PRESS PICKS: Time to review the HS eligibility-forfeiture rules
STAFF REPORT
Let’s start the week with a note on the high school playoffs, better yet, getting into the playoffs… or taking rivals out of the playoffs by using eligibility rules.
You may have missed it but both G.W. Carver and Sidney Lanier were turned in to the AHSAA regarding the use of an ineligible player in the last few games. The actions took place the last week of the regular season.
Why? Because the timing does the most damage.
The association will report that the guilty schools turned themselves in. But that allows them to save face, so to speak.
In this case, there is a good bet the two schools turned in each other. While there is no proof of that, the rumors were flying around the Capital City two weeks ago it was going to happen.
Lanier was hit the hardest, losing every game it won for the season. That ended an incredible run of 8-2 and a No. 2 seed in Class 6A, Region 2.
The response from the fellow West Side school was the old “tit for tat.” But Carver’s ineligible player didn’t play in enough games to lose their spot in the postseason.
Is there a problem turning a team in for a penalty? No, but timing is everything.
Chances are both teams knew the other had a player or two that wasn’t supposed to be there. But they waited for the opportunity to punish the other saving the moment for when it could help most.
This has to change.
The AHSAA should adjust the availability of when a team can turn another in, preferably at the beginning of the season. Once the “region” schedule begins, all bets are off for turning a team into the league office.
If a school learns about it after region pay begins, they can appeal and the player can be ruled ineligible, but their chance of getting a cheap victory goes away.
It’s doubtful the rule will be adjusted. If one thing is certain about the high schools, they don’t like change.
But this is one that should be made… immediately.
Mike Peacock has company at the top after a big week from Doug Amos. The two are tied for first.
2021 Standings (Week)
1. Mike Peacock 109-46 (9-6) .703
Doug Amos 109-46 (12-3) .703
3. Tim Gayle 107-48 (9-6) .690
4. Graham Dunn 105-50 (8-7) .677
5. Michael Butler 103-52 (10-5) .664
6. Rick Hendrick 102-53 (10-5) .658
7. Barry McKnight 100-55 (6-9) .645
8. Dylan Hurst 97-58 (7-8) .626
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
109-46 (9-6) .703
McAdory at R.E. Lee – Lee
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Hillcrest
Prattville at Theodore – Theodore
Tallassee at Greenville – Tallassee
Anniston at St. James – St. James
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – ACA
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Auburn
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Miss St
Tennessee at Kentucky – Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St – Iowa State
Michigan St at Purdue – Michigan St
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – Wake Forest
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
109-46 (12-3) .703
McAdory at R.E. Lee – Lee
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Hillcrest
Prattville at Theodore – Prattville
Tallassee at Greenville – Greenville
Anniston at St. James – St. James
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – ACA
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Auburn
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Arkansas
Tennessee at Kentucky – Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St – Iowa State
Michigan St at Purdue – Purdue
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – North Carolina
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
107-48 (9-6) .690
McAdory at R.E. Lee – Lee
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Hillcrest
Prattville at Theodore – Prattville
Tallassee at Greenville – Tallassee
Anniston at St. James – St. James
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – Jacksonville
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Auburn
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Arkansas
Tennessee at Kentucky – Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St – Iowa State
Michigan St at Purdue – Michigan St
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – Wake Forest
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
105-50 (8-7) .677
McAdory at R.E. Lee – Lee
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Hillcrest
Prattville at Theodore – Prattville
Tallassee at Greenville – Tallassee
Anniston at St. James – St. James
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – ACA
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Arkansas
Tennessee at Kentucky – Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St – Iowa State
Michigan St at Purdue – Michigan St
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – Wake Forest
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
103-52 (10-5) .664
McAdory at R.E. Lee – Lee
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Hillcrest
Prattville at Theodore – Prattville
Tallassee at Greenville – Tallassee
Anniston at St. James – Anniston
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – ACA
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Miss St
Tennessee at Kentucky – Tennessee
Texas at Iowa St – Iowa State
Michigan St at Purdue – Michigan St
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – North Carolina
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
102-53 (10-5) .658
McAdory at R.E. Lee – McAdory
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Hillcrest
Prattville at Theodore – Theodore
Tallassee at Greenville – Tallassee
Anniston at St. James – St. James
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – ACA
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Miss St
Tennessee at Kentucky – Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St – Texas
Michigan St at Purdue – Michigan St
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – Wake Forest
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
100-55 (6-9) .645
McAdory at R.E. Lee – Lee
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Hillcrest
Prattville at Theodore – Theodore
Tallassee at Greenville – Greenville
Anniston at St. James – Anniston
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – ACA
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Arkansas
Tennessee at Kentucky – Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St – Iowa State
Michigan St at Purdue – Purdue
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – North Carolina
Dylan Hurst (River Region Sports)
97-58 (7-8) .626
McAdory at R.E. Lee – Lee
G.W. Carver at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa – Carver
Prattville at Theodore – Theodore
Tallassee at Greenville – Tallassee
Anniston at St. James – St. James
Alabama Christian at Jacksonville – ACA
LSU at Alabama – Alabama
Auburn at Texas A&M – Auburn
South Alabama at Troy – Troy
Miss St at Arkansas – Arkansas
Tennessee at Kentucky – Kentucky
Texas at Iowa St – Texas
Michigan St at Purdue – Michigan St
Clemson at Louisville – Clemson
Wake Forest at North Carolina – Wake Forest