Tenn. prep coach scolded in knife incident

OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A Tennessee school district said Wednesday it had reprimanded a high school football coach who allegedly pulled a knife on some of his players.

Oak Ridge High Coach Stanton Stevens was given a verbal reprimand over the Sept. 12 incident in which he produced a pocketknife and opened the blade after one of his players patted him on the buttocks during practice.

Superintendent Tom Bailey told the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel that the players were "kind of joking, playing around."

Bailey was ordered not to display a knife again. The Oak Ridge district has a zero tolerance policy on weapons, the News Sentinel said.