The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
A year after its best season, the Ocean Lakes High School football team had won its first six games and appeared primed for another successful playoff run.
On Wednesday, though, the team's postseason prospects were all but dashed when the Dolphins, the second-ranked team in South Hampton Roads and No. 6 in the state, were ordered to forfeit all six victories this season for using an ineligible player.
Donald E. Robertson Jr., chairman of the Beach District of the Virginia High School League, said in a statement that the administration at First Colonial High School formally questioned the eligibility of an Ocean Lakes player, citing concerns that he was not residing in that school's attendance zone.
A committee of Beach officials - Robertson, Green Run Principal George Parker and Kellam Principal Bruce
Biehl - unanimously determined the player was in violation of a state transfer rule that outlines residency requirements for participation in high school sports.
VHSL guidelines require forfeiture of all games in which an ineligible athlete participates.
The committee did not name the player.
Last year, Ocean Lakes was undefeated during the regular season, won its first outright Beach District championship and advanced to the Eastern Region Division 6 championship game.
"In short, it was a heartbreaking decision to have to make - to take away the hopes that so many fine young men had of moving toward a regional, even a state, championship," Robertson said in the statement. "However, if Virginia Beach is to hold to the highest standard of sportsmanship we cannot ignore the rules promulgated by the agency that governs high school sports in this state, even when the resulting decision is painful to so many."
Ocean Lakes is expected to appeal the decision. Attempts to reach Dolphins coach Chris Scott and athletic director John Williams were unsuccessful. Ocean Lakes Principal Cheryl Askew, reached by telephone, would neither confirm nor deny the committee's decision. First Colonial athletic director Hollie Godfrey said the school would have no comment.
While no one close to the story was talking publicly, news of the forfeits spread quickly and figures to ripple through South Hampton Roads as football teams approach the final four weeks of the regular season.
The Dolphins probably fell out of playoff contention. The forfeits would end the team's regular-season district winning streak at 12 games instead of 18.
The forfeits leave Bayside alone atop the Beach District standings. First Colonial, which lost 36-14 to Ocean Lakes on Oct. 2, improves to 5-1, and Kempsville, which lost 42-7 to the Dolphins on Sept. 17, improves to 4-2.
Bayside coach Darnell Moore said he planned to tell his team before Wednesday's practice about the news.
"I feel bad for the kids who weren't involved," Moore said. "It's unfortunate because I've been in a similar situation before. We didn't have to forfeit as many games and we still made the playoffs. But it's a tough situation. It's unfair to the other kids, but rules are rules."
Last season, Ocean Lakes and Oscar Smith played for the Eastern Region Division 6 championship, won by Oscar Smith 28-21. A rematch now looks unlikely, and Oscar Smith coach Rich Morgan called the news "depressing."
"I feel bad for them because they were having a good season and they were well on their way to the playoffs," said Morgan, whose team is the top-ranked Group AAA team in the state and in South Hampton Roads. "Unfortunately, one kid being ineligible affects the other 50 on the team. And that's a tough thing for a 16- or 17-year-old kid to swallow."
Mike McCall, information and communication specialist for the VHSL, said Ocean Lakes has seven days to appeal the decision. He added that appeal hearings are held every two weeks and that, because one was held Wednesday, the earliest Ocean Lakes' case could be heard is Oct. 28.
In 2005, Landstown High School in Virginia Beach forfeited four games for using an ineligible player. A five-member panel of the VHSL executive committee voted unanimously to overturn the forfeits, and the Eagles went on to reach the Group AAA Division 6 state championship game.
Ocean Lakes plays Friday against Green Run.
"Indisputably, this decision will cause anguish for the fine athletes and the larger community associated with the Ocean Lakes Dolphins," said Robertson, the Beach District chairman. "The skill that the Dolphins have exhibited on the gridiron has been in a word, superb."
Larry Rubama, (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
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Some thoughts on the recent
Some thoughts on the recent misfortunes surrounding Ocean Lakes alleged use of an ineligible player. I believe that Ocean Lakes is still the second best team in Hampton Roads even without this player and even at 0-6. If the player is not Hunter or Thoroughgood, then Ocean Lakes has not lost a beat. I think the talent gap between Oscar Smith and OL is considerable enough to say that even without this misstep, OS would win out in a head to head meeting. You are talking about a top 10 team nationally and the number one team in the state. So let us focus our attention on the beach district. Ocean Lakes is number one with Bayside a distant number two. The head to head matchup will be in favor of OL. I know nothing about the player in question, but I do know that Ocean Lakes is a first rate program and it is the only school besides Oakton/Grassfield that has given Oscar Smith a scare. An 0-6 OL without the ineligible player could beat 99 percent of the teams in the state. if OL does not get their wins back, the playoffs will be a joke and the rest of their games against their oponents will be a joke. OL, with one of the worst records in HR, will still be a considerable favorite in every
"There is allot more to this
"There is allot more to this story then is being told, " Since you know this, perhaps you know why the player said he was going to go to different schools for their football teams. ? That is what I would really like to know. Is this all as innocent as you claim?
This student couldn't stay put to finish out high school in one place? Let's see, his mom is sick, his dad is overseas with the military...and he is moved from address to address. And a legal change of guardianship happened with every address change? That is what is supposed to happen. If a child's guardian is being changed every year, that perhaps is something social services should look into.
READ the CODE!!!
* FIRST COLONIAL, YOU NEED TO RE-READ WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO IMPLY TO the Community*
You are saying that you had to WAIT 3 days AFTER we played each other,to report a violation, which is FALSE. You have 3 days to FILE the complaint, after KNOWING of an eligibility problem, you DO NOT have to wait until AFTER we have played. FC waited, until AFTER we played, so that they would get a FREE WIN. FC also waited to report the violation, so that they could knock OL out of play off hopes. If rules are rules, and we should tell our kids that this is part of life, then please tell me how a parent is to explain the HORRIBLE HONOR and CHARACTER that FC Admin. has demonstrated here. FC obviously does not care about the child in question. FC cares MORE about their football record, than they do the young man in question. There is no Honor or Character in what FC did. I will personally take what they did to the school board and let them know what I think about their so-called Honor Policy. The only persons here demonstrated honor, are on the OL Football team- They have stood beside their teammate and will take the losses, if so deemed appropriate.
*28-14-1 DUE PROCESS RULE-Whenever a princip
"Donald E. Robertson Jr.,
"Donald E. Robertson Jr., chairman of the Beach District of the Virginia High School League, said in a statement that the administration at First Colonial High School formally questioned the eligibility of an Ocean Lakes player, citing concerns that he was not residing in that school's attendance zone. A committee of Beach officials - Robertson, Green Run Principal George Parker and Kellam Principal Bruce Biehl - unanimously determined the player was in violation of a state transfer rule that outlines residency requirements for participation in high school sports."
If nothing was done wrong, then why was there unanimous agreement amongst the committee?
I think there is too much defensiveness and hearsay going on here from people who claim to know all, but probably know little. Let's all wait to see what happens.
Truth is somewhere in the middle
I have no inside information, but I suspect that the level of "sinister" behavior is a lot less than many of you think. While I do not have specific info, I do have a great understanding of the system.
If, in fact, there was a meeting between FC and OLHS, I guarantee everyone left the meeting knowing that a transfer of guardianship had to occur. It is more likely that there was a deadline for that paperwork that was not met. Once that deadline passed, then FC reported the violation. Since the athletic leagues don't meet everyday, there was probably a delay since the report to the actual meeting that occured this week.
Conspiracy theories are great, but if this was all known before the season started, I doubt there was much of a conspiracy here. It is more likely an issue of government lag. Nothing ever gets done quickly.
Newt757
Not really... There was a meeting this past summer regarding this same player in question. This player had previously had his eligibility questioned, during passing league, and paperwork was submitted and it passed, Obviously. The player did not need to get guardianship papers signed, and OL failed to comply. FC is questioning that the player still has furniture in his dad's house. Yes, if you have the old address, all furniture must be out of that house, and deemed that the move is permanent. Since the player MIGHT have a bed or desk there, (who knows) this is the problem. This player's Dad is fighting for our country, and his mother is very sick. My problem, is simply, that is wasn't ever about the child ATTENDING Ocean Lakes, only playing on the team. The ONLY people here playing by the HONOR CODE, is the player/parents in question. They have done nothing wrong. Great message to send to a graduating teen. Welcome to the World! Please, this is way past caring for the child. FC cared about their record more than they ever cared about this young man.
The Facts
The student in question does in fact live in the Ocean Lakes School district; he has since he transferred to Ocean Lakes the end of the school year last year. His parents live in the Cox school district; he does not live with his parents for a couple of reason which was stated by his cousin on this message board. First Colonial, the coach in particular is upset they lost this player. They are challenging the rule within a rule which states the family cannot live at two residences. This is a unique case because the father is in the military. The student can in fact continue to go to Ocean Lakes High School since he does live in the district. When the appeal is heard on Oct 28th, cool heads will prevail and common sense will see through the real reasons behind First Colonials motivation and Ocean Lakes will get the 6 wins back. There is allot more to this story then is being told, First Colonial needs to take a look in the mirror, I feel bad for the kids at First Colonial and they know why. Ocean Lakes is a first class High School; Coach Scott is a great coach and more importantly a great person and role model to all the kids at Ocean Lakes.
Go DOLPHINS!
OL Dolphins have played an incredible first 6 games and tonight's game against Green Run should be no different!
***GO DOLPHINS***
It really p***es me off that First Colonial would raise the ineligible issue mid-season and because OL Dolphins are 6-0. This is sneaky and underhanded. FC should be admonished for their "belated" reporting if they had information before the season began. That would be like me watching a coworker fudge numbers last year and then when its convenient for my promotion, reporting it next year. Way unethical - not what I want to teach my kids. The committee should now be obligated to dismiss the alleged ineligibility due to improper "discovery". But if they don't, then a proportionate justice should be distributed across the spectrum of do-wrongers (FC, OL & player), not the high school football team; especially, given the fact that in no way, this one player could be responsible for the sweeping wins against all 6 teams!
So Sad for All Players
The events at OLHS this week have been so sad for all the players through out our district. It is no surprise that this was reported 6 games into the season....knowing that the OL football team would probably be eliminated from any playoff placement. People just waiting to pounce.High School sports is so cut throat..is it the Kids, the parents, the coaches, and or the administration? I do not think the administration, Coach Scott (who is held in the highest regard and should be)knowingly ignored this player, but I do think there was a laps in job responsibilities and now all the players have to suffer. OL football may have to give up there 6 wins but we all know who is the BEST TEAM IN THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH. Go OL!!!
Sad
Yes its sad that one player can mess up a whole team, but when it comes to sports its one team one fight. YOU ARE RIGHT WE DO KNOW WHO THE BEST TEAM IN VIRGINIA BEACH IS!! GO BAYSIDE!!