But in a shocking twist to the game day prank, police yesterday arrested the school's own football coach, Michael Schmitt, reports the timesfreepress.com.
The 39-year-old father-of-four allegedly wanted to inspire his Marion County High School players before a big game. Schmitt is accused of scrawling foul language across the field house, storage building and on the concrete parking lot in the early-morning hours of November 1. His team was due to play the South Pittsburg prep football team that day.
Marion lost anyway, 35-17.
Marion lost anyway, 35-17.
The suspect used black and orange spray — the school colors of the South Pittsburg Pirates — causing about $7,000 in damage.
One read, "Only p*****s wear purple," the Marion County school colors, and another said, "f**k this house."
Large power "'Ps" - South Pittsburg's logo - were painted on the buildings to make it look like Pirates supporters were the culprits.
However South Pittsburg was quick to deny its involvement.
"Our senior captains came to me and asked if they could go up there and help clean it up because they're as embarrassed as I am and they don't want people thinking we allow thugs like that in our school," said South Pittsburg's principal Danny Wilson.
'We warned all of our kids at school yesterday to stay out of Jasper, and I hope they can identify who it was, because if it was any of our kids we will drop the full hammer on them.'
The tight-knit community was shocked by Schmitt's arrest.
"It is sad to say that this event gives the whole community a black eye and the real victims of this incident are the kids from both schools," Marion County Sheriff's Detective Matt Blansett said.
The Sheriff's department would not confirm whether other coaches were involved and it is likely Schmitt was identified in surveillance footage.
Schmitt was arrested and booked into the Marion County jail on charges of vandalism of $1,000 to $10,000. He was released on $2,500 bond.
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