Two Naperville North starters suspended

Updated: August 24, 2011 11:10AM

Naperville North’s football program has been affected by the suspensions that were handed down this week in response to the underage drinking that went on the night before the first day of school on Aug. 17.

Two starters were suspended after being at a party where drinking took place but reportedly didn’t partake in the illegal drinking themselves, according to a knowledgeable source.

Because of District 203 policy, Huskies’ coach Sean Drendel couldn’t comment on the situation.

Those suspended through their involvement in the incident are suspended for the Huskies’ first two games of the season — at Neuqua Valley on Friday and against Thornton on Sept. 2 — and will be eligible to return for the Huskies’ DuPage Valley opener at Wheaton North on Sept. 9.

A number of students showed up for the first day of school at Naperville North High School last Wednesday appearing to be intoxicated.

District 203 Director of Communications Susan Rice told The Sun last week that a number of the students were observed acting in an unusual way that day.

“A number of students showed up at school ... possibly under the influence,” Rice said.

“Each student is being dealt with as an individual,” she said, so a variety of disciplinary options will probably be used.

Before school on Aug. 17, the senior class at Naperville North held its annual tailgate party. Rice said “there was no alcohol at the tailgate party” and that the students got intoxicated off campus.

“The intoxication has nothing to do with anything on campus,” she said.

Along with any disciplinary action, she said the situation is also a chance to talk to the students involved about the dangers of underage drinking.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.