El Dorado, Oct 11: An El Dorado High School parent's choice of hair gel could get him barred from football games.
Benny Murry wore purple and white gel in his hair to last weekend's Wildcat game, only to be told that school officials prefer the colors on team jerseys — not fans' heads.
Murry was told his display of school spirit was "excessive and extreme" and any encore appearances would result in him being barred from games.
"It made me mad and upset. I think it's kind of ridiculous," Murry said. "They said it draws attention off the field and onto me. I had five or six people at the ball game mention my hair and there were probably 3,000 people there.
"I was just trying to get into the team spirit and support my daughter's school," he said.
Derrill Smith, athletic director for El Dorado Schools, issued the warning. He said that, according to district policy, "students or spectators who wear extreme or unusual clothing to the game or who paint their faces or bodies will not be allowed in the game," and lists examples as "togas, bandanas, cowboy hats, gang colors, wigs, costumes".
The policy also reads, "Students or spectators who dress in an unusual manner or paint their faces or bodies distract from the game and the official spirit groups. In many cases, students or spectators in special dress and painted faces or bodies act more 'rowdy' than they would otherwise. The basic philosophy behind this prohibition is the show is on the court or field and not in the stands."
Murry noted that face paint is specifically prohibited, but the school allows cheerleaders to charge a fee to paint paw prints on fans' faces.
"How could hair be any different?" he asked.

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