Spy Parent Banned For 2 Games

[KFDM COOP]

Spy Parent Banned for 2 Games

Shenango penalizes spy parent; Banned for 2 games

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Shenango High School has barred a parent from attending the school's next two football games after the man was caught spying on an opponent's practice and filming part of it.

Frank Colavecchia, father of Shenango star quarterback Rocco Colavecchia, is not permitted to attend Shenango's next two games -- both at home -- against Cornell and Union.

Last Wednesday, Colavecchia attended Mars' practice and told Mars coach Scott Heinauer he was from Ohio University. Colavecchia told Heinauer he wanted to scout D.J. Cannon, Mars' senior quarterback. Colavecchia then taped some of the practice without Heinauer's knowledge.

Shenango defeated Mars, 41-35, Friday and Rocco Colavecchia threw for a school-record 457 yards, one of the highest yardage totals in WPIAL history.

"Mr. Colavecchia is very apologetic and he understands [the penalty]," said Mike Schreck, principal of Shenango High School.

Schreck said neither Shenango coach Brian Cooper or Rocco Colavecchia will be penalized. Frank Colavecchia gave a video disc of Mars' practice to his son and asked him to give it to Cooper. Frank Colavecchia and Cooper said Rocco Colavecchia didn't watch the disc, and Cooper said he threw it away when he received it.

"I apologize on behalf of our school to Mars," Schreck said. "It's hard to control parents' actions. Right now, we're just wanting to move on. Coach Cooper runs a very ethical program. He did nothing wrong."

Schreck said he and Frank Colavecchia will write letters of apology to Mars. Frank Colavecchia did not return a phone message.

Schreck said the school also will file a report to the WPIAL, but WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said the league has no jurisdiction over such matters.

"Unfortunately, what happened does not violate any rule," O'Malley said. "It speaks to the integrity of the game, but there is not a written rule that prohibits someone from attending a practice. It certainly, though, is not something that is in the best interest of interscholastic athletics."

[Lucky]

Some people will do anything to win.

At least he didn't hire a hit man to knock off an opposing player !

[Ty Cobb]

Was that film a wide or tight copy? It could have come in handy.

[L-Town Stunners]

I know what the parent did was low down and dirty, but what is the difference of having tape of practice or a team having last weeks game on tape of that weeks opponite???

Not saying I agree with what he did, just wondering.

[tvc184]

I know what the parent did was low down and dirty' date=' but what is the difference of having tape of practice or a team having last weeks game on tape of that weeks opponite???

Not saying I agree with what he did, just wondering.[/quote']

Because last week's game plan was what they had planned for that team. You don't know what the coaches have up their sleeves for this week until you get into the game. What defensive scheme are they going to run, what trick plays might they put in, etc. It may have not been against the rules but it certainly is unethical.

[L-Town Stunners]

True. Was just wondering.