Coach accused of using slur

Ogden » Ogden and Bonneville High School officials have each launched investigations into an alleged racial incident that took place Friday in Bonneville's 7-6 football victory over cross-town rival Ogden.

In a letter obtained by The Tribune Monday, a sideline official who worked the chains during the game at Bonneville, Jason Finder, accused Ogden defensive coordinator Ian Eyre of using a racial slur aimed at Bonneville player Devin Mickles, who is black.

Eyre is the brother of Eric Eyre, the Tigers' head coach.

Finder, who is also Bonneville's boys basketball coach, submitted the letter to Bonneville football coach Matt Williams.

"Being a head coach myself, I can understand that during a heated game, you can sometimes get caught up in the moment," he wrote. "But by saying the word in the manner he did was totally disrespectful to the Bonneville player, myself and the other black players on the Ogden High School Football team."

Williams declined to comment on the letter and the alleged incident, other than to say that, "The matter is being investigated by our school."

However, Williams did confirm that Bonneville High administrators would meet today to decide on how to move forward on the matter.

Ogden athletic director Phil Russell told The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday in an e-mail that he was looking into the incident as well.

Eric Eyre,

whose Tigers are 5-1 and having their best season in 20 years, vehemently denied the accusations against his brother. He pointed to the large number of minority players who are on his own roster, and the fact that he and his brother live with a minority player -- proof, he said, that his brother wouldn't say such a thing.

Eyre told The Tribune that neither he nor his players heard the alleged slur directed at the Bonneville player.

"Anyone who thinks me or my brother is racist is full of crap," Eyre said. "My brother would never say something like that. I heard the accusations, I asked him if he said it and he told me no. That's good enough for me."

The alleged incident took place in the second half of a game that Bonneville rallied to win in the final minutes. Mickles, a defensive back, made a bone-jarring hit on an Ogden player, and stood over him in a taunting manner.

The entire Tigers coaching staff wanted a flag thrown on Mickles, a flag that never came. Ian Eyre then allegedly made the comment.

Finder, who is from a mixed race background, said, "Coach, that was inappropriate." Eyre, walking away, said "I'll knock you the f--- out, too."

Said Finder: "I was surprised. I couldn't believe what I was hearing."

In a game that was already emotionally charged because of the rivalry and because of the recent death of Bonneville coaching legend Thom Budge, the two coaches continued to exchange words.

"The most unfortunate part in this is that Ogden's having a great season," Finder said. "This certainly takes away from the good they're doing on the field."

This is the second controversy the Ogden program has faced this season. Eric Eyre was suspended for two games earlier in the year because of an incident where he got into a confrontation with the school band.

tjones@sltrib.com