Hamilton player suspended for champagne

Chandler Hamilton High School suspended a football player this week for five days after it was discovered he brought champagne into the team's locker room to celebrate its 31-16 win over Mountain Pointe in the Division I state championship game.

Hamilton principal Dr. Fred DePrez said by phone on Tuesday a group of students and parents planned before the game to bring non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider to celebrate a potential win in the locker room.

"They wanted to celebrate and spray it in the air like they do in the pros," DePrez said.

DePrez said one student brought a bottle of champagne instead. It was not learned until custodians were cleaning the locker room and found the bottle that any alcohol had been part of celebration.

"The coaches didn't notice there was any difference," DePrez said. "They just thought it was all apple cider."

The player, who could not be identified due to FERPA laws, apparently admitted to bringing the bottle and received the suspension. DePrez said the player's mother explained she had put together a package for her son and accidentally grabbed a bottle of champagne instead of apple cider.

"Maybe that was true, but it doesn't matter because he brought alcohol onto campus," DePrez said. "He was suspended for five days as any other student would be for bringing alcohol onto campus."

DePrez said some of the details of the incident came to light when players posted about it on Twitter. While some details are unclear, and will probably remain so, DePrez said he believes the champagne was only sprayed in the air.

"As best as I can tell, nobody drank the champagne," DePrez said.