Long_Time_Gone: I have NO interest, direct or indirect, to Throndsen's Lettering. Of course "we" have "all" heard of them. Sure, they could have called and double checked with the respective schools to make sure all was clear with the ad. BUT.... so could the athletes themselves. And, I'm going to make an assumption that atleast some, if not all, of those athletes were under 18. Therefore, I'm sure they needed parental permission to appear. So, the parents could have called Steve Schroeder, Monte Phillips, or their respective school's A.D. to make sure. AND...if it never dawned on the students or parents to call and make sure no rules would be violated, then I put 100% ownus on each of the schools' athletic directors themselves. It is their rightfull duty to make the student athletes and their parents aware of not only the SDJ co-curricular code rules but also those rules of the WIAA that could put themselves and their teams in jeopardy. BTW--If you are proposing a boycott of Throndsen's how about a boycott of Lamar Outdoor Advertising while you're at it!

JCK: Sorry!! I agree with you :)

garrison--they can appear in ads according to the WIAA code. They can't receive compensation for their appearance, however.

These conspiracy theories are rather amusing. I don't understand how consumers would think that a business would sabotage the very population that they cater to in order to drum up business. Does this make sense? And no, I don't have any financial or personal connection to Throndsen's--Just trying to understand other viewpoints in this situation.

The rule is the rule, unfortunately, and if it was spelled out to the students earlier, they should have known.
My biggest question, however, is why unidentified students wearing letter jackets are not allowed on ads like this by the WIAA in the first place. If the students were identified (i.e. Joe Jones, Craig football) and/or if they were appearing in uniform, I could certainly see the point. But these kids could have been anyone - and in the case of the girl posing in the Milton jacket, it apparently was.

It amazes me how everyone's views are so different. I think it's safe to say that all involved have learned a valuable lesson, including the company that handed out certificates to the athletes. I'm on the fence with the arguments you've all presented. I agree that Throdenson should be aware of the WIAA rules and none of us will ever know if they took a chance or they honestly didn't know. If they took a chance, shame on them. I wonder how well defined the athletic code really is. Is it so specific that the students and parents should have known this would be an issue? Or is it so vague that they felt it wouldn't be a conflict? At the end of the day, when all is said and done, unfortunate mistakes were made. I am proud of the students who have admitted to their mistakes and are willing to take whatever punishment may be handed to them. It's another valuable lesson in life. What they've learned from this mistake they will carry over into their adulthood and will probably look back and make informed decisions due to this. Not only the handful of students that were involved, but all of them. To be frank, if I were given two choices as to what "rules/laws" I would want my children to break, one of them being this situation and the other being robbery, asault, or the worst possible form of crime.....there's no thought process to that at all. Fact remains, there are kids walking the streets, in our own community, involved in crimes of violent nature. These arguments need to be put to rest. All of the athletes involved, including their teammates, deserve our support.....whether we agree or disagree. We have to build a strong foundation for the future of our communities and there are times when we have to face hurdles in order to do so. Lesson learned by all......it's time to move past this and be a better community because o it.

Momof5

You failed to detect the sarcasm in my comments. I don't support boycotting Throndson's because athletes and their parents are too lazy or disinterested in reading the athletic code and/or attending the annual meeting. I also don't believe Throndson's had a clue about the rule and any conspiracy theories involving Doug Chickering are absurd.

momof5 - at 7:58 a.m.
longtimegone and JCK: You have got to be kidding me (and yourselves!). Boycott Throndsen's? They are the ones who are most responsible? NO!
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My best response to that tirade is to simply refer back to ASHLEA1099's post:
"If you are going to use athletes to promote your business, you should know some of the guidelines..."
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momof5 is being a bit too naive, or perhaps has a family connection or an economic stake in Throndsen Lettering.
I say naive because Throndsen made a strategic decision to include local high school athletes in their advertising - advertising that is designed to improve the profit margins of their business. If not to improve profits, then why spend sales proceeds on advertising??
And to simply say Throndsen is a innocent bystander in this controversy - that they share no responsibility for what they have inflicted on not just those kids in the ad, but also every other team member at each of those schools...well, i can only chaulk-up that attitude to defending your family or your investment in Throndsen Lettering.
Controversy sells....it sells newspapers and it sells widgets and it may prove to sell more stuff at Throndsen. I bet Throndsen knows this rule better than most and they took a calculated risk.
We all now have heard of Throndsen, right?

longtimegone and JCK: You have got to be kidding me (and yourselves!). Boycott Throndsen's? They are the ones who are most responsible? NO! While I agree with some of your points, like maybe the ad company could have called the SDJ to checkm boycotting or blaming Throndsen's is absurd! Bottom line is that if the parents didn't allow their children to be in the ad, then none of this would ever have happened! Regardless if the rules were known or not, there was a rule in place. It's unfortunate for all involved, but boycotting Thronden's is NOT the answer. Perhaps, if the rule was not known amongst these athletes, we should look to Mr. Steve Schroeder, Mr. Monte Phillips and Mr. Kevin Porter as to why. That is where some of these energies should be focused: not on boycotting Throndsen's or belly aching about how trivial the rule is or concocting a conspiract theory about Doug Chickering (the WIAA director).

Rules are rules. Rules are broken day in and day out, time after time. I guess I look forward to the news article of the shootings, gang violence, and drug activities of our young men and women who are afraid to do anything other than simply have a picture taken. LETS PROMOTE SOME POSITIVE ROLE MODEL influence on these future leaders of our country!!!

Any of these athletes involved, continue your teamwork and hard work. Do not let some little dictatorship in Stevens Point, WI let you down! Please continue your hard work and commitment to being the best that you can be!

Good Lord.

It's high school athletes who didn't bother to read their athletic code... not some NBA star booting black tar heroin for Pete's sake.

This is news? Are you kidding? Who cares?

would we be discussing this if the kids were just kids from differentt schools not athletes who were featured in the ads. Does this meant student/athletes can't weat their jackets to their part-time jobs? The students buy thier own jackets they aren't given to them by the districts.

If the coupon was unused and returned, it was just a worthless piece of paper. Holding the athlete accountable for this is unfair because he accepted no value for his services. If the ban includes endorsements, he may be in trouble because by appearing on the billboard, he clearly endorsed the business by allowing his image to be used. Has it been established that the arrangement was actually quid pro quo? It is hardly unusual for a business to distribute discount coupons to potential customers. It seems to me that if something illegal were being done here, it would involve direct transfer of merchandise with no paper trail. I think that the athletes involved would benefit from a consultation with an appropriate attorney. Perhaps one would offer a consultation pro bono publico.

Yes I did mean to put AGREE with Longtime gone, sorry for the confusion! Thank you for catching that mistake

4luvofgame: I agree with you totally about the fact that we should be telling each and every athlete how proud we are of them and every time they get a medal it is well deserved (not just a bright and shiny medal). I see the dedication it takes to be part of a team. These students give up alot in order to put in the time required to participate which alot of people don't realize. Getting up for practice at 5 a.m and then having practice again after school, meanwhile keeping the grades up and for some holding down a job. It is alot of responsibility and rules to follow and remember. Each and every one of them, no matter what school they attend should be proud of their accomplishments and hard work. I would also like to point out what a difference support makes! I see some athletes who go through every season without a parent or relative or friend showing up to support them. Now I know some parents can't make it to every game, but I am sure someone should be able to show up for at least one. Meanwhile those of us who are there make sure we support each and every athlete who is a member of our team(family). It is truly heartwarming to watch them get excited when you are screaming their names and pulling for them and it really makes them feel like they matter and that someone cares.

ashlea1099 = 4:02 p.m.
Ok, I disagree with Longtimegone.
Area businesses that are in the market to catering to schools and athletes should have some understanding of the rules. I mean, come on, the business has been around long enough to have had athletes work for them before and they probably talked about rules and regualtions when they had down time, why should this be any different? If you are going to use athletes to promote your business, you should know some of the guidelines.
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ashlea1099 - you meant to type "AGREE" with long_time_gone, correct?

Ok, I disagree with Longtimegone.
Area businesses that are in the market to catering to schools and athletes should have some understanding of the rules. I mean, come on, the business has been around long enough to have had athletes work for them before and they probably talked about rules and regualtions when they had down time, why should this be any different? If you are going to use athletes to promote your business, you should know some of the guidelines. I know that a lot of people will be giving me grief for saying that, but hey everyone is entitled to their opinions. thank you and good day to all.
Sorry etown, I have to agree with you, pick your fights, the coupon was returned and no harm was done by the player.

All points are valid......however, we all seem to be forgetting that this doesn't just impact one player, it impacts the entire team (Janesville). While what these athletes has done is wrong and against the policy, there is an entire team of athletes, coaches, and the schools that had absolutely nothing to do with the choices that were made. Should the athletes be punished? Absolutely! Punishing the entire team? No way! Janesville was being pro-active by informing WIAA of the situation that was brought to their attention. We can't forget all of the kids that worked hard to be where they are today. It doesn't seem right punishing the entire group. It really has nothing to do with "sacrificing their bright, shiny medals"...that's an extremely unfair statement to make about these kids that you don't even know. You sound more jealous of their abilitites and where they seem to be in life, rather than patting them on the back and telling them "good job." These are a great group of kids and kudos for them for supporting their teammates that made poor choices. Making an example of those who made these choices, will prevent this from happening in the future. We can all learn from this lesson. Congrats to the Bluebirds.....they have overcome a season of difficult public issues, worked together as a team, and have made the community proud of them! They are Janesville.....they bring this community together and I'm very proud to be a member of that community! Good job Boys....you've overcome worse than this...keep working hard. The community is proud of you all!

sfcm at 12:15 p.m.
LongTimeGone--It was not the business owner's (nor the ad company's) responsibility to know the WIAA codes, rules, and regulations. It was the athletes' responsibility, as well as their parents.
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I agree, sfcm, and I included the parents and the kids in my post. However, every business has some level of understanding that when you wish to include athletes, whether HS or college, in advertising, then that business better be darn sure, absolutley sure, they are within the rules.
Granted, the parents of the kids were absent on this, but, if a business is going to the trouble to recruit HS athletes, research ad rates, research billboard locations, invest company dollars in advertising, determine which schools need to be highlighted in the ad, and then pay another business or offer their own "coupons" as remuneration, then why not take the final step and make a call to the school district?!?!?
Seems to me that Throndsen Lettering is at least as culpable as the Shoe Box in Black Earth.
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In the letter, Chancellor John Wiley declared that the UW athletic program, its employees and athletes must disassociate themselves from the store.

"We've not told them that they can't shop there," Wiley said of the athletes. "But any purchases that they make must be documented, reported to us and must be with cash or credit cards."

Schmitt, who provided unadvertised discounts that led to 157 UW athletes violating NCAA rules...

If an athlete blows off practice, he hurts him/her self and the team. If an athlete is ineligible due to grades (or whatever reason) he hurts him/her self and the team. If a coach ignores the rules and plays that athlete and it is found out the team forfeits any win they might have had. There is a reason they have rules and as difficult as it is at times to watch your child's team suffer due to these various reasons it is a good thing to see the coach and atletes following the rules. Sure maybe if those 2 or 3 kids had been allowed to play you might have won but in the long run things work out for the best. Most of the time those that are ineligible work harder to fix the problem so they support their team by being there as a team member. Granted there are a few who just don't seem to care but for the most part they do. I have watched my child participate in sports for years and every team he has been on has been more than a team, they have been like a family. They support each other and help each other. Being in a sport is a big commitment, it takes alot of time and hard work and alot of practice but it has rewards in more ways than just winning. Even if they don't win every time, they learn to work as a team, win or lose as a team and it builds their characters. By learning to follow rules now, it makes it much easier to face all the rules life throws at you.

Whatever happened to the concept of a team sport? It should not matter if one person had any influence on the outcomes of the games or not.

What ever happened happened to THE PUNISHMENT FITTING THE CRIME?

If the information is correct, the student athletes involved had absolutely no influence on the outcome of any of the contests in question. At least in the Janesville case.

So why should the other non-involved athletes on the teams be punished by forfieture?

If this is in fact true, then the member schools of the WIAA should band together and demand that the board reflect what the conensus of the member schools really is.

This is being taken way to seriously. These people are young adults that should have been fully aware of the rules. Rules are in place for a reason. Follow them or face the consequences. Remember, this is JUST High School athletics.

sfcm: Well said!! As a parent who has attended and signed those rules for 4 years I know exactly what you are saying, too bad not everyone realizes what it means to be responsible. Bignik: While I understand your frustration at all the rules and how some of them seem so stupid in light of other things going on, you must remember that the rules are to ensure fairness to all and if you give in to this one, then the next one says well you didn't enforce that one so you shouldn't enforce mine and so on and pretty soon eveyone does whatever they want with no consequences. Remember these are athletes who are looked up to because they are more often than not the leaders who show others how to step up, lead, get good grades and excel in activities. They are required to attend these meetings and sign the rule policy as well as their parents. There are alot of rules that may not seem fair or that seem stupid but they are there for a reason.

This is just another ploy by the demoncrats at the WIAA, showing off their bullying tactics. Doug Chickering and his "staff" have nothing else to do but worry about a $25.00 coupon that was never spent. Let me put 2 seconds of thought in to this....Lets suspend a kid who is only trying his hardest to play an extra curricular athletics event, while I am sure excelling scholastically in school. As we read of 6 teens who are arrested for a shooting, we need to make note that there are those trying to make a positive influcence on society, and this is the reward that the "nice guys" in Stevens Point provide. My applause to the Edgerton community for supporting this, and this was something that had to be done for disciplinary matters. I hope Doug Chickering can drive home every day knowing how much this influences what a young adult does with their time "after school"........Mr Chickering you should be ashamed of such a ruling, and think of all the after effects this could possibly have. I would like to know how many people would like to read about this young man being involved in a gang related shooting in the streets of Edgerton. This is not Throndsen Lettering, this is all 100% to blame on the WIAA and its hideous policies set forth by its dictator, Mr. Chickering.

Boycott Throndsen and drive a reputable businessman out of business because parents and athletes are too lazy to read the athletic codes of their high schools. Ya, that sounds reasonable. In fact it hardly seems enough when you take into account some athletes may have to surrender their bright, shiney medals.

LongTimeGone--It was not the business owner's (nor the ad company's) responsibility to know the WIAA codes, rules, and regulations. It was the athletes' responsibility, as well as their parents. The athletes could appear on every billboard in town and be within the WIAA code. The second they accept compensation, they violate code. That is why the district holds code meetings every year and reminds athletes that they are not to receive compensation for any athletics-related promotions/advertisements. It's incredible how many people are so quick to jump on the boycott bandwagon and completely remove all responsibility from the athletes and parents who signed the code--ultimately, the people who are to be held responsible for their actions that violate rules and regulations.

I understand the issue with the billboard is loss of amatuer standing and therefore the student being ineligible, indefinitely.

After reading this article, has the WIAA agreed to reinstate this athlete's amatuer standing, after they serve a 2-game suspension?

I know there was a rule in place, and that it was broken.

I am just glad there appears to be some common sense, two games/matches can seem like an eternity for a student, but it will be over in about a week,and they can get on with thier season. I was worried they would ask them to forfiet a entire season or academic year.

Boycott Throndsen Lettering, period.

Of all those who participated in the billboard ad, from the kids, to the parents, to the billboard company to the owners of Throndsen, it seems to me that no one is more culpable than the owners of Throndsen Lettering.

The adults who own Throndsen, and perhaps the adults at the billboard company who accepted the ad and presumably processed the images of the kids, should have consulted with the school districts for the legality.

Also, where were the parents of these kids?

This just smells like shameless opportunism by the adults at Throndsen.

This is stupid! Choose your battles with these kids! You have athletes who are working hard, staying out of trouble and all this over a dumb coupon that was returned ? whoever persued this investigation on this should be ashamed of themselves. I believe rules should be followed but this is reaching! Lighten up people!