PSHS Parents and Students
Thank
you for the TREMENDOUS support you’ve shown for all our successful fall teams
(and there were many), but most recently for the football team. As you
all know, last night we played in our first-ever playoff game for
football. Only one team per league qualifies for the football tourney, so
it has been very exciting and we’re very proud of the team and the coaches!
In
all post-season play, there are very specific rules and guidelines that schools
must follow. For example, signs at games, noise makers, face paint,
etc. As in most sports, there are also rules regarding the “official ball” of the game – this is
true for football.
The
rule that we must follow is, “The MIAA and Spalding have agreed that any
model from the Spalding J5V football will be the official ball of the football
playoff series and will be used at ALL Super Bowl sites. ONLY the J5V
will be used. Teams may not use any other ball during the game.
A ball will be supplied to each team at the Playoff Organizational Meeting on
Monday, November 26, 2012.”
Coach
Fry did receive one of these balls at the mandatory meeting on Monday, 11/26,
and he also purchased three other balls of this brand in preparation for last
night’s game.
The football game was truly an outstanding high school
athletic event. Both Natick and Plymouth South have very strong athletes
and players.
The weather was terrible, but the spirit and play on the field was
fantastic! As principal, I was VERY proud of both athletes and
fans. In the fourth quarter of the game, one of our captains approached
Coach Fry about the ball that we were using in comparison to the ball Natick
was using during the game. Coach Fry immediately got involved and
addressed the officials. The officials told Coach Fry that they had no
idea about this “rule.” Scott then asked the MIAA tournament manager to
get involved and that individual then overruled the game officials, removed the
ball from play, and a 15-yard penalty was given to the opposing
team. The game ended with a win for Natick 38-33 – a hard fought
battle on both sides!
In
speaking with the tournament director at the end of the game about this
concern, we were then directed to contact the MIAA, the organization that
governs all tournament play. It
has been confirmed by the MIAA that Natick was allowed by the game official to
use more than one type of football due to the “weather conditions.” Plymouth
South was not granted the same privilege. I have spoken at length
with the Director of the MIAA, Dick Neal; their stance is that since the
game official allowed the ball, the score of the game stands. It is
interesting to note that when the penalty was called against Natick once the
illegal ball was discovered, Natick did not contest the 15-yard penalty. The MIAA will be setting up a meeting with
both schools and the MIAA Football Committee to further investigate but this
will take place after Saturday’s super bowl game at Gillette Stadium.
The MIAA has ruled that there will be no
disqualification, nor will the coaching staff of Natick High School be
penalized for these actions.
I am sharing all these details because we have been contacted by the Boston
Globe, WBZ, Fox 25, the local papers, etc. and I wanted our school
community to have the facts. I will be meeting with the entire football
team tomorrow at 7:20 a.m. to address them personally.
In
closing, the Panthers have nothing to be ashamed of; they had an outstanding
season and have put PSHS football on the map for many years to come! In
fact, today junior Dylan Oxen was named both Boston Herald and Boston Globe
All-Scholastic – each award is a tremendous honor!
I
regularly tell our kids at events that we win and lose with class; the team has
shown tremendous heart and spirit throughout the season. I don’t want our
school to be viewed as “poor sports” -- we have worked SO hard to get the
programs to where they are now. We will hold our heads high and wish the
PLAYERS on the Natick High School football team the best of luck on Saturday at
Gillette; they should not feel the burden of inappropriate decisions made by
adults!
I
have been VERY honest and up front with the details surrounding this event and
that is intentional so that rumors do not begin. You will see a great deal in the papers and
on television so I wanted one story to be reported from Plymouth South High
School.
Now
onto the winter sports season, the holiday concert, and so much more!
After eight years as principal, I am still thrilled to come to work each day in
seeing the growth of our school (academic, athletic, vocational,
extracurricular, etc.). That growth has
only been possible through the hard work of students, teachers, staff, coaches,
and many more! I am very proud of our
students, staff, and PSHS families!
Again,
thanks to all and do not hesitate to contact me at 508-224-7512 or pconnors@plymouth.k12.ma.us with any questions or concerns. Unfortunately this is a difficult lesson for
all that sometimes life is not fair.
Mrs. Fry
Principal
