Teddy Bridgewater suspension highlights universal funding problem in high school sports

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• •Teddy Bridgewater's suspension is evidence of a larger, systemic funding problem in high school sports, not simply a case of impermissible benefits.
• •Bridgewater's spending -- rides, meals, camps, apparel, field paint -- reflect what many high school coaches already do quietly: cover basic team needs out of pocket.
• •The issue is not unique to Miami Northwestern or football; across the country, most coaches say their programs are underfunded and unable to cover all team expenses.
• •State associations and schools should focus less on punishing coaches for filling gaps and more on addressing the resource inequities that force coaches to become unofficial fundraisers and donors in the first place.