Taysom Hill is a talented Idaho high school quarterback who has committed to Stanford. Hill is also a kicker for Highland High School, and recently had the Cardinal kicked out of him several times after booting kickoffs in a game two weeks ago against Pocatello High School.
Apparently the coach of Pocatello, Tom Harrison, ordered the cheap shots on Hill (why else would a player do that?!). That coaching brilliance has him in some serious hot water with the school district.
(video after the jump)
From KPVI:
After last Friday’s football game between Pocatello and Highland, the school district received several complaints about Poky’s play. The questionable plays came on several kickoffs when a Poky player hit Highland quarterback Taysom Hill after Hill kicked the ball .Although Pocatello was not flagged in the game for those plays, district officials decided to place Harrison on leave while they investigate the incident. The school district says because this is a personnel issue, they cannot release the details of the investigation, but they did say it is unfortunate any time a situation like this comes up.
You gotta love the fact that the officials didn’t have the balls to flag the play as unnecessary roughness. Isn’t that the play the definition of it?
I don’t know what’s worse though, the hits on Hill, or Pocatello players being referred to as “Poky’s.”
6:58 pm on October 27th, 2008
That right there is the definition of a cheap shot. He ran straight for the kicker, not even feigning any blocking attempts.
I can't believe there wasn't any flags thrown on that play.
7:01 pm on October 27th, 2008
Those officials must also work for the Pac 10 Conference.
7:06 pm on October 27th, 2008
I have an idea how this can all be evened out. Let Taysom Hill in full pads get a running head start & plow right into the unprotected Pocatello head coach. That should square things up for the moment.
7:14 pm on October 27th, 2008
Since he's going to Stanford, Taysom better start getting used to smacks like that when he has to play the Trojans every year.
7:24 pm on October 27th, 2008
Um, didn't Stanford beat USC last year?
7:27 pm on October 27th, 2008
He should have at least been flagged for going offside.
7:33 pm on October 27th, 2008
I'm guessing the cheap shot artist has already committed to Miami.
7:35 pm on October 27th, 2008
I love that scene in Poky's where they spy on the girls showering.
7:40 pm on October 27th, 2008
Wasn't Kim Cattrall in the original Poky's?
7:42 pm on October 27th, 2008
That's the kind of attitude we need in the SBC
7:43 pm on October 27th, 2008
Neil:
He's already been offered a contract by the Raiders.
7:46 pm on October 27th, 2008
How can the refs not call anything on plays like that? Did they have money on the game?
7:51 pm on October 27th, 2008
Kevin:
The Cowboys just make a matching offer.
7:56 pm on October 27th, 2008
Way to go, Idaho.
8:02 pm on October 27th, 2008
If I kept getting called "Poky", I'd want to flatten someone, too.
8:03 pm on October 27th, 2008
Gumby was quoted as saying he was "very, very disappointed" in Poky's behavior.
8:08 pm on October 27th, 2008
Th-th-th-th-th-that's all, folks!
8:11 pm on October 27th, 2008
That is a perfectly legal play/hit! Its the same thing as a linebacker timing the snap and hiting the QB
8:14 pm on October 27th, 2008
Such a hit like that deserves a trip to the pokey.
8:16 pm on October 27th, 2008
Just because something's legal, it doesn't mean you should do it anyway.
8:17 pm on October 27th, 2008
Bruin:
Don't forget OSU (the Beavers, not the Buckeyes) this year & two years ago.
8:19 pm on October 27th, 2008
Steve:
Hey, all our illegal activities are limited to off-field behavior. Just because we have a bunch of players doesn't mean we're desperate enough for this kid.
Let's see how he does in college.
8:42 pm on October 27th, 2008
The cheap shot taker then ran into the stands and poured beer on the nearest 9-year-old he can find, and threw mustard packets at his sister.
8:45 pm on October 27th, 2008
Now, was this Pocatello coach placed on leave with or without pay? Because if he's still getting a paycheck, it's doubtful he'll learn any lesson.
10:03 pm on October 27th, 2008
Taysom Hill should arrange a meeting with Tom Harrison, telling the coach there's no hard feelings about the kickoff cheap shots. Then when Tom's not looking, Taysom should sucker-punch him in the back of the head.
10:46 pm on October 27th, 2008
Ditka would've loved that shot. Everyone on the field is fair game.
10:58 pm on October 27th, 2008
That hit's so dirty, he's gonna need a bath in Mr. Clean.
11:22 pm on October 27th, 2008
I kind of like Berman's & Rod's ideas for retaliation.
4:00 am on October 28th, 2008
Great story, but I'd like to see more Anyssa.
4:54 am on October 28th, 2008
this is football, not tennis. a clean hard hit is what i saw. or did i miss something?
8:21 am on October 28th, 2008
Ia linebacker gets to the quarterback well after the ball is thrown, the it is a personal foul for roughing the quarterback. This is no different.
8:40 am on October 28th, 2008
That wasn't an illegal hit. The way to stop that crap from happening is:
Block the punk from getting to your kicker
Execute an on-side kickHave a less tempting target kick off
10:29 am on October 28th, 2008
“several times”?…certainly cheap, but why not kick the ball OB and send a swarm at the guy making a beeline toward your star…matters might change the next time. point of confusion…did the future Cardinal just repeatedly absorb the hits? what gives?
8:29 pm on October 28th, 2008
That was the opening kickoff. The next time they cut the kid, and after that poky sent two kids at taysom which is ridiculous because taysom kicked it in the end zone everytime. It was an illigal hit because you can't hit the kicker until he goes 5 yards, the ball hits the ground, or another player.
9:58 pm on October 28th, 2008
That shot's cheaper than a sale at Wal-Mart.
9:39 pm on October 29th, 2008
Tom Harrison is a bastard.
1:24 am on November 5th, 2008
First off, Poky is short for Pocatello, and the Indians are their mascot. As a Poky Alum who hates the bitter cross town rival Highland, I say it's disappointing. There should have been a flag on the play and that should have been the end of it. Coach Harrison has since been reinstated as the coach with no further actions being taken. Just for the record though, screw Highland, Go Poky, and Poky Pride Never Dies!!!