It seems Sunday’s story on the athletic program at La Marque Independent School District has a lot of people talking, and some worried, about the possibility of shutting down the storied football program.

Related story: Can money be saved if La Marque cuts sports?

The article does pose the question what would happen to La Marque if athletics were cut. Those who read the article know that the resounding answer is no, La Marque school district is not considering cutting a program that keeps students engaged and working hard in and out of the classroom.

Everyone from trustees to coaches and community members talked about the importance of sports at La Marque. But, Houston TV stations picked up the story and gave many the impression that athletics was on the chopping block.

Athletic Director Mike Jackson did say the program’s budget would be cut by about $50,000 but that would be made up through help from the community and area businesses.

Today La Marque spokeswoman Margaret Simon sent over a news release to reassure readers that while the district is attempting to cut $5 million from its overall budget, cutting the sports program is at the bottom of the list.

LMISD: Athletics not on chopping block

LA MARQUE — The Daily News obtained a video of the fight that occurred on Jan. 13 at the La Marque High School gym after a basketball game between Manvel and La Marque.

It is not known who shot the video or if it was edited before The Daily News obtained it. The Daily News only edited the video for length. The video ends shortly after the fight is broken up.

The video begins once the fight has already begun. There are many people running in the video and some screaming. There is footage of someone in red Manvel shorts and sweatshirt fighting back against someone dressed in black.

At one point someone close to the camera said, “They punched the coach.”

The fight began after the La Marque basketball team had gone to the locker room and the Manvel team waited for the bus to pull up. The fight and the punishment handed out to students involved were a topic at Thursday's La Marque school board meeting.