Por (OttoSponge) on November 14, 2011 (Suggest removal)

People accused of any wrong deserve the chance to defend themselves. The student and their family deserve the right to explain their side of this story. If it turns out to be true, the school’s Principal, Ippolito and Athletic Director, Hill are the ones who have failed. They are the ones responsible to see that those who enroll are legit! They, if true,  failed to do this way back in March (9 months ago! Yet, they are the ones seeking an FSHAA eligibility ruling. If this is ruled against the team, the Principal and AD should be the ones who gets fired! No coach of any sport has the authority, the resources or the responsibility to check out the living arrangements of a student of their school, however, administration of that school does.

Por (OttoSponge) on November 14, 2011 (Suggest removal)

If I were a parent of a player on that team and my child was ultimately harmed by not being allowed to play in the playoffs after going 10-0, then I would be contacting my lawyers to file a suit against the Principal, the AD and the school system.

Por (perspective) on November 15, 2011 (Suggest removal)

Otto, you raise a good point, but I tend to disagree with you that the schools have adequate resources to check the living arrangements of every kid who plays on a team.  Truth is, any one of us could fabricate information to make it appear that we live in a particular district.  But, what troubles me the most about a situation like this is the pain that the school and the violator’s teammates go through if is determined that a violation has taken place.  The school and the team get punished, but the violator walks away free.  The FHSAA needs to provide the schools with a list of things to check and as long as the schools have reasonable proof of each item in their records, the school (and the affected team) should not be penalized.

Por (OttoSponge) on November 15, 2011 (Suggest removal)

You have a good point and I respect your insightful discourse, but the resources schools have are considerably more than people realize. They daily utilize the resources of the Sheriffs Department, having a Deputy work on each campus, full time. The officers are empowered to make home visits at all hours. They also have social workers to visit homes, and their is an incredible array of internet sites they use to prove families ive where they live. They have the resourses. But some Principals choose not to use them

Por (OttoSponge) on November 15, 2011 (Suggest removal)

When Plant H.S. faced the same accusations regarding James Wilder Jr. family having moved into Plant’s zone, the Principal, Robert Nelson, made numerous visits to the Wilder home to verify that the student was living with a parent at the residence. He did this himself because as the Principal, he was personally responsible. He did not expect his head coach, Robert Weiner, to be responsible for this task. He did it himself and, despite many loud doubters, he knew it was a legitimate move. Nelson did not need to aks the FSHAA to investigate his own player, because he personally did his job. Had Armwood Principal, Michael Ippolito done the same there would be no need for him to ask the FSHAA to investigate.

Por (OttoSponge) on November 15, 2011 (Suggest removal)

This issue has nothing to do with recruiting! There is no mention of recruiting violations by anyone! This is an issue of parents who may, or may not have provided incorrect residency information about their family. Did the school’s administration fail to check the information provided to them and verify that it is accurate. This process takes place in the school’s main office and is 100 % an administrative function. Coaches have nothing whatsoever to do with this process. Once the student has been cleared by the administration for Athletics they are declared eligible to play. Coaches receive the players only after they are cleared by the administration. Their job is to coach and develop successful teams.

Por (OttoSponge) on November 15, 2011 (Suggest removal)

I’m not saying that recruiting never happens, but this case is not about recruiting. What you have is a news service (ABC News Channel 28) that literally stalked a 17 year old minor with cameras, taped him coming and going to school without any permission from his parents ( a legal violation) and put on their broadcast a copy of that same minor’s report card (another legal violation). Who gave this reporter the student’s report card? Certainly not the student or his parents. Did the school administration give it to them?

Por (OttoSponge) on November 15, 2011 (Suggest removal)

Is this the same administration that asked the FSHAA to investigate the student’s eligibility? What would they have to gain you ask? Perhaps their motive is to cover up their failure to do their duty in the first place. The school could be facing a $2500 per game fine. Could they be trying to have the fine (up to $25,000 and counting) not be imposed, If so they are throwing the team members under the bus. These guys have worked hard since last year with one goal in mind. State!

Por (Halogang11) on November 16, 2011 (Suggest removal)

If you had ever been a head coach you would know that every head coach has to sign each player’s ADA packet from the FHSAA that states that they have verified all information within the packet is correct.  The APA of each school signs as well.  Therefore they can be held accountable.  Read the fine print…

Por (OttoSponge) on November 16, 2011 (Suggest removal)

Halogang11, Correct. I have not been a Head Coach in Hillsborough County, but I do know that differnet people are assigned different tasks. Eg. Counselors may be asked to check athlete’s G.P.A s for eligibility (ie Kathleen H.S. 2009) and coaches may be required to collect medical forms, and permission forms and turn them over to the Athletic Director, to be put into your “ADA” packet, but the Principal is responsible for the Residency of the athlete and if that is in doubt, the Principal must use his resources to determine if that student is living in the school zone legitimately. Do you expect your coaches to drive to every player’s home to see who is living at the address? That would really open pandoras box, don’t you think?

Por (Halogang11) on November 17, 2011 (Suggest removal)

Yet your opinion is the principal or resource officer should see every athletes home.  Coaches know their player’s living arrangements.  SC at the ‘wood knew of his player’s and believes it is within the rules.  What about students living out of district?

Por (OttoSponge) on November 18, 2011 (Suggest removal)

My opinion is that it is the Principals responsibility to check out any questionable residency of a student in their school. If this student (Lightsey)enrolled in March of 2011 and now it is November, that is 8 months late.
The Principal can delegate to their employees roles, but this responsibility falls on his shoulders alone. That is the way it is in all schools. If this family is found to be out of FHSAA compliance only one person, besides the kids parents, can be held accountable, That is Principal Ippolito. Coaches are NOT allowed to go to homes. That practice, if permitted,  would be asking for more problems major problems.