[2/16/05].

Jim Stirgus is on a mission targeting area high school basketball players for what he calls problems with the dress code.

Stirgus sent letters to Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Dr. James Price and Mississippi High School Activities Association Executive Director Dr. Ennis Proctor asking for enforcement of the rules.

Stirgus wrote, &#8220The problem seemed to be the basketball players’ shorts are worn halfway down the buttocks with shirt tails sticking out. The basketball players seem to constantly make lewd gyrations to adjust their clothing for reasons of comfort.”

Stirgus said he has seen all but two Vicksburg High basketball games this season, but the problems go well beyond just the Gators, he said. He listed nearly all the Jackson Public schools and schools in surrounding areas as being the biggest culprits.

&#8220My wife and my granddaughters were appalled at this behavior and in addition I found it to be personally embarrassing. I am sure it made a poor impression on the visitors who attended the basketball games,” he wrote.

Price said he sent copies of the letter to all basketball coaches in the district and is urging them to keep players’ pants up and shirts tucked in.

&#8220Some have the mindset that they want to be like the pros, but we are not the pros yet,” Price said. &#8220They have to realize that they represent this entire district.”

Uniform violations are usually handled by game officials, and Price said he will urge the MHSAA to instruct the officials to make the proper call.

&#8220The next time I speak with Dr. Proctor, I am going to ask him to have the officials cite us,” Price said. &#8220If our kids are out there like that, then maybe we need to be penalized.”

Price recalled one game where an opponent’s shorts kept falling down forcing the coach to pull him from the game. In the second half, the player came out with what appeared to be a back brace on. It turns out the coach had duct taped the player’s shorts to keep them from falling down.

Duct tape may be the last resort, since these uniforms come equipped with drawstrings. The design of the shorts – long and loose – also leads to a look of sloppiness.

Blame for this should be spread wide. Coaches should take more account for the way their athletes portray themselves when representing the school.

Officials should start making appropriate calls for uniform violations. That seems to be far-fetched, however, as many of these refs have a hard time making a correct traveling violation.

Peers need some blame because walking around town, one doesn’t have to look far to see some hard-head wearing his jeans halfway off his behind exposing plenty of underwear.

Stirgus, a former educator and now executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Vicksburg, will continue his campaign until he sees changes.

&#8220We spend too much money to tolerate this foolishness,” Stirgus said. &#8220We need to teach our kids about proper protocol, grooming and mannerisms.”