Freddy the Firebird sported some extra ornamentation early this morning on his perch outside Free State High School.

Principal Joe Snyder said a “combination” of grafitti and toilet paper covered the school’s bronze mascot, which stands outside the building’s north entrance at 4700 Overland Drive.

A few nearby trees also were broken over, Snyder said.
Free State squares off at 7 tonight in a football showdown with crosstown rival Lawrence High School at Memorial Stadium.

Snyder said he had spoken this morning with Steve Nilhas, principal of Lawrence High School.

“We’re trying to make as much rational sense of this as we can,” Snyder said. “We’re not trying to point fingers.

“We’re handling it as best we can without trying to blow it of proportion. We’re trying to help people understand vandalism helps no one it hurts people.”

Administrators at Lawrence High School, 1901 La., were working Friday to determine whether any students there were responsible for the destruction.

“The rivalry has been good, but we have to keep some things in perspective,” said Nilhas, in his first year as Lawrence High principal. “There comes a point where this steps over the line. We don’t have any tolerance for that.”