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Prep News And Notes: FHSAA Suspends 4 Area Teams

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By The Tampa Tribune | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2007

GAINESVILLE - Four area football teams have been suspended from competition for failure to comply with the Florida High School Athletic Association's steroid testing policy, which requires all football teams to submit their rosters to the FHSAA.

Blake, Cambridge, King and Osceola missed the Saturday deadline to submit rosters and are barred from competing until their rosters get to the FHSAA's office.

At the FHSAA's Board of Directors meeting Monday in Gainesville, some minor changes were voted into effect.

In addition to finalizing the criteria for the search for the FHSAA's next commissioner after John Stewart retires in 2008 to require applicants to have at least a master's degree and 10 years experience in a position such as athletic director or superintendent, the Board approved other measures.

•The district runner-up in tennis will advance to the region tournament.

•Softball players are now permitted to wear metal cleats and metal toe plates.

•The softball pitching mound will remain at 43 feet for a third season.

•An invitational state tournament for boys and girls lacrosse was approved as 63 boys teams and 62 girls teams accepted an invitation to play in the state tournament held April 18-19.

•The weightlifting open qualifying tournament format has been eliminated in favor of a structured qualifying format.

•An illegal player in baseball is restricted to the bench or dugout instead of being ejected.

•The Academic Team Champion awards program will include all 31 sports in which the FHSAA has a state championship series.

IMAGE TARNISHED?: Freedom football coach Marquel Blackwell and Tampa Bay Tech coach C.C. Culpepper are hoping their program's reputation isn't tarnished after a brawl broke out during their team's district game on Friday. In the first quarter, after a Tech player was tackled out of bounds near the Tech bench, a brawl ensued that resulted in six Freedom players, three Tech players and a Tech JV coach being ejected.

Tech went on to win 19-0 and improved to 4-0 while Freedom fell to 0-3.

Blackwell said Monday the game was "ugly" and that the brawl "was embarrassing." Blackwell added he was unhappy with the perception his team is receiving regarding Friday's brawl at Tech.

"When you look at it and it says eight Freedom players, what's the perception of that?" Blackwell said. "We don't preach that."

Blackwell said he hasn't heard anything from the FHSAA regarding suspensions, but is confident his players will be perceived in a different light once the truth comes out.

Culpepper met with Tampa Bay Tech's principal and athletic director late Friday evening to discuss the incident and possible disciplinary action. But the fight, Culpepper said, has done some damage to the Titans' amazing start this season.

"It's been such a wonderful start for us," Culpepper said. "It's unfortunate to see it tarnished by a 20-second incident."

Hillsborough County Athletic Director Lanness Robinson said the Hillsborough County Athletic Department is trying to "find out as much information as we can" to help each school determine the appropriate punishment.

Robinson said he was on his way to the Gaither-Jefferson game when he received a call regarding the brawl.

Tampa Bay Tech athletic director Joe Reid said it's in the hands of the FHSAA.

"The FHSAA has to review and then mandate any disciplinary action [against the players]," Reid said. "They have the game report the officials filed and it is being reviewed. At that point they will make a decision."

FHSAA spokesperson Robert Hernberger said the situation "is being investigated" and that "there's not been any movement on it."

Hernberger said it'll likely be Wednesday before decisions are rendered.

DOMINANT EFFORT: Armwood coach Sean Callahan couldn't help but be impressed with the effort of his defense Friday night against Newsome, especially considering the Hawks were down three starters on that side of the ball. And it all starts with the effort on the front seven, which could be recognized as the best group in program history by season's end.

Callahan was especially impressed with the effort of linebackers Chris Greene and Casey Callahan, the coach's son, who don't get a whole lot of credit on a defense filled with big names.

"Their level of play has been outstanding," the coach said.

Callahan also liked the job turned in by Leon Johnson, who converted mid-week from his defensive line position to fill in for starting middle linebacker Petey Smith, who was one of three Hawks defensive starters to miss Friday's win over Newsome with an injury. Lineman Sergio Joyner and safety Aaron Duncan were the other starters to miss the game.

Lineman Zach Beasley (six sacks) also has been outstanding early, especially considering the front four has missed Joyner and Matt Patchan for portions of this season.

Patchan, who left Friday night's win over Newsome with a right shoulder injury, is questionable for this week at Jefferson. Patchan was scheduled to meet with his doctor on Monday, Callahan said, adding the standout two-way lineman's injury had improved since Friday.

Callahan said he is worried about the lack of continuity with his defense - the group has not been at full strength yet this season - but has been at ease after watching the performance's through the first month of the season. The Hawks, who moved up two spots to No. 26 in the latest Rivals.com National Fab 50 poll released Monday, have allowed only one touchdown through four games, and it's been 14 quarters since Plant quarterback Aaron Murray broke the goal line in the second quarter of the Armwood's season opener.

BLAKE-MIDDLETON: Tickets for the Blake-Middleton football game this Saturday at Raymond James Stadium are on sale at Blake High from 11-1 p.m. as of Monday and will go on sale at Middleton on Wednesday. A booster club booth will be set up at Middleton until Saturday at 1 p.m. Blake will sell its tickets at the stadium on Saturday. Tickets are $8. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

For more ticket information, contact Blake High at (813) 272-3422 and Middleton at 233-3360.

Last season, the rivalry classic drew just under 9,000 fans, according to Robinson. Robinson said the game was slated for Friday night, but because of the South Florida-West Virginia game, it had to be moved to Saturday.

The rivalry game, which was played in the afternoon last year, had been moved to a night game to avoid the heat.

"I don't think anyone was happy with the three o'clock game in that heat," Robinson said.

Cristina Ledra, Nick Williams, Matt Postins, Adam Adkins

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