Due to a recent Supreme Court ruling, students will no longer be able to read prayers over the public address system before football games.

Local school officials say they are disappointed, but all of them said they would comply with the order.

District 1 and 2 officials said they would be checking with their attorneys to see exactly what impact this would have on pregame football festivities and other school-sanctioned events.

In the past students have been allowed to read prayers over the public address system as long as the students initiated the prayer and led the prayer.

Lexington attorney Michael Ellisor said the ruling does not make the prayer a crime. It means that the practice has been held unconstitutional and violators could be held in contempt of court.

“No one could stop them from praying, but I think schools will stop the prayers because they fear lawsuits,’’ he said.

Ellisor said if a school were to continue with the prayer and it got sued, the school would lose the lawsuit and be liable for punitive damages. He said if a school continued the practice and did not get sued, nothing would happen.

Ellisor said that as a lawyer he believes the prayer is unconstitutional, “but prayers at schools have never offended me.’’

The attorney said students also cannot be forced to say the pledge to the flag under the constitution.

District 1 superintendent Joe Bonds called the ruling “disappointing.’’

“It was strictly a student-led thing. We will talk to legal counsel to determine what we have to do. We will be law-abiding citizens,’’ Bonds said.

He added that at one time students read a piece about sportsmanship, something like a creed, and he thinks that might be reinstated by some schools.

“It is just a good time to reflect on sportsmanship,’’ he said.

Bonds said the ruling would not affect the prayers the school board has before each meeting.

“We are like any legislative body. If it is appropriate for the Congress of the United States, then I think we are OK,’’ he said.

District 2 public relations officer Dr. Venus Holland said her district would be getting advice from its attorney.

“The legal interest of the District will be the thing,’’ she said.

Lexington High School Principal Allan Whitacre called the ruling disappointing, “but we will abide by the law.’’

He said a person could still pray as much as he or she wants to.

“If the game gets too close you can still pray,’’ he said.

He said he does not believe the court’s ruling “sends a good message to our youth.’’

Local high school people involved with football programs didn’t think much of the recent Supreme Court ruling than bans student-led prayers before football games. However, they say they will comply with the ruling.

Players and coaches said the prayer is part of tradition, and they believe it is a good thing to do to promote a positive atmosphere.

Lexington football coach Jimmy Satterfield and White Knoll football coach Marc Cagle said their teams would continue with team prayers on the field.

“I am disappointed in that ruling. It won’t affect our team prayer. I think they (the courts) get involved in too many things. They are cutting off their noses to spite their faces,’’ Satterfield said.

Cagle, who coached with Satterfield last year at Lexington and will lead the new White Knoll High School this year, said the ruling “stifles a positive thing that the kids are doing.’’

He said the Lexington High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes restarted the prayer before the game, and he thought that was a good thing.

“The students initiated that, and the FCA officers gave the prayer. I was proud to have been a part of that,’’ Cagle said.

Satterfield said he believes 99 percent of the people in Lexington like the prayer before the game.

“It isn’t worth getting all upset over, though. Anyone can still pray anytime they like,’’ Satterfield said.

Cagle agreed, and said no one can stop a person from praying. Satterfield said several of his athletes are devout in their faith and have strong feelings.

“Some of our guys who are in FCA are bothered by the ruling. Some of them personally feel strongly about the prayer,’’ Satterfield said.

Junior quarterback Kris Clark, who is a member of FCA, said “we should always put God first in everything. It is pretty sad that they would try to even take prayer out of football.’’

Junior fullback Dustin Curtis was also a bit upset, and said anyone who didn’t like the prayer would not have to listen.

“If you were a Canadian you would not have to listen to the pledge to the flag,’’ he said.

He said prayer is a big part of many of the athletes’ lives, and a big part of the coaches’.

He said it would take some adjustment in the pregame routine players go through.

“We are just used to standing there with our helmets behind us during that. The prayer doesn’t even mention God, it is just spiritual words,’’ he said.

Defensive tackle Grant Oliver added, “I’m going to pray anyway.’’

He said the prayer is mostly just to ask for a good game and that no one get hurt. He didn’t like the ruling either.

Oliver said since prayer has been taken out of school, more kids bring guns to school.

Also last week the school’s cheerleaders objected to the ruling.

While practicing last week they wore T-shirts with a quote from a Bible verse that said “be of good cheer.’’

Kelli Richardson said “I think that since prayer was taken out of schools, things have gone down. God is the reason why we are on this earth, and we should be able to give thanks to Him if we want.”

Brie Austin added, “You can still show respect for other religions if you want.”

Lauren Smith said “The law doesn’t need to take over our decisions.”

Jewitte Leggett said “If we want to pray, we should be able to.”

Coaches, players and cheerleaders all said they would continue to pray on their own.

The Lexington High School basketball team does not have prayers before games. Lexington coach Bailey Harris, also a devout Christian, had not heard of the ruling because he had been at basketball camp, but said “It will be interesting to see what happens. I’ve never believed in forcing it on anyone, and you can still pray.’’