Bury the Brave

Max Gilpin was no coward.

It was a tough practice, but Max was brave. He put it all on the line.

PRP head football coach Jason Stinson was reportedly driving his boys extra hard that day because he was dissatisfied with the team's performance. He demanded extra wind sprints and told the team they had to run until someone ‘quit’ - and if anyone quit running they would be kicked off the team. Then he ridiculed thirsty players by callng them cowards for wanting water.

But Max was brave.

He pressed on, running his "gassers" in the August heat - more sprints than at any other PRP football practice. Max labored. He fell down. He got back up. And then Max fell to the ground for the last time.

When several players tried to help Max, Stinson reportedly yelled at them to stay away "because they were not his mother or his nurse.” Max was unresponsive. Max needed more than a nurse.

This is according to 120 witnesses, including PRP coaches and players, in interviews collected by Louisville Metro Police.

The witnesses paint a disturbing picture.

The Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney's office paints a picture of a coach who conducted his football practice in a reckless manner that resulted in players becoming ill and Max Gilpin, ultimately dying from heat stroke.

This from Toni Konz at C-J, AP photo by Mike Hayman:

Prosecutors release evidence

against PRP football coach

Pleasure Ridge Park High School head football Coach Jason Stinson called his players cowards for attempting to get water during an Aug. 20 practice where a sophomore collapsed and later died, according to witness statements released by Jefferson County prosecutors.

The statements are part of more than 120 transcribed interviews from witnesses, coaches and players collected by Louisville Metro Police in their criminal investigation of the practice where 15-year-old Max Gilpin collapsed of heat stroke.

The interviews, which include Stinson’s account of the practice, were filed Monday afternoon by Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney Dave Stengel.

Prosecutors also released copies of the 911 call made by an assistant coach, photos taken by the Louisville Metro Police Department and copies of all “discoverable materials currently in possession of the Commonwealth.”

Stinson was indicted in January on one count of reckless homicide in Max’s death. He and six other coaches, as well as two other PRP officials, are also being sued by Max’s parents....