Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Virginia Principal Demonstrates Safety of Sports

Aired August 11, 2001 - 12:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: After the recent heat-related death of a pro football player, parents of high school football players are understandably concerned about their sons practicing in the heat. Well one Virginia principal sought to put their fears to rest.

Juanita Harris of our affiliate station WVEC shows us how.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUANITA HARRIS, WVEC CORRESPONDENT: The heat is on at the Gramby High School football practice, and so is principal Mike Caprio.

MICHAEL CAPRIO, PRINCIPAL, GRAMBY HIGH SCHOOL: With the recent death of the Minnesota Vikings tackle and the young man at Northwestern, I had a number of phone calls last week from concerned parents about dehydration. So after about the 14th or 15th phone call, I assured a parent that a 57-year-old man would go out there and do it. And if I could do it, I'm sure the kids would do it.

HARRIS: And now the teenagers and baby boomer are doing it together. From lunges.

CAPRIO: Don't pick on me.

HARRIS: To leg lifts.

CAPRIO: I tell you what, I'm getting too old to do this stuff.

HARRIS: To lots of water breaks.

RASHAD FEREBEE, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: He's a good principal. I've known him since I was in ninth grade. He always encourages us, so I was like -- I still was surprised to see that he was out here running with us sweating, you know, part of the team now.

ADAM REILY, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: I was pretty surprised because, not to lie or anything or be mean, but he's an old man. And it really helped me because, helped me push myself to go a little harder.

JOSH ADAMS, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR: We were over here at the bag, saying you got to go through and keep low. And he stumbled over about three or four bags and picked them up and smacked them on his butt, told him I'd get it next time.

HARRIS: Caprio promises the Comets there be next time, but he's not sure how many.

What do you say to your wife when you get home after practice?

CAPRIO: Don't touch me. And where's the Excedrin?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com