High School Quarterback Suspended for "Inappropriately" Touching Center During Snap
By Kyle Koster
West Salem (Oregon) freshman quarterback Garrett Moore has been suspended from school for three days after he “inappropriately touched” the team’s center while taking a snap during football practice.
Moore claims the incident happened on October 2. He contends his teammate, with whom he’d had problems previously, instructed him to receive the snap further up than usual.
I’m so pissed right now I can’t even think straight,” he said.
He recounted his version of the events to the Statesman Journal.
"“He wanted me to go way up there and it felt very uncomfortable,” Moore said. “I was, like, moving my hands and I touched him and he started laughing. I guess I tickled him. I wouldn’t mean to. That’s kind of weird.” He says the center moved to the defensive line after a few plays and the regular center came back. The group ran a play and the player who had previously played center walked toward him after the play. “He acted like he was giving me a hug and he kneed me in my crotch,” Moore said. “He said that he did that because I spat on his shoe, even though he was five feet in front of me.”"
The school declined to say if the other player was disciplined for hitting Moore.
Moore said he shared his side of the story with the school’s assistant principal, Jim Miller, and then was re-summoned after the center had a similar meeting.
"Moore was again called to Miller’s office and this time escorted by a security guard. Moore said Miller asked if he had tickled the other boy while taking the snap in practice. “I’m like, ‘I guess,’ ” Moore said. “He was laughing when I touched him. I didn’t mean to say tickle. I said tickle because he laughed. “He calls my mom, makes it sound like I’m a complete pervert and she comes to get me.”"
Moore’s mother intends to appeal the suspension.
No word if the team will switch to a shotgun offense to eliminate future conflicts.