You'd expect this type of behavior from the villain in movies like "The Little Giants" or "The Mighty Ducks," but not the reigning Broward County Coach of the Year.
Stranahan High School flag football coach Bennett Wyche watched helplessly on the sidelines as his season and title hopes slipped away after his quarterback threw an interception. The defender hit the sideline and had nothing but green grass in front of her to score the winning touchdown.
Then, out of nowhere, Wyche reached out his hand and pulled the girl's flag as she ran by. Referees caught the misconduct, but so did a spectator who snapped a shot of Wyche doing the unthinkable.
"I was wondering why she stopped running and then I heard the coach yell, 'He pulled her flag!'" said Robert Calder, the amateur photographer whose camera happened to catch Wyche red-handed.
Wyche was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and his team lost the game and a trip to the title match, 6-0.
"It was the wrong thing to do," Wyche told the Sun-Sentinel. "It was embarrassing and we have no comments on it."
Calder was actually on the field shooting pics of a neighbor's daughter on the Western High team when the interception occured and his camera began following the action. After Wyche pulled the flag, he tried to drop it quickly behind him, but referees blew the whistle and then stood around trying to figure out what to do.
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After the game, the opposing coach stopped short of saying he wanted Wyche fired, but did say he wanted him punished. The player who had her moment of glory stolen was not quite so diplomatic.
"I saw the coach out of the corner of my eye," Jessica Lucarelli said. "I was shocked. You definitely don't expect something like that to happen. I was upset. He took away my glory and was teaching a horrible example to his players. What does it prove?"
It's unclear what type of punishment Wyche will face from Stranahan or the Broward County School Board, but he might want to check for cameras next time.
Calder thinks Wyche has suffered enough from his photo and that he should keep his job.
"The punishment was handled on the field and that's where it should stay," he said. "He realized he made a mistake and his team lost. What more do you want? It's not worth losing his job."
