Ocean Lakes football coach Chris Scott has given speeches after big victories and tough losses.
But nothing could prepare him for what he faced Wednesday when he told a room full of players that their playoff hopes were gone.
"It was one of the most difficult things that I ever had to do as a coach and as a person," Scott said after telling his players the school's appeal of six forfeits was denied by the Virginia High School League. "The decision that was rendered was something that they aren't happy with and that they're extremely disappointed with because they haven't done anything wrong."
A five-member panel of the VHSL's Executive Committee in Charlottesville voted 3-2 to uphold the Beach District's decision to order the Dolphins to forfeit six games for using an ineligible player.
The decision keeps the Dolphins' record at 2-6 and ends their playoff hopes. It also keeps Bayside atop the standings with a one-game lead over Cox in the Beach with two games remaining. Ocean Lakes beat Bayside 16-6 last week.
Ocean Lakes, the defending Beach District champion, was 6-0 when on Oct. 14 a committee of Beach District officials determinedthe Dolphins had used an ineligible player. The player's name has not been released, but it's widely known to be running back Justin Hughes, a transfer from First Colonial.
His mother, Monica McHenry, told WVEC-TV that her son is passionate about football. "He's been playing since he was 5 years old," she told the station.
McHenry said she and Justin moved in with a family member in the Ocean Lakes school zone in May. In August, she told WVEC, she moved to Fort Story with her husband and Justin moved into his own apartment in the Ocean Lakes zone.
Ken Tilley, the VHSL executive director, said the committee arrived at a decision that it deemed fair and equitable under the rules and procedures of the league.
"Those rules are designed to serve and protect the best interests of all member schools and student participants," Tilley said. "It is unfortunate whenever there are adverse consequences such as in this case, but we are confident that the Ocean Lakes administration, coaches, players and fans will respond in a way that will reflect positively on their entire school community."
Ocean Lakes principal Cheryl Askew made the trip to Charlottesville for the hearing. She and Scott thought they made a strong case.
"Obviously, we are very disappointed in the outcome," Askew said in statement released by Virginia Beach Schools. "It is indeed a heart-breaking turn of events for student-athletes who have played superbly, but most importantly, have been the epitome of grace under pressure."
Scott said losing 3-2 made it even more difficult to accept.
"We were able to achieve two votes that were in our favor and that thought we acted in good measure," said Scott, 29, now in his second season as head coach. "It's been really hard, but the good thing is this is final. Now they don't have something hanging over their head anymore."
The VHSL's committee Wednesday included Dr. Lloyd Hamlin, superintendent of Surry County Schools; Dr. Elaine Fogliani, superintendent of Westmorland County Schools; Judy Brinsfield, activities director at Jamestown High School; Tom Horn, activities director at George Mason High School; and Billy Haun, assistant superintendant of Albemarle County Schools.
So where do the Dolphins go from here?
"Wins were taken away on paper and documented," Scott said. "But every one of those players - and everyone we played - knows that our players earned every play, every touchdown and every tackle."
Larry Rubama, (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
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Caught
Just another cheater caught. Too many people either should have known or DID know and looked the other way. You cheat, you should accept the penalty. With parents, coaches, and administrators allowing this to happen they deserve what they get. The fact that they got 2 other administrators to be swayed by them just shows how far it can go.
This is an example of how
This is an example of how the kids are being punished for the sins of the adults. Obviously everyone knew this kid was pulling a fast one, but the decision-makers (adults) chose to turn their backs.
And yes...it happens all over. Why...even a Va Beach School Board member has used her influence to get around the VHSL rules for her kids.
And yes..the buck stops at the Principal's desk. If teachers are being held accountable for student circumstances out of THEIR control...then Principal's and other administrators must also be held accountable for what happens during their watch.
Sad State
I find it sad that FC waited until after their lose to Ocean Lakes before slapping OL with the penalty. It is hard to believe, almost impossible, that no one from the FC team or its staff did not know earlier in the season that a player of this skill set left their team and ended up at OL. Instead, they waited until after their defeat at OL, therefore costing the Dolphins even more games, the district title and provided FC with a 'win'. Had this been handled earlier in the year, it would have shown a level of professionalism and respect for the majority of players on both teams who want the outcome decided on the field and not in the administrative offices.
Why or how would they know
Why or how would they know this until they actually suited up against the kid and faced him in a game? Seems like it might be hearsay otherwise.
VHSL Rules
While some say FC was negligent in not reporting the suspected violation until after they lost to OL. From what I have heard is that you cannot file a protest until you have competed againts the team with the ineligible player
It is a god day when cheaters get punished
First off I feel kinda bad for rest of the team, but the team punishment fits the crime. Now they should go after the real violators! There is a real underside to high school athelte recriuting and it is done both by parents and school staffs. It sound like this one was done by the parents - were the mother screwed up was moving out of the family /friends house in the district. --- But she probibly had to because when her service menber hubby got base quarters / housing she must have had to move to the base house because some one "white ratted" that her military spouse was defrauding the government. So the family/friend did not have guardian ship of the minor child ... then they got the rocket scientest idea that since the kid was 18 he could get his own place --- there was the goof --- just because the kid is 18 the schools still treat the child as a minor until graduation --- thus you have to live with a guardian. --- gosh this is fun! No would some one please tell us how did the school find out and when. Maybe they can get the goods on either the school athletic director or the coaching staff and we can see them get fired!!!! Noe that would be real fun! And it wouldbe even mo
every year kids transfer
Think back Pilot readers, funny how always some "winning" team gets a transfer. go far back as Great Brdige wrestling, Deep Creek football, etc. this year's Oscar Smith's star running back shows up from Suffolk. Some are legit transfers ie. out of state, out of region, but within the same area most families don't just move to be moving, Mostly parents think than winning team will get their child a headline but they need to know with grades and talent the colleges will find them!!
FYI...Oscar Smith's star
FYI...Oscar Smith's star runningback attended the school last year as a freshman and played on the varsity football team. He was hurt in a scrimmage before the season started LAST YEAR and set out last season. He left the suffolk school after middle school.
His Own Apartment????
In the article above it is stated by the mother that Justin moved into his own apartment. Big question how does an 18 year old who is in school full time afford an apartment? Second question how does an 18 year old qualify for his own apartment? Most apartment require income to be twice the monthly rent to qualify. The more things that are said makes me definitely think this was all a ploy to try and establish residency for enrollment into Ocean Lakes.
FC Hero
Have we forgotten the hero in this case - the "administration of FC"? They wrung their hands for weeks trying to do the right thing - then it came to them after the loss to OLHS - have integrity and notify VHSL. Oh, that gives FC a chance to go to the playoffs? Really? This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black! It is widely joked that FC should be renamed FCHS Sports Academy. Student athletes have exceptions made in every area - grades, discipline, school board policy - guess integrity is selective when it comes to doing the right thing.
Quit blaming the Principal????
Quit blaming the Principal????
The Principal is where the buck stops. That is the role they assumed and take. They get paid the big bucks and will take the big hits, like this. She is responsible for their education, safety, and everything else that falls in between, to include the rules and regulations with athletics. Sure, she may not have known what was going but doesn't excuse her from being responsible. Not knowing is now costing her and her school credibility and the consequences of having to forfeit some games. It is what it is.
Ocean Lake Way? No different standard than any other school. Details, they are not necessary when the verdict came with the consequences. Wrong is wrong, right is right. OL fumbled the ball on this one and are now paying the price of scrutiny and what you would consider unwarranted speculation.
Better luck next year, and OL might get it if they check and verify their rosters in '10.
vhsl ruling
I think the opinions of the panel should be make public as to how they and why they voted the way they did. This is a TEAM sport and I sincerely believe this ONE individual did not win all those games single handed. If I understood the mother's explanation correctly, I don't understand the infraction. She moved in with others in the OL district, moved to Fort Story to be with her Military husband and rented an apartment within the OL district for her son to live in. Doesn't a legally rented apartment constitute a proper residence? The whole story is not being told. Imagine the kind of game that will be played out next year at First Colonial! When I played football we were give skull and crossbones stickers for exceptional hits. I would imagine plenty would adorn the helmets of net years OL team.
Good
Cheaters never win!
Find out who knew.
Find out who knew this was unacceptable & take disciplinary action on them. The entire team should not be punished for this. This smacks of politics as usual amongst the administrators and especially the administrators of FC & OL, sour grapes on one side & opportunity on the other. The info was most certainly available before the first official game on one side or the other. Make sure you put it on your resume, there's probably a well paying job waiting for you in Washington, D.C.
They gambled and they got caught
Coaches in VB are required to attend four sessions of training, of which one is dedicated solely to VHSL rules. Situations exactly like this one are brought up and the application of the rules regarding eligibility/ineligibility is discussed in detail. Just because it has happened elsewhere in the past doesn't make it okay; the "Waaaaah, they did it toooo" excuse doesn't hold water. It was narcississtic of the kid and his family to think they wouldn't get caught (gee, does anyone think that the old neighbors might have seen him living in the FC district?), and it is truly unfortunate that the remainder of the team, and the school, have to pay for the mistakes of a few. However, those are the rules, the rules are clear, and the punishment is clearer. Turn it into a teachable moment: Ocean Lakes will survive this, and they'll probably get stronger for it.
HS Recruiting Is Everywhere
Recruiting by High School sports programs goes on all over the US.
Having recently moved to a new city and school district, I called the membership contact for the local travel club hockey program. While I was getting the info on the club team, I was asked where we lived and told that in addition to club play, my 5th grader could go ahead and start practicing with the local middle school JV team too. They then told me that he could start playing for the school in January. My son will not step foot in this middle school for another 2 years!
This same person asked me what HS I planned to send my son to. I told them that we planned to send him to the HS that is 1/4 mile away and we are zoned to attend. The club contact told me that the kids on my street had an "option" to choose their HS and that we should reconsider attending the school across the street and make plans to attend the other HS located five miles down the road.
The common thread in all of this is that the club's hockey coach also coaches the middle school's JV & Varsity teams and the recommended HS's JV & Varsity teams. Coach keeps clean by letting the parent serving as the membership contact do the sch
Conclusion
school's recruiting. By the way, this high school has a total of 93 coaches in it's sports program.
Winning records = happy boosters who donate cash to the program!
Don't know why the coach and
Don't know why the coach and school are upset, they thought cheating would get them ahead and it backfired, quite funny actually. Instead of relying on a sports game to get into/through college you might want to try studying a bit more... shame on you coach you really blew it for the team
Why doesn't Ocean Lakes leave the VHSL then?
They could start a new high school league, one where players are allowed to transfer for athletic reasons! That would end the hypocracy of of players being "adopted" by legal guardians who aren't family members so they can play for a certain school. This happens all over the country in high school sports. In the new public high school league, all you'd have to do is pay the tuition. Maybe teams like Oak Hill Academy, and the undergraduate teams at Fork Union and Hargrave could join also! That would be a fascinating league! Presently there is no public high school in Virginia that is not a member of the VHSL, I don't think. Or did Colonial Beach High School at one time not belong to the VHSL?
Maybe the top 10 football schools and the.........
top 10 basketbsall schools should leave the VHSL!
The rest might soon follow!