimes you just have to let your anger go and more on. Having someone say that they are sorry does not change the fact that moving on is painful.The coach can scream it from a roof top and that would not take away any of the pain.

[portia-13]

Here's another hypothetical for thought: A woman is texting while driving. She has her child and a neighbor's child in the back seat of her car. Because she is texting while driving, they are in an accident and the neighbor's child is killed. Is the woman responsible? Keep in mind, it is NOT illegal to text and drive in the Commonwealth of KY. No other cases have charged someone with vehicular homicide for texting while driving. Many people would stand up in a court of law and say that they've texted and never been in an accident. I'm sure the woman is remorseful, so that's enough, right? It was a terrible "accident" so she should be left alone and no criminal or civil charges should be brought, right?
I would argue - NO - SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING!
But because she was that makes her responsible for the accident. No, she didn't maliciously text while driving, but she was irresponsible and you can't be irresponsible while taking care of kids (remember MJ dangling his child out of a hotel window?) We are adults and they are CHILDREN - you don't take risks with children's lives!
Oh, if my kid is in your car and you text and drive and kill my child in an "accident" you better darn well believe I'm going to sue you for everything you've got to teach you and everyone else - YOU DON'T TAKE RISKS WITH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN!

[ptclarkjr]

of course the man is sorry (it happened)! one of his players died during his watch. both he and the boys family are grieving and should be left alone.
stop putting microphones in their faces and asking them how they're doing! such a sad sad story.

[dwright1now]

This coach is proving a point - sports over life. Winning is everything no matter what. However, somebody needs to give the coach a taste of his own medicine and let him do a hundred laps in Iraq and let him win over some Arabs to the American Way. If we don't kill them on our football fields we'll send them over to you so you can finish the job. This coach is a terrorist.

[ludvig1-2009]

I know someone who was involved in a fatal auto accident. He wanted to help the widow out financially, but his lawyer told him if he did so, it would be like an admission of fault and would be ground for her to sue him.

[SkirtLifter]

Charlie thinks he's cute with his sarcasm and dialects. Yea ... well maybe he is ... i don't know. He is colorful! Remember pythoncharlie with the CAPS LOCK? I wonder...

[margaret-arthur-]

This article is really one sided. I am in Cincinnati & this case was being reported nightly in our news as it was happening. What CBS left out is the fact & the reason he was acquitted was that Max, the teen, was taking the drug RITILIN. This was not reported to the coach. It is what the jury found to have caused his death.