Colts Jersey Causes Clash at La. School

(AP)  A Louisiana high school student says he was sent home for wearing an Indianapolis Colts jersey Friday - the day the principal encouraged students to wear New Orleans Saints black and gold as the teams get ready to face off in the Super Bowl.

"If they tell other students to support their team, why can't I support mine?" Brandon Frost, 17, told The Associated Press. The senior at Maurepas High School moved three years ago from Indianapolis to the rural town 30 miles from Baton Rouge.

A Livingston Parish School Board member said Frost wasn't sent home, but was told he couldn't wear the blue jersey at school. Keith Martin, whose district includes Maurepas, said the school uniform had been relaxed only for black and gold.

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He said he planned to ask school system attorneys whether that violated Frost's right to free speech, as the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana contends.

State ACLU director Marjorie Esman sent a letter to Principal Steven Vampran, asking him to wipe Frost's record of any discipline stemming from the incident.

Vampran declined to comment.

Martin said he had talked with both Vampran and Frost's father, Larry Frost.

"I think we got things worked out," Martin said.

According to Martin, a friend of Brandon Frost's had asked Vampran on Thursday whether Brandon could wear a Colts jersey, and had been told "no."

During a class on Thursday, Frost said, he talked about his plans to wear his jersey rather than Saints colors. He said the teacher warned him he'd get in trouble.

Larry Frost said he didn't know about that when Brandon asked Thursday whether he could wear the jersey. He said he told his son to come home if he was hassled too much.

The Colts and Saints play Sunday in the Super Bowl, and emotions have run high in Louisiana as fans celebrate the first Super Bowl appearance for the beleaguered franchise.

Brandon Frost said Vampran called him out of his first class Friday and told him, "I don't recall saying you could wear a Colts jersey on Black-and-Gold Day."

He said he told the principal that his father had given him permission to go home if it was a problem.

"He started to get angry with me," Frost said. "I thought I remember him saying, 'If you like Indiana so much, why don't you go back?"'

Vampran has acknowledged that he should not have said that, Martin said. He said no one sent Frost home - but no one kept him from leaving rather than changing shirts.

Larry Frost said he called the ACLU rather than the school because he was too angry.

"Louisiana would be proud of him anyway," Larry Frost said. "He wore Joseph Addai's jersey."

The Colts running back is a graduate of Louisiana State University.

[CBSisCommunist5]

Blame Bush. Its all his fault.

[silverfang77]

Why do schools have dress and uniform codes anyway? There were no uniforms or dress codes when I went and nothing bad happened.

[frogger581]

see this is why i'm glad i can stay neutral for this whole game, as a former indiana resident from Purdue country where drew brees lead the boilers for 4 years, I can be happy no matter what the outcome! so hand me a half and half jersey and sit me somewhere around jackson tennessee.

[bmabatz641]

Dear. Mr. Vampran,

I am a teacher in Indianapolis, and I work for Indianapolis Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of Indiana.

This morning, 6 February 2010, I read an interesting article in our Indianapolis paper about a former resident, Brandon Frost, who is now a student in your school district and, according to the paper, at the school for which you serve as the administrator. I am sure you can imagine I was completely confused by the contents of the article.

Friday was blue & white day in Indiana (of course for our Colts), and Indianapolis Public Schools waived the dress code for our students so they could participate in the activities and show their spirit for our great football team. Yes, we told our students it was "blue and white" day, and most of our students wore those colors and/or a Colts jersey; however, we had a handful of students who did not. Those who did not chose to wear the colors of our opponent, the "Saints."

Mr. Vampran, unlike you, we allowed those students to stay in school and support the team for whom they were showing their support. Here in Indiana, we believe in the rights granted to each individual through the Constitution of the United States of America. What you did was completely unacceptable, especially as an educator.

I hope you apologize to the student, to his family (both in Louisiana and Indiana), and to the great state of Indiana.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Batz
Indianapolis, Indiana

[DanGutknecht]

Thank you,
Well put

[KipsterKipster]

Sounds about right. The young gentleman was fortunate to be sent home. Here in Philly, he would have been sent to the hospital. tee-hee.

[twistedsister1959]

Livingston Parish dress code is blue or white shirt with khaki pants. If he wanted to support the colts and not cause a problem he should have just worn his standard uniform. It was black and gold day. If you are not from the New Orleans area you will never understand.

[DSR_57]

"If you are not from the New Orleans area you will never understand."?? That's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. So amendment rights are dolled out as you all see fit ? How bout this, We don't like black people where I live but if you AREN'T from my town then you'd never understand....Idiot

[darth_dionysus]

All this for s stupid football game? This country REALLY needs to grow up.

[Stevenapoli7]

Rednecks

[tmittelstaed]

There is so much wrong with this where do I begin? First, the father Larry Frost is an idiot for telling his son to come home if he was hassled too much. He should have told his son to carry a change of clothes and change if necessary but under no circumstances are you to cut class or leave the school - your there to learn and not to advertise a football team. Second the principal for telling the kids to violate the uniform code - uniform codes go into schools that have a lot of kids with bad grades to help the students focus on the schoolwork and not clothes - looks like the principal didn't get that idea. Also, the principal for even paying attention at all. Third the kid, why does he care a bit what other people are wearing, what is more important, the clothes or the person in 'em? Get that kid in a private room with his girlfriend and you will see his opinion of clothing being so important will be dropped like a hot rock.

[WitchBroom]

Now that is what you call swamp logic from bayou country. LOL