The Moniteau School Board can be commended for trying to take a tough stance against the hazing that allegedly involved football team members.

The key word is “trying.”

Those who see the board’s response up to now as wishy-washy are correct. And it makes little sense.

In deciding that the Moniteau football team would forfeit two games as a result of the hazing incident, it would be expected the games would not be played.

Instead, the board decided to allow the team to play the Sept. 14 home game against Karns City and the Sept. 21 away game at Clarion, even though — regardless of the score — Moniteau would be declared the loser.

Why expose players to injury in games decided beforehand that really have no meaning? Why expose players to an awkward situation resulting from the dictate to forfeit?

Meanwhile, how could either of the home schools feel justified in charging admission to a game whose outcome already is known?

If anything, the two games in question, if played, might best be relegated to a scrimmage for players not on the squads’ first teams.

Moniteau’s games stance amounts to opening an unnecessary can of worms. If the board is serious about the forfeits, the best move would be for the board to have the team sit out the two games in question, using those Friday nights for practice.

The board’s decision that players’ statistics will count, despite the forfeits, is a poor justification for allowing the games to be played.

All considered, Karns City and Clarion should urge that the games not be played.

Even the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is puzzled by the Moniteau board’s decision and has no information indicating that such an action ever has occurred in the past.

The reason such a forfeit-but-play situation probably hasn’t happened before is that it makes no sense.

Moniteau football players who were not participants in the hazing incident and who have continued to practice and work hard on their team’s behalf, despite this unfortunate distraction, deserve praise for their commitment and school spirit.

Unfortunately, district officials don’t warrant such a response for talking tough but, in reality, not following through.

Hazing is against the law in Pennsylvania.

When the school board meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the board room in the administration office, it will have the opportunity to tweak its earlier decision.

If the decision to forfeit stands, the decision to play the games should be reversed.

That would remove any doubt about how serious the board regards hazing. It also would add emphasis to whatever other punishment is given final approval, including a four-year probation “with details to follow” that already has been stipulated.

“The board just wants to take every action it can to make sure something like this never happens again,” said Andrea Parenti, district solicitor. That should include canceling the Sept. 14 and 21 games, if the board truly wants to send the right message.