The football players were in a group chat and were upset that another student, who is gay, was voted to the homecoming court. Superintendent Rob Cordes said the players already regret what he calls a stupid mistake.It doesn't appear that the gay student was in the group chat. According to KCCI News, he indicated that this "should be a teachable moment for the entire school, not just the football players."
“Well I certainly think this gives some individual students a black eye, as well as the football team,” Cordes said.
Cordes discovered a copy of a group chat in which players used slurs against the gay student on the homecoming court.
The football players’ chat happened Friday night. One player's text said the gay student should kill himself, or go die. Another said he would drop out if the gay student stayed on the homecoming court.
No punishment has been meted out against any of the football players at this time. Most likely, there will be a school assembly held to promote the message of tolerance to the student body.
You can watch a news segment about this story here.