HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) -- A Hoover football practice video obtained by CBS 42's sister station WKRG shows what sources claim led to two coaches being placed on administrative leave.
The video depicts an athletic department employee thrusting his hips towards a Bucs football player’s face while the player was lying on the ground, and, in another clip, an employee can be seen running towards a player during a drill, knocking him to the ground and forcefully removing his helmet.
On Tuesday, the school system confirmed that head coach Drew Gilmer and defensive coordinator Adam Helms had been put on leave.
The videos have stirred conversation within the Hoover community.
"I felt the mama bear come out. I was like 'what is he doing?' as soon as I saw him push him down, I was like 'no, no,'" local mother Ruth Hamilton said. "I know the consequences of those kinds of actions. You can't lay your hands on anybody, much less a student."
CBS 42 Sports Analyst Scott Griffin agrees, saying the video is shocking.
"Football calls for some aggressive coaching, whether it's raising your voice or grabbing a face mask or getting them fired up to do what you want them to do. But when you start physically pushing players over, ripping helmets off or whatever it is going on that caused this suspension, then that's a problem," said Griffin.
Griffin said with kickoff nearly two weeks away, time will only tell how this affects the Buc's football season and how the players will bounce back from this.
"They do have to get this situation rectified and it needs to be quick and clean and, in a hurry, and if that's the case, I just don't see how the coaches can keep their jobs after this. That's just my opinion," said Griffin.
Hoover City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Maddox released a statement saying reading "The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. We are taking this matter seriously and working diligently to resolve it promptly and fairly."
Hoover High School football players and parents have also taken to social media to speak out and offer support to Coach Gilmer and his staff.