I don't think it happens like this everywhere, there are a lot of great sports programs that give character building experiences to young men they might not get otherwise.
Hopefully the boys who did this will change their course.
I’ve seen a guy in the town where I lived give up a full college scholarship rather than give up drugs when his habit was discovered; in high school they would send him home to wear off the drugs he was using so they could still keep him as the star quarterback. For the sake of 2 years being state champs they destroyed that young man’s life. Everybody knew, and nobody would step up to help him. Community pride was more important than his life.
It was really, really sad.
In smaller towns this goes on all the time. It’s lovelessness, and it stinks to high heaven.