North Dakota Preps

Eye black: How much is too much?
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Wahpeton’s Pat Coyne (9), Cory Iverson (18), Kyle Wetzel (22) and head coach Mike McCall wait for the coin toss before the Huskies’ Sept. 8 game against Fargo Shanley in Wahpeton. Coyne’s distinctive eye black pattern will have to go due to changes in the rule book. Daily News photo by Michael Shirek.[/font]By Michael Shirek, Daily NewsIn the past, I have compared Wahpeton Huskies tight end Pat Coyne with former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle John Randle.
It seems the North Dakota High School Activities Association sees the resemblance as well.
Back in the 1990s, Randle was repeatedly fined by the National Football League for excessive eye black. He seemed fine with the financial penalty so long as no one from the commissioner’s office physically came down from the luxury box with a towel to remove the offending paint.
Before the opening coin flip at Friday’s Homecoming game against West Fargo, Coyne faced a similar situation and ended up removing much of his eye black after being told he was in violation of the rules by officials.
Now, obviously, the officials were doing their job â€â€

Whats next is the ndhssa going to decide what players can wear to school on days before and during game days

If not mistaken this has been a highschool rule for sometime. Its not been enforced much. Only when a team or player goes over board.

[quote="point/center"]Eye black: How much is too much?
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Wahpeton’s Pat Coyne (9), Cory Iverson (18), Kyle Wetzel (22) and head coach Mike McCall wait for the coin toss before the Huskies’ Sept. 8 game against Fargo Shanley in Wahpeton. Coyne’s distinctive eye black pattern will have to go due to changes in the rule book. Daily News photo by Michael Shirek.[/font]By Michael Shirek, Daily NewsIn the past, I have compared Wahpeton Huskies tight end Pat Coyne with former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle John Randle.
It seems the North Dakota High School Activities Association sees the resemblance as well.
Back in the 1990s, Randle was repeatedly fined by the National Football League for excessive eye black. He seemed fine with the financial penalty so long as no one from the commissioner’s office physically came down from the luxury box with a towel to remove the offending paint.
Before the opening coin flip at Friday’s Homecoming game against West Fargo, Coyne faced a similar situation and ended up removing much of his eye black after being told he was in violation of the rules by officials.
Now, obviously, the officials were doing their job â€â€

The purpose of eye black is to help keep the glare of the sun from your eyes. It isn't the NDHSAA that has put a stop to excessive eye black, it is that National administration for high school athletics. John Randle called it war paint, and that is the reason he got fined. I think it is a good rule to have. Kids do that for attention and they need to just go out there and play the game like it is supposed to be played.

That is stupid they should not regulate what the players can wear on the field only the coaches or parents should have a say in that
the only reason there should be a regulation is if it was like toxic or could kill you that would be the only reason ever to ban something... now if they pass this... they could ban sweat bans for basketball and not let people listen to music before games... if you ever watched 2 a days this a way to fire up a player or make him distinct from the other players on the field

They are not banning eye black. They put a limit on what you can have on your face. If you need to paint your face to look intimidating, there is something wrong with you. Go out and let your play determine how intimidating you are.

I had teammates in high school that painted prissy red, white, and blue rainbows on their cheeks for the homecoming game.  I'm all for nipping this in the bud at the eye black level before it goes from intimidation to limp wristed.