Sheridan Yellowjacket football players, parents and citizens packed the Sheridan School District's September board meeting Monday night in McKenzie Hall.

Seven people spoke during the public comment period including player Hayden Sublette's mother, Julianne Sublette.

Speakers praised Yellowjacket football Coach Kevin Kelley denounced recent negative social media comments about the coach and his football program. Athletic Director Rick Treadway was also praised for his work with Kelley.

Hayden Sublette is a Yellowjacket football player facing three felony charges — manslaughter, aggravated robbery and hindering apprehension or prosecution — in Faulkner County. He was 17 at the time of the alleged crimes, but he is being tried as an adult despite his attorney attempting to get the case moved to juvenile court.

Three others are also charged in the crime that killed a Conway teenager last October.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October 26 in Conway. Criminal defense attorney Bill James of Little Rock's James Law Firm is representing Sublette.

Sublette's mother received loud applause and cheers as she approached the podium.

"Thank you for giving me a few moments," she said. "I have to say I am not prepared at all because I didn't know I would have the opportunity to speak so thank you for that.

"I am sure you know who I am then by my last name, and I wanted you to see a mama's face, and I want to thank the people that have supported us and my son and who don't look at social media gossip and read nonsense and things that aren't factual. I just want to thank Coach Treadway, Coach Kelley, every single coach on that football team and how people have welcomed my son to this football team and with grace and friendship and love and I couldn't believe it. I didn't know, I am not on social media and I didn't know some of the garbage that was going around but I also know some of the really positive things that have been said and I so appreciate that and I didn't know Coach Kelley, I mean I know his name from PA, but I had never met him until my son started playing here and or Coach Treadway and I don't want to get emotional but they are amazing men who have an incredible sense of faith and do what God calls us all to do. Right? Not to be judgmental and help one another and just be there for our fellow man. Raise everybody up and I just want to thank you guys for doing that for my son. It has been an incredibly difficult time, but I can tell you we are going to sail through this and come out on the other end and be advocates for all of those kids that aren't getting opportunities that my son is right now. So thank you very much."

After speaking Julianne Sublette received a standing ovation from the crowd.

During Hayden Sublette's freshman and sophomore years, he played at Maumelle.

Before the 2025 season, Hayden Sublette transferred to Bryant and played until his October arrest. He attended the school board meeting along with several other of his teammates.

After the public comment segment, the team was excused but they stacked their chairs before they left after a teacher asked them to do so.