-1Title: Illegal Procedure (12/17)

Author: Romantique

Email:

Classification: Eric/Tami Drama/Angst

Rating: T for some language.

Summary: SPOILERS from Season 4. Coach Taylor was exiled to East Dillon because he refused to play ball with Joe McCoy. The power struggle continues.

Disclaimer: SPOILERS from Season 4. This fan fiction was written before Season 4 Episode 3 airs.

Legal: These characters do not belong to me. I'm just a fan and have not made a dime. Please email me to obtain permission to post.

City basket ball courts, East Dillon …

Vince Howard was out on the court playing pick up games, as he did most every evening. At the end of one of the games, he leaned over to Calvin Brown and commented, "Coach T asked us point blank if we knew anything about vandalism over at J.D. McCoy's."

"What?" Calvin looked at his friend in disbelief. "Are you askin' me what I know? I know nothin' about nothin', man." After taking a gulp from his sports drink, he added. "Why you listenin' to that white coach, huh?"

"He's turnin' out to be alright … gettin' stuff done, makin' stuff happen. I'm scorin'; I got some cred," Vince answered. "He kept my ass out of Juvie."

Calvin gave his friend an even harder look of disbelief. "What the hell, man? I told you, you can never trust a white coach."

Vince looked down. "I don't trust him. But he's doin' me some good. What's wrong with that?"

"It's cool, as long as you're in control," Calvin said. "Just don't buy any of his crap 'cause he don't care nothin' about you. I ain't got no use for the man," he sniped. After getting thrown off team, Calvin would never trust Eric.

"I just don't want us gettin' blamed for somethin' we didn't do," Vince confessed.

Calvin shook his head. "Our boys didn't have nothin' to do with anything about no vandalism on no white puke. We got far more important things to do."

Looking Calvin in the eye, Luke seemed satisfied that no one he knew from East Dillon had anything to do with the incident.

The next day …

Deputies from the Sherriff's Department returned to East Dillon High two more times in the past two days regarding the McCoy vandalism incident. The first time was to talk to Eric … and the second to talk to the Principal and Eric, together, during today's football practice. Also, Luke had been interviewed earlier in the day at school, as law enforcement had trouble from him and some of his associates in the past. Coach Crowley and Tim Riggins were also interviewed. Riggins told the Sherriff's Deputy that the team didn't like J.D. McCoy because he was jerk on and off the field, and not because of the color of his skin. Riggins was very effective at giving them a list of names of students and graduates from Dillon High who also had no use for J.D.

When it was Eric's turn, he stood firm on his belief that none of his Lions players had anything to do with the vandalism. Both times when he was interviewed, he maintained that the Sherriff's Office and the School District had better have solid evidence before accusing anyone on the team. Everyone involved with the incident was well aware of how racially charged any fallout could potentially be.

Eric's unwavering loyalty and belief in a team he had only coached for such a short period of time, and under such adverse conditions, was a clear testament to what kind of man he was. His new principal was most impressed, and so was law enforcement. So impressed was law enforcement, that they decided to widen their net in looking for suspects. They did this even though they were under heavy pressure to solve the crime, due to the financial stature of the McCoy family.

Not long after the Deputies left the school for the last time, Eric received word that the Superintendent's office made the official announcement of his promotion. The timing of the announcement, in the middle of the vandalism investigation, was not the best. However, the bad timing was not by design. Eric began to get the idea that much of what the District did was not by design, but rather by both incompetency and being out of touch.

Just as Eric was packing his belongings to head home, he received a call at his office.

"Coach Taylor," Wade Aikmen started the conversation from the other end of the line. "I understand that I now report to you."

This was a call Eric had been dreading, but it was not unexpected. "Well, you see, that's not entirely correct," he dropped his bag on his desk and took a seat. "You directly report to the Principal of Dillon High who reports to the Superintendent, and you deal with me on matters falling under Athletics. I also report to the Superintendent."

"Yeah, I pretty much understood that part," Coach Aikmen said. "I need to deal with you on the suspension of J.D. McCoy. I know he has a mandatory suspension for this Friday's game … but I'm hearing that you're gonna recommend he stay out the remainder of the season."

"Wade … I can call you Wade, can't I?" Eric asked. "Right now, I'm waitin' on the actual Foul Form that was filed with the NCAA before I can make any comment to you or to anyone else."

"Well, Eric, I have a copy of that form, and I'm going to recommend that the one game suspension is sufficient punishment for the foul," Wade sounded very confident, as well as condescending in his statement.

By the tone of Wade's voice, Eric was certain and not at all surprised that Wade had been coached by Joe McCoy.

"That would be Director Taylor to you," Eric countered, deciding to put this guy in his place from the beginning. "You don't get to make that call. And exactly how did you obtain a copy of the Foul Form anyway? Is it the same way you all were sittin' on the game tapes?"

Very defensively, Wade back peddled. "Oh, I don't know what happened with the game tapes, but copies have been turned over to Superintendent Dunley's Office, as he requested."

"I'll be takin' a look at those tapes ," Eric promised. "And I'd like you to fax to me the Foul Form. The fax number is 243-1933. I'll wait here for it before I head home."

Quiet for a beat, Coach Aikmen decided to at least make Eric wait for it. "I'll send it over within the hour."

"Make it within the next fifteen minutes," Eric countered. And he hung up the phone.

Next, Eric called Superintendent Dunley's office and left a message, asking that a copy of the Dillon/East Dillon game tape be made available to him as soon as possible. The Superintendent was well aware that Eric had not yet seen it.

Ten minutes later, the fax from Wade came through. Upon studying the copy of the signed form, Eric found that the box for "Unsportsmanlike Act/Field" was checked as was "Other (UNS)" with the notation "Racial Epitaph" hand written by the Head Official, next to the box.

Based on what he saw, Eric still believed more than ever that the foul warranted suspension for the remainder of the season. He just needed to make certain that the game tape was authentic and gather the newspaper clipping he had been saving about the incident, along with the transcripts of Slammin' Sammy Meade's broadcasts he obtained, following the incident.

Friday night, game night …

Eric had hit the ground running this week, and the lack of sufficient time and energy to wear the two hats he now wore were already starting to take their toll. It was becoming very apparent that he needed to hire another coach at East Dillon, as well as a clerical to help with his expanded duties. Mac MacGill would be his obvious coaching choice; however, with Wade Aikmen in bed with Joe McCoy, Mac was more beneficial to him and to the District over at Dillon High. Should it ever come right down to it, Mac possessed a strong moral compass.

Late in the day, he was finally able to obtain a copy of last week's Dillon/East Dillon game film that he planned on reviewing either after the Arnett Mead game or in the morning.

As expected, Arnett Mead beat East Dillon, but not as badly as was feared. The final score was 14 – 21, Arnett Mead. Despite no win, the Lions played their best offensive game yet and were actually tied at the half.

Once Eric finally arrived home, he loaded the game tape into his VCR and situated him self in the recliner.

"Hon, you are so tired. Can't you wait until tomorrow to watch that?" Tami rubbed his tight shoulders.

"I'm just going to fast forward to the fourth quarter and see if it contains the part when J.D. goes crazy," he said, quickly scanning the tape. "I won't be able to sleep unless I know it's there. You want to watch for it, too?"

"Sure," she said, watching the screen, still rubbing her husband's shoulders.

For the first time, Eric watched as J.D. lost his cool, was sacked and made sport of by Tinker. Then, the shocking racial slur and the immediate call by the official. It was all clearly audible.

"It's there," Eric stopped the film. "Thank God."

"You know what? It was just as disturbing for me to see it again tonight, as it was the first time I saw it," Tami said. "I had exactly the same reaction … one of repulsion."

Eric let out a long, pent up sigh. "Knowing this tape is intact makes things a little easier to deal with because it pretty much speaks for itself," he said. "I'll watch the tape in its entirety tomorrow." And then, he yawned.

"C'mon, Hon," Tami gave his shoulder a loving squeeze. "Let's get you to bed. Do you have practice tomorrow morning?"

"Naw," he tried to stifle another yawn, as he clicked off the television and stood from his the recliner. "Not until tomorrow afternoon. Do ya' think Gracie will let us sleep in, just a little?"

Taking his good hand and leading him to their bedroom, Tami shook her head. "I don't know about that, now, Hon."

Eric had been fighting a sick feeling ever since he found out that Coach Crowley was unable to obtain a copy of the game tape. Having a good recording of the incident, and seeing it for himself for the first time, made him feel so much better about his position … as if a weight had been lifted off of him. He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.