THE BLEACHERS WILL BE BARREN FOR ONE FRIDAY AT A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER BETWEEN TWO RIVALS IN NORTHWESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA. SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY NO FANS WILL BE ALLOWED IN BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS.

Attendance at the boys' and girls' varsity games in the town of Central will be limited to players, coaches, officials, game personnel, school administrators, police and the media.

Seneca Police Chief John Covington says he supports the decision because disturbances and violence have recently been spilling into the parking lot and neighborhoods after games.

School officials say they met with police and the South Carolina High School League on the decision.

It's hard to imagine an entire basketball game played between two rival schools (sure to provoke a tremendous fan turnout) without a single team supporter in sight. No banners waving, no pom-poms bobbing, no mascots dancing or wearing school colors on sweatshirts or letterman jackets.

Apparently, these two schools are such rivals that violence has been known to breakout. To cool the hot tempers of the fans, admission is limited to just game personnel, the players and school administrators to spectate or cheer each team on.

Can you imagine UT playing Vandy and the fans being told to stay home because they're too unruly? I can almost hear the indignant fans in Knoxville. In fact, I have read many reports of international soccer teams getting everyone so riled up that riots have broken out, with fans getting trampled, or entire stands collapsing from the wild surges of excited fans.

It's unfortunate that supporters of the two teams can't restrain their "enthusiasm," allow game play and accept the outcome without noses getting busted or hair being pulled out (and that may just be the parents). If being denied the experience of seeing your school play an important game is the only way to maintain order and keep bones intact, then so be it. I guess you just can't take some people anywhere.

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