Could the Behavior of Fans and Coaches Jeopardize High School Football in Acadiana?

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - The 2026 high school football season in Louisiana is just a few weeks young, and we are already seeing violence at some games across South Louisiana.

For months, students, athletes, parents, and communities have anticipated the kickoff to the 2026 high school football season, but sadly, we are already seeing the worst from some while in attendance.

In recent weeks, we have seen a surge in violence at local high school football stadiums, and sadly, it's the kids who are penalized by the actions of some at games.

Fights have broken out in the stands, near the stands, and even on the playing field. Just recently, the annual homecoming game in Oberlin, Louisiana, had to be canceled after two Oberlin High School coaches got into a fight, leaving kids and families stunned on that special night.

I bring up the violence at high school football games because you never want to see schools, school districts, or the LHSAA resort to extreme measures, but if this type of behavior continues in stadiums in South Louisiana, they may have no choice but to do so.

If you're asking what that may be, schools could elect to lock the gates and not allow fans in, other than maybe family, to attend the games. While I don't anticipate that happening now, it has happened before in other parts of the country, and when safety is the forefront, don't be shocked if school districts and police decide to lock the gates on Thursday and Friday nights.

Fighting in public is very immature, and when you do it in front of families trying to enjoy their child's game or performances, you rob them of that experience. Heck, if schools ultimately have to lock the gates because of someone's actions, they'll also lose the revenue they need to support sports programs for their kids.

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With a spike in violence at or near stadiums, I think it is only fair to applaud the schools and various police agencies across South Louisiana who have taken extra measures to ensure the safety of everyone who attends sporting events. However, it's long past time that our society stopped acting so violently and started acting more responsibly.

I hope we never have to report that a high school event has been closed to the public because of some people's behavior, but if schools ever do lock the gates to the public, I won't be shocked—and I'll understand why.

Together, let's be better for the rest of this high school football season. The players, cheerleaders, band members, and all deserve to enjoy the best years of their lives.