Coach Cites Safety Concerns as Air Academy Skips Homecoming Game

Waymond Jackson, the head football coach at Air Academy High School, made a definitive choice to pull his team out of the October 9 homecoming contest. He informed district leadership that he refused to put his players in a position where they might face racial hostility from opponents at Lutheran High School of Parker. This decision, documented in internal correspondence obtained via the Colorado Open Records Act, stands in sharp contrast to the public explanation provided by the school.

The official announcement sent to the public cited a shortage of available coaches as the reason for the forfeit. The statement did not mention any allegations of racism involving the opposing school. However, players later clarified that they supported the move as a form of protest against specific behaviors observed at a previous event involving Lutheran and Sand Creek High School.

The emails expose a clear divide within Academy District 20 in Colorado Springs. Jackson, a Black dean and coach, chose to take a firm stance on the issue. Meanwhile, other administrators appeared to prefer keeping the matter out of the spotlight. In a message sent on October 5, Jackson explained to a district official that this was not merely about a football game. He stated that the core issue was whether the students felt safe. As a Black man responsible for young people, he felt he could not knowingly send students, staff, and families into an environment where they might encounter racial abuse. He insisted that Air Academy would not compete until the allegations were fully investigated and specific steps were taken to prevent a recurrence.

The underlying tension traces back to a September 24 matchup between Lutheran and Sand Creek. Several cheerleaders and their coach from Sand Creek reported that students and community members at the Lutheran school made derogatory remarks and gestures. These included calling Black cheerleaders by a historical figure's name, using slurs, and waving belts toward them. There were also comments telling them to return to where they came from. Jackson also referenced complaints from staff at Rampart High School. They claimed that players, parents, and attendees at Lutheran directed slurs at Rampart families, describing the behavior as disgusting. Jackson highlighted that these reports came from two different schools, spanned three games, and occurred at two levels of play.

The coach also expressed frustration with how the district handled the situation. He described the lack of official support from Academy District 20 as a blow to the team's confidence. He requested that the district formally endorse the decision to sit out and share that position with both Lutheran and the Colorado High School Activities Association. In a separate email on October 5, Barry Clark, the flag football coach, told a parent that the district was unlikely to support the school if it chose not to play. Another message from Becky Harris, the assistant superintendent for learning services, indicated that Principal Amy Ripperger respected Jackson's choice but instructed him to keep it from the staff and students for the time being. By October 7, Ripperger wrote that the team had no coaches willing to lead the squad on Friday night.

In a statement released on October 8, the district said it had coordinated with both schools to hold the game. They mentioned limiting visiting fans to the families of Lutheran players and adding extra security. The statement attributed the drop in coaching availability to individual decisions. Mark Belcher, the district communications chief, noted that individual staff emails do not always reflect the official district position and might lack necessary context. Jackson, who is not permitted to speak with the media, maintained his stance based on the safety of his students.

The Colorado High School Activities Association has reviewed the incident and found that spectators and participants at Lutheran used discriminatory language and behaviors during multiple football and basketball events. The governing body has threatened to suspend the school unless it completes a corrective action plan. Dan Gehrke, the executive director at Lutheran, stated that the school condemns racism and intends to meet all requirements set by the association. He noted that the school had proposed a spectator plan and a meeting with head coaches, expressing regret that students missed the opportunity to compete. Coronado High School also chose to forfeit its game against Lutheran.

Looking ahead, Lutheran is scheduled to play Montrose on Friday. This marks their first contest since the controversy began to unfold. In parallel, a coalition of Lutheran parents has started an online fundraiser. The campaign aims to raise money for security measures and potential legal action against the CHSAA, media outlets, and individuals who accused the school community of racism. As of Thursday, the group had raised more than $53,000 toward a target of $500,000.