Fans' Taunts Tarnish Aliso Niguel Vs. Santa Ana Football Game

ALISO VIEJO, CA — It was the Friday before Patriot's Day and rather than "teal out" the stands, Aliso Niguel High School called out to game attendees to wear their patriotic colors for the Aliso Niguel vs. Santa Ana varsity football game. That patriotism took a turn as the opposing team arrived, and chanting and certain signs in the bleachers drew Santa Ana principal Jeff Bishop to call out student behavior to the Aliso Niguel High School principal, claiming her students had been"disrespectful" to the visiting team and fans.

Bishop proclaimed over social media that his Santa Ana Saints were welcomed into the stadium with posters referencing Trump, proclaiming "We love White," and "Build the Wall" along with other politically and racially-charged statements.

During the first quarter of the game, according to Bishop, "the student cheering section (chanted) 'USA-USA-USA' after the first two touchdowns, morally, I could not ignore it anymore!" he posted. (Read his full social media post below).

In his explanation of events, he said Aliso Niguel “was not playing against Germany or Mexico. They were playing my kids, 22 minutes down the freeway."

The two principals met during the game and Bishop expressed his discontent, to which ANHS principal Deni Christensen and her assistant principals "snagged the signs away from these disrespectful and out of control students," he said.

She confirmed this in a recent release, saying that ANHS officials halted students from chanting and removed some signs that were perceived as political. The two principals shook hands and hugged before Bishop returned to the sideline. That, Christensen believed, would be that.

"Afterwards, (the game) became more about football, athleticism and a healthy competition between two high school football teams," Bishop wrote in his Facebook post.

That posting has since been shared and commented upon, as well as reviewed over multiple media outlets.

It wasn't until Monday that the rebuttal from Christensen outlined the events as she saw them unfold.

"I am deeply saddened that anyone could categorize our (Aliso Niguel) students or community as 'racist' and I have made that very clear," she wrote in her press release. "We have nothing but respect for Santa Ana High School, and all schools."

In the press release, Christensen said that she "believed that (both she and Bishop) had worked together as two public school principals to resolve the issues (during the game), and that it was truly a misunderstanding and a chance for mutual resolution."

According to Christensen, there was no ill intent in the patriotic theme, which she says was designed purely for observance of 9/11 and Patriot Day. During the game, when Bishop told her that he felt the atmosphere was "inhospitable to his school and community," she expressed sadness and regret that anyone was hurt by the patriotic display, and acted immediately to remedy that situation, Christensen told us.

Though signs, created by the ASB, are typical at football games, the ones that were perceived as "political in nature" were removed, she said, adding that "one sign referenced former President Obama, and one referenced President Trump."

The assistant principals were on hand to monitor the student section and behavior, as they do for every game, she said. The presence of OCSD student resource officers in the stands was no larger than usual, she told us.

"At no time did (the assistant principals) witness any overt racism, or any additional political signs other than a 'Trump 2020' satin banner that emerged briefly and was quickly removed from display," she said, adding that she did not see the signs (Bishop) alleged witnessing, that said "Build the Wall" or "We Love White," though those signs may have been elsewhere, the Los Angeles Times reported.

As for the student diversity, LA Times said that Santa Ana High School is enrolled by 99% Latino, vs. Aliso Niguel, where 56% of students are white, 19% of students are Latino and 12% Asian. Whether the Aliso Niguel students were acting in a "racist manner" or whether they were just feeling patriotic, perception can become reality, Christensen admitted in her release.

"I know first hand that Aliso Niguel students are wonderful kids with loving families, just like the students of Santa Ana High School and their families," Christensen said in her statement. "I understand that our country is divided right now, and that this can understandably affect perceptions, and that we all need to work harder to develop greater understanding."

It was her hope to end divisiveness among high school students.

"I believe it is our job to bring students together during times of misunderstanding or unintended hurt, and that is my full hope and intention," she said. "I remain absolutely committed to the Wolverine community, and to serving public education everywhere for the benefit of ALL students."

Patch File Photo