By: Chad Wilson – Editor GridironStuds Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds
Witnesses at the IMG Academy vs. Champagnat Catholic game last week said that some of the Champagnat Catholic players were laughing as they walked off the field during their forfeit in the second quarter. Today, the joke was on them. Unaware of Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) rules prohibiting a team that forfeits a game during the regular season to participate in the post season, Champagnat was dealt the bad news early Thursday morning.
Champagnat, who advanced through the Florida Class 2A bracket last year with all double digit wins before getting to the championship game and winning it, was favored to make another appearance in the championship game. They were scheduled to take on Jupiter Christian in the first round on Friday but instead will be rushing to appeal the FHSAA’s decision bright and early on Friday morning. It would appear that the Lions don’t have a preverbal leg to stand on in this situation as the rule is clear.
I am not sure on what grounds Champagnat can appeal the ruling by the FHSAA on Friday morning but the governing body does provide for an appeal which Champagnat attempts to make use of. The odds are on Champagnat’s last minute hail mary getting batted down to the ground. This would make the second southern region Florida team to lose a playoff game before they suit up. On Wednesday, the Broward County School Board elected to remove 8A contestant Miramar high school from their playoff bracket amidst an investigation into allegations by former coach Matt Strout concerning an assortment of illegal actions by the school. Miramar’s situation is a bit more cloudy than that of Champagnat’s. Either way, it seems that hardworking, determined and impressionable young athletes have been adversely affected by poor decisions of adults. It’s a story that repeats itself quite often these days and makes you wonder, when will it stop?
Earlier this season, Champagnat had games scheduled against Cocoa high school and Jacksonville’s Trinity Catholic and elected to cancel those contests. It was a bizarre and tumultuous season for the Lions. It began this summer when their top recruit Chidi Okeke Valentine was “abducted” by his African Tribal leaders and ushered to another high school in the Atlanta area. Champagnat’s actions have drawn the ire of many in social media and put a spot light on the tiny Catholic school in Hialeah. It would seem, given the roller coaster that their season has been, this would be a fitting end. Rumors are now swirling that the school may terminate it’s football program. This is certainly a developing situation that will likely have additional information in the future.
Chad Wilson is a college football recruiting expert and creator of the GridironStudsApp which allows high school football players to gain exposure to college football coaches and fans. Wilson is a former college football player for the University of Miami (92-94) and Long Beach St. (’90-’91) and played briefly for the Seattle Seahawks (’95). He is also a former youth and high school football coach for over 15 years most recently for 5-A State of Florida Champs American Heritage. He runs All Eyes DB Camp a defensive back training company located in South Florida IG: @alleyesdbcamp. Wilson’s oldest son Quincy plays in the NFL for the New York Giants and his younger son plays cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals.
