Jackson Jambalaya

 Mark Wilson will miss his son's senior year of high school basketball at Hartfield Academy after he fouled out in Rankin County Chancery Court last week.  

The MidSouth Association of Independent Schools banned Wilson after he participated in a confrontation at Hartfield Academy's season opener against Oak Forest Academy on November 4, 2025. A brouhaha broke out near the end of the game (as shown in the video included in this post.). 

While the confrontation between players and the Hartfield student section continued, the petitioner left his seat and went down to "monitor" the situation."  Wilson and an Oak Forest parent began yelling at each other until they had to be restrained.  MAIS reviewed video of the incident and banned Wilson and two Oak Forest parents for the rest of the season. 

Wilson did what Americans do nowadays when they receive the slightest of slights.  He sued MAIS.  Wilson filed a petition for a temporary restraining order in Rankin County Chancery Court on December 11. 

The petition called the suspension "arbitrary" it charged MAIS did not investigate the incident other than watching videos.  Wilson claimed his due process rights were violated as he was not allowed to participate in a hearing or appeal hearings.  

Although Wilson argued MAIS violated its own handbook in denying him due process, the Association said the handbook applied to students and schools while excluding parents.  The handbook states: 

 "Member schools agree to abide by all AAC rules and adjudications," and that MAIS "is an association of schools." (Doc. 1-1 p. 17) Critically, it states: ""individual parents do not have any standing when it comes to rules, policies, and adjudications."" (Doc. 1-1 p. 17) The Handbook further makes clear that only heads of school or designated administrators may initiate appeals, and that ""Parents of children involved in an issue will not be allowed to come before the committee," though they may submit written information to their school for consideration.

MAIS used Wilson's own words against him in its response: 

Plaintiffs own factual account in his Petition admits that, as the Oak Forest father approached the Hartfield bench, Plaintiff "addressed" him, the two ""began hollering at each other," and then ""began walking towards each other"" as emotions escalated, causing others to restrain the situation. Those admitted facts describe an adult spectator intentionally inserting himself into an escalating confrontation and moving toward another spectator in a volatile environment near players and coaches. An examination of the video clearly shows Plaintiff leaving his seat in the upper portion of the bleachers despite attempts by other spectators to restrain him. Plaintiff inflamed the situation and purposely inserted himself into the confrontation. Under the Handbook's stated objectives of maintaining sportsmanship and discipline at athletic contests, the issuance of a season ban to an adult spectator who became an active participant in a confrontation is reasonable and consistent with the authority to suspend participation/attendance depending on incident circumstances.

Chancellor Haydn Roberts held a hearing on January 8 and dismissed Wilson's petition on January 30. 

The Court ruled Wilson was not a member of MAIS. The handbook said parents have no standing in disciplinary actions.  Only the headmaster can appeal sanctions.  Judge Roberts decreed: 

Because Plaintiff identifies no cognizable claim through a statute or common-law right owed by a private, voluntary athletic association to a non-member parent, and because the governing document expressly excludes parents from standing and participation, the Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to identify any enforceable right and lacks standing to assert claims against MAIS or to compel MAIS to alter or rescind internal discipline.

* Wilson's petition for a temporary restraining order provides an account of what took place at the game:  

Near the conclusion of the game in which Hartfield was leading by a substantial margin, one of Oak Forest's players abruptly called timeout to stop the game and proceeded to charge Hartfield's student section aggressively. The player was clearly looking for a fight. Within a matter of seconds, the father, mother, adult brother, and grandfather of the Oak Forest player proceeded to leave the visitors' bleachers, came onto the playing floor and also attempted to engage the Hartfield student section. Fortunately, the Oak Forest coaches managed to physically restrain the adult brother and grandfather, both of whom continued to try and escape the coaches' grasp in order to engage the student section. At that time, the Hartfield players were still on the playing floor and in the vicinity of the Oak Forest player and his family.

6. As the incident progressed and as the family of the Oak Forest player attempted to engage the Hartfield student section, Plaintiff Mark Wilson casually and calmly walked down the aisle of the lower level of the Hartfield home bleachers to monitor the incident. Plaintiffs son, xxxxxx xxxxxx, was one of the Hartfield players still in the vicinity of the fray but not directly involved in the conflict at any time. Plaintiff Mark Wilson never left the Hartfield bleachers or attempted to engage in the incident at this time. As the incident seemed to be concluding, Plaintiff Mark Wilson encouraged the student section to continue cheering for the remainder of the game by waiving his arms up and down.

7. Subsequently, while being escorted out of the building along the sideline of the court, the father of the Oak Forest player changed course and walked across the middle of the playing floor screaming, cussing, and pointing at the Hartfield home fans. As this was occurring, Plaintiff Mark Wilson again did not react and simply watched the Oak Forest player's father. However, the Oak Forest player's father abruptly turned from the Hartfield fans toward the Hartfield bench, where Hartfield's players and coaches were huddled. The Oak Forest player's father then began walking towards the bench aggressively while pointing, screaming, and cussing. At that time, while feeling that his son and the other Hartfield players were in danger, Plaintiff Mark Wilson addressed the Oak Forest player's father and told him to leave the gym. Plaintiff Mark Wilson and the Oak Forest player's father began hollering at each other and, as emotions escalated, began walking towards each other. The Oak Forest player also charged Mr. Wilson and interjected himself into the conflict between Plaintiff and his father. All involved were held back by others and the altercation did not result in physical contact....

Plaintiff Mark Wilson never entered the playing floor, never touched anyone, and only acted with the intention of protecting his son and the Hartfield players after the father of the Oak Forest player attempted to aggressively engage them.