Well, we get over Tapp's Principal's mess, then Football students arrested this Spring, and now this...I think its about time, some serious house cleaning gets done on the WEST SIDE OF COBB COUNTY, Some of us citizens are tired of being embarrassed over seedy people in our area! Clean them up or get them ALL OUT! Enough already!!

Smh I KNOW Coach Tarpley ain't do something like this. Just because he was friendly to everyone, means nothing. We don't know the story; the girl could be lying for all we know. All we have to do is pray for him and his family. The truth'll come out eventually. If it is true, I'll still like him & treat him the same before this occured. He was always nice to me & other McEachern students. Everybody makes mistakes .- Anvy Burke

Innocent till proven guilty..do not know this teacher...but....wait for a trial.....many girls lie....

FIRST OF ALL AND FOREMOST: Yoshutup--You are rude, and 2nd of all, I NEVER SAID ALL PEOPLE IN WEST COBB IS SEEDY, I SAID AND I WILL REPEAT WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OR GET RID OF ALL THE SEEDY PEOPLE, SEEMS IF YOU LIVE HERE, YOU WOULD FEEL THE SAME!! YOU CAN TALK ALL YOU WANT, BUT DON'T TWIST MY WORDS AND NEVER TELL SOMEONE TO SHUT UP, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT RIGHT!!! I DIDN'T PUT THE ARTICLE IN THE NEWS, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEGATIVE ARTICLES AND NEWS THAT CAME OUT OF TAPP MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TEENAGERS FROM MCEACHERN GETTING IN TROUBLE A FEW MONTHS AGO EITHER. I'VE READ ABOUT IT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, AND I'M FROM HERE, I GREW UP HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE, I WENT TO MCEACHERN 1- 12TH GRADE, SO I HAVE PRIDE, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THESE NEGATIVE THINGS IN OUR AREA. IF I THOUGHT EVERYONE WAS SEEDY, THEN THAT WOULD INCLUDE ME, THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID AT ALL...
Amvy Burke: I totally agree, this man may be falsely accused of this terrible crime, I don't know him at all, and of course the victim's name is not released, but all I know is this: About every six weeks, here comes a new negative news story about our area, I think that's sad, and I would like to see our area rid of all negative people and wouldn't it be nice to hear great things about our area? I hope if this man is innocent it will be made into a big news story and I will be one of the first to applaud!! I'm praying for his family, difficult situation.

As a student of McEachern High School, Coach Tarpley was like a father figure to EVERYONE. He never judged anybody, never spoke negative, you could talk to him about anything, and he had so much wisdom and spread it throughout all of his players and students. To the young men, they looked up to him SO much. That is not in his character to do something like this and it will put a great effect on our school if he is not to be with us this year. This will also be a major effect on our McEachern High School family and his family at home.

and again, I post my comments with my real name, I have NOTHING to hide, I'm not RUDE to others, and the blank says "Leave a comment", and I have an opinion just like you all do, and I HAVE NEVER and WILL NEVER tell someone that is leaving a comment or their opinion to shut up, that is wrong on many levels. Because you don't agree w/me is not a reason for me to shut up, so if I don't agree w/you I can 't talk?? Actually, because you said that, and probably won't apologize for such behavior, I will just tell you this, No one will take you serious with that kind of name anyway, so no worries. I never told my children to shut up, my parents never told me to shut up, that is not a kind thing to say to someone that is expressing an opinion on a public forum, and I have no idea why you think you have the "right" to tell another human such a thing? I'm assuming, that I probably have alot more than you vested in this town with great memories, McEachern was the School to get your kids in, now people are moving cause they are not SURE that it is the "school" to be attached too, we use to have parades with the band through downtown P.S. years ago, before Homecoming Game, and I could share alot of history and fun times, and this kind of news is not good whether its true or not, this man may be innocent, and so if turns out to be a false story, then I hope the seedy woman gets the boot, I'm just tired of "MY TOWN" being shown in a negative light in the news!

This I know is not true about coach tarpley , coach tarpley had always been nothing but good to mceachern student body . We will keep him in out prayers . And know when this all passes by the truth will come out . - mceachern former student .

I doubt any of this is true . Tarp is a good guy . He has always been a excellent coach and friend . I cried when I heard the news . This is unreal .

As a student and athlete of mceachern high school... Coach tarpley had coached me for two years and he has always given great coaching advice and has always presented himself in a professional manner he has encouraged all the student athletes of MHS to strive to be better ... I have respect for coach tarpley and always will ... His family and the mceachern family are in my prayers

The victim & her family are in MY prayers.

Coach Tarpley was more like a father figure to them kids, he was there for them when no one else would tell them its more to life after Mceachern when the others including the principle would nt listen,so if u dnt know him dnt say anything about him. Why wait until school is out to say something nw?

And if u don't know the victim, don't be so quick to assume. She also has family that love her. All the facts will come out.

Kh the victim needs to be prayed for the whole family are drama and lairs. The only victim is the Coach and his family.if u only knew.

Oh, but I do know. Do YOU know there's been an admission? ( if YOU only knew, Smh)

Coach tarp was a great father figure to many people of mceachern . I don't think he'd do something like that to hurt his family and friends/ students of mceachern .

B.B
yes your all right he needs prayer but to give a little light to all of this and I know him personally he has admitted to this already and quit on his own prior to be arrested...... sorry to tell you all!!!! HE DID IT!!!!! this was a student no matter what her age is she was a child in site he was old enough to be her father... ( stop letting out side people that you haven't know for some time be your children father figures as the person said above)

Exactly! Thank you, B.B. .... as i mentioned ealier, THERE WAS AN ADMISSION. Now, plz have the victim & her family in your prayers. I know I will.

I doesnt matter she know what was right or wrong also, so nw she the victim bcuz he wasnt interested anymore, she could hv sd no from the beginning and we all know her very well also its called parenting and nt being a homegrl.

can you please stop calling this girl a victim! it was CONSENSUAL she had a choice. Yal making it out to be that he hurt her or forced her no matter what he is a good man and she is no victim. He was very close to us all and was there for so many students so people need to really stop. And since his name is tarnished someone should put HER name out there.. fast a** girls these days thats what caused this

Man they both at fault people need to stop pointing fingers because he shouldn't have been messing with a teenager knowing he got a family but she shouldn't have been messing with a 30 year old man. He is a good dude tho... never thought something like that would happen especially with him

All of this is awful and we all should pray for them both. I don't know this man I don't know the girl but at some point we all have to make a choice in what we decide to do. I think its sad that this is continuously happening in all areas not just powder
springs and people need to just make the right choice in the beginning and none of this would happen. They both are wrong IF it happened and that should be it. We don't know the entire story but at sometime everyone have to to responsible for their own actions. So again I pray for them both

Reading some of these posts: what are they teaching in the schools as far as writing goes? text-speak?? No one will take you seriously in the real world if all you can write like is how you type out a text message!
Now, that said..he is in his 30's, she is 18..adults...it is none of my business!

This is a sad day. Coach Tarp should have known this would get out. When you're in a teaching capacity,you should know you can't enter into a relationship with an 18 year old student. We knew something was going on, when Coach Hockman told football players he would not be there for summer workouts. I hope this young man and young Girl all the best. This is just a cautionary tale for those in positions of power. If you're doing something you're not supposed to, it will come out sooner or later
- Proud Indian Football Parent..

It does not matter how good of a guy he was or how many people he helped. If he had sex with a student that went to that school he is done as a teacher and needs to face the consequences

Yes this situation is messed up! Do i think he could have made a better choice, yes I do. Once again i dont know the full story, but it hurts to hear about this. Coach Tarpley is a good Guy and still is know matter what people say. Y'all act like y'all never made a stupid mistake ever in y'all life time. I mean the girl messed up too because she should have known better not to mess with someone WAY older than her doesn't matter that she's the age "18" and grown....... smh now all the people that looked up to Coach Tarpley wont see him at school anymore.

Don't blame the girl! She did not break the law or violate the code of ethics!

But it don't matter! My point is she old enough to make the right decision. Hell how do you know who came on to who?! YOU DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! Y'all act like its all on him SHE was in it too so it don't matter about the dang on law cause she could have thought about the law too but obviously she didn't care!

I agree and she waited until 7 months later to say something, so code of ethics is okay wit gay people coaching the same sex they like thats something the school needs to look into. This girl has no respectful for self ,she's a loose cannon nw that is where I fault him he knew she was very mentally
unstandable she has cause so many problems everywhere she was at. Now he didn't want the relationship anymore she's crying wolf!!!!

Apperently This young lady thought she was grown enough to put herself in this situation. She is 18 years old. It is evident that the relations were mutual if it has been happeneing since January. She is at fault just a bad as Mr. Tarpley. This man has a wife and kids to worry about. This young woman has college and starting her life to worry about. Why would y'all want to prolong the pain and inconvience that they have caused? They both are old enough to understand the conesquences of their actions. If Mr. Tarpley has been properly delt with, why dwell on what happened? Wy not move forward? Why not leave this man and this young woman alone?

UMM Hello this is a grown man and no matter what he was definitely in the wrong. As a high school student you really don't know about life yet. That's why it's against the law. For all these know it alls, the law in Georgia says that consent is not defense to this crime because teachers, coaches, doctors etc... are in a place of authority and they should not abuse that authority. I will definitely pray for his family but I will also be praying for the victim because that is exactly what she is ! Comments like those are exactly the reason why so many date-rapes, sexual assualts, molestation and inappropriate relationships go unreported.

AND obviously he was not concerned with his family and kids.

I DONT CARE what the law say OR that as high school people they don't know what life is. BUT she has a brain SHE also know right from wrong! That's all I'm saying!

She Can't be a victim. Nobody knows a child like their parent does no matter what age.. If she was truly a victim her parents would know. Statistics say that most females will either go to their parent or a teacher about the things that are going on in their life. The moral of the point tring to be made is SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING AND WHAT WAS GOING ON!. I was in a similar situation and knew exactly what I was doing. She is just at fualt just as much as he is...

i dont believe coach tarpley did ANYTHINGG

I don't care if she walked into his office butt naked and said do me, He should have said NO I am a teacher and left. If this is all true he threw his life away by his choice!

.......clueless

I have been reading the comments from both sides, blaming the girl. That is wrong. There have been so many girls who have fallen victim to older men. You people who are defending the coach, think about this. The coach knew that he should not cross that line, yet he did. He is supposed to be the responsible adult. That girl is a student! Shame on him for what he did.

i would have never thouught coach t would have done anything like that. he was nice to all students. but he confessed to it so it is wat it is... to the pple that dont know coach dnt b so quik to judge him u dont know tha whole story. for all we kno she could have drugd him so stop makeing her the victim they both were wrong in tha situation. no matter tha law. shes 18 and of age she made her own decisions jus like him. so keep both of them in prayer

Its funny how quick everybody judge this man.and his head coach quickly removes his name of the website for the football team.trying toto protect his image that school got issues like any other program..but everybody act like this high school is so perfect hiding behind all that money they bring in..

If he did it ..then let the system do its job..but trully i dont want believe he did..he never seemed to be that type of person! !!but lets not pass judgment so easy ..with out proven facts!!!!

Just a matter of time until things come out. This man was my coach for track. We all know he was a good man. A good coach. But a's they say what happens n the dark comes to the light. I didn't want to believe it. But a's said before he did admit to it. So all u can do is believe it. If it came out his mouth. Noone knows what's going on. And leave it be. We will all know soon. A's for now he ain't coming back. And will be missed at MHS. A's a athlete it hurts. I don't want to believe it. But it take two ppl to do anything and they both r wrong for it. He had a choice so did she . They both should be n everyones prayers

He was staff of the school and she is 18 but the issue is she is a student in high school. If she didn't attended high school then this would not be a school issue just a moral issue because he cheated on his wife.

Bless him and all of you. I do not know this coach or the girl. But clearly you all do.
But my thoughts are; it says the she was an adult female. I understand that he lost his job because she is a student but I disagree with him having to turn himself in. If she is an adult then it is not child abuse.
Just a thought.

This cant be true about coach. coach T. was a mentor to me. He was someone i could talk to about my problems. i have known him since freshman year and he is honestly my favorite teacher. I am saddened by this news. i dont feel he deserves this. however we do not know the entire story. all i can say is that if he is guilty (i pray hes not) then he will still be my mentor. i will still trust him. this doesnt change my opinion about him. he is a great man, and he has changed lives tremendously. I am praying for him and his family. and i just ask for people not to judge him. we dont know the truth so dont let this story tell you who he is. if you personally knew him, you would understand why so many students will rally for him.

So many high school students have no idea how to use apostrophies. Also, morals go to character. It does matter how a teacher acts with a student regardless of the student's age or reputation.

Not our coach T. Coach would never do something like this. He was always nice and friendly, giving me and everyone else advice when we needed it whether it be in school or athletics. I really hope this is not true. We can't lose our Coach T. You can't judge by what you've heard on the news or what you've read. I have witnessed this man in action. One of the nicest men I know and like a father to us.

My prayers are with he and his family as well as the victim and hers. He clearly has had a tremendously positive impact on hundreds of lives. So many perspectives and so much validity in many of them, regardless I think the world of he and his family and I pray that all may recover
from this in good time.

She is not a victim. It was cosensual. They both r n the wrong and it's sad. And who ever said some about child abuse. That has nothing to do w anything. Lol she knew what she was doing & so did he. What is done is done know. All u can do is believe n hope n pray for goodness.

2 points: First, my daughter is a recent McEachern graduate, and after seeing this story, her first reaction was "yeah, that doesn't surprise me at all." There have been rumors going on about this for a while now. She mentioned something that there were a lot of girls in her year who were basically throwing themselves at this coach.

Second, the age of the girl involved DOES NOT MATTER. Period. End of discussion. A teacher is in a position of authority and power over any student that creates an inherent coercive force in sexual relationships. In other words, it is not possible for a student of any age or gender to truly consent to sex with a teacher. It is entirely on the shoulders of the person in the position of power to behave in a responsible manner in situations like that, and while the real facts have yet to come out in court and before a jury of his peers, the information available certainly makes it seem like he failed in that responsibility.

First, judging from some of the misspelled words and horrible usage (or lack thereof) of punctuation in many of these comments maybe some of you should focus less on sports and more on academics! Secondly, the fact that some people are actually trying to defend this coaches actions is disturbing. There is no such thing as sexual consent between an adult and a minor. Period .This adult man failed in his duty as a coach, mentor, and as a father. At least he has admitted to his mistakes and now seems prepared to deal with the consequences.

So, now the focus is on the plural versions and possessive version of how the words and sentences are written, we can see you are a TEACHER, so that's great, some of us are not teacher's, so pointing out everyone's mistake is not so important compared to this story, are you trying to distract the issue here on this blog? I'm just wondering why the spelling and correcting everything written has a place here, there has been alot of mis-use of words and I'm sure I'm one of them, and misspelled words too, but everyone should be able to express themselves, I can tell the students are really having trouble grasping this story about a coach that they all seem to love, I have no connection w/either person in this story, but it is sad for his family, and for the girls' family, as it seems they were just having a good ole' time without second thoughts, but the REAL LESSON to be learned from this tradgedy is to know everything we do in life has a consequence, and we may fool some of the people some of the time, but we can never fool ALL the people All the time, and GOD knows everything we do, we think so at the end of the day, we need to make sure we're okay with The Lord, and the speaking, spelling, actions, nothing ELSE will matter. I'm sorry so many of you young people are hurting over this, it shows in your words, Just look at a higher power for your answers, there is some things we'll never understand on earth. ~Blessings to all.

I don't know Coach Tarpley and I don't know this girl, I pray for both families as I am sure they are going through a lot regarding this incident. However, I ask all of you that are saying how the girl shouldn't be held responsible because she was a student and she didn't know what she was doing one question. What would happen to a 17 year old student when charged with a minor crime in the State of Georgia? They would be arrested and charged as an adult, and why is that? Because the state believes that at 17 they know right from wrong. Therefore this young adult at the age of 18 would know right from wrong. However, because he was in a position of authority he is held accountable. According to sources the relationship started in January of this year and it just came to light in June, so I ask all of you if the relationship started on May 25th at 2pm would he still been held accountable? No he wouldn't because she would have graduated as of 12noon on May 25th and none of you would have thought twice about this story. Anyways, I look at it this way, he knew he was wrong and she knew it was wrong, but for him to be charged with a crime is a miscarriage of justice. Sure maybe lose his teaching license perhaps, but charging him with a crime is just stupid and a waste of tax payer dollars.

Where in this article does it say that the female was a minor? Wait a second!!! it actually says that she was an "Adult Student". 18 or 19 you are still considered an adult. At the age of 18 the government recognizes you as an adult and able to make grown up decisions. I do not agree with this I don't think that an 18 year old is competent enough to make decisions in their life that ,say a 21 or 22 year old can. but, what the government says goes, right? The only reason that this is ILLEGAL is that she was a student, he was a teacher, that is considered to be sexual assault. The ADULT female didn't turn Coach Tarpley in, he did because once again the government says that a teacher having sex with a student is ILLEGAL. If this ADULT female was say a drop out it would still be WRONG, but not ILLEGAL. This being said both of these families are in my prayers.

He is definitely guilty and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I attended Mceachern high a noticed Tarpley associating himself frivolously with female students on campuses several times. There is no doubt in my mind that this sick, twisted individual had sex with one of my fellow class mates and he should be locked away for as long as the law permits.