There is no question that they broke a rule, however, to tell someone because they played a significant role on their team they are going to be penalized more severely is wrong. If one is going to pay for the infraction, then why don't they all? Once again it's the dumbing down of our society. Perhaps the Bluebirds should get a bye in the first round of the playoffs, because of this, just to make up for the anguish the team has sustained.

It is my understanding the student didn't even redeem the coupon making the an even larger travesty. The others did and they forfeited nothing. I agree with Stacey, what did the billboard do to help the performances?
Doug Chickering has been there too long.

Unfortunately if Throndson, coaches, and parents would have read the information given out at code meetings they would have realized that they were getting "paid" for endorsing a product using their school's names. Clearly spelled out in the code, BUT so isn't drug/alcohol use and non-passing grades -- where are those punishments? There are several athletes that break those rules but are still allowed to play without consequence because it would affect the game if they didn't. If those kids on the billboard would not have been given the "coupon" by Throndson they would not have been breaking any codes.

NVgrf...RIGHT ON!! You could not have said it any better!!

Folks always look for someone to blame in a situation like this. And usually unfairly, the blame is placed on the head coach. Coach Dye is a terrific coach and role model for the kids at Parker. But sadly enough the jughead crowd that usually knows nothing about the details of a situation is the first to assign blame. Those who do so much for the kids of Janesville need community support, not the ignorant attacks of small minded peanutheads!

Why the sarcasm against Coach Dye?? Hasn't he always done what is best for the kids?

"The WIAA also imposed forfeits on the Janesville Parker football team and the Bluebirds hockey team, but it reversed those rulings two weeks ago, after the school district appealed, apparently because the student involved did not influence the outcomes of those games".
So what was the outcome that influence the CC team members, Did they have Billboard statigicaly placed on the Cross country course, dit they have their billboards put to the exact height to have the sun blind them on the course???.. come on... What good for one, is good for all!!! Just because they have a money generating sport(hockey, and football), they are excused.. BULL...
I think the WIAA should re-think their decision

Thanks Joe Dye. Hope Parker football goes far.

Craig HS, no. I was talking about the WIAA jurisdiction, the state of Wisconsin.

tjncj, do you have evidence of steriod abuse?

Ridiculous. Years of hard work by the entire team and to have some bureaucrat take it away for $25. They should worry more about the steroid abuse and rampant code breaking that occurs in the schools. So much for the punishment fitting the "crime".