MIAA Update - Football from Playoff Game

As you all know, there was a major rule infraction that occured during the PSHS vs. Natick HS football playoff game.  Today, December 19th, Mr. Fry and I went to the MIAA to meet with the football committee to share our concerns and file an official protest against Natick High School and their decision to use a ball in the entire game that was not sanctioned by the MIAA.  We are currently awaiting their response.  We will update the PSHS community when we receive the final decision from this committee. Listed below is a copy of the memo we submitted to the entire committee.  Thank you again to all families who have supported our team through this difficult process.  While the information below is lengthy, I encourage you to review so you are aware of all details.  Thanks again to the players and coaches of PSHS who have demonstrated impressive sportsmanship throughout this process.

To:       Mr. Dana Almeida, Coaches’ Representative

Mr. Brian Beck, Principal Athol High School

Mr. William Bryce, Assistant Principal, Drury High School

Mr. Ray Cosenza, Athletic Director, Bishop Feehan High School

            Mr. Jay Costa, Athletic Director, Shrewsbury High School

            Mr. Dennis Donovan, Officials’ Representative

Mr. Sean Gallagher, Principal, Beverly High School

            Mr. Ed Gillis, Athletic Director, Burlington High School

            Mr. Daniel Keefe, Assistant Principal, Malden High School

            Mr. David King, Athletic Director, Athol High School

            Mr. Tom Lauder, Principal Leicester High School

Mr. Gary Molea, Athletic Director, Lynn English High School,

Dr. Jahmal Mosley, Principal, Somerset Berkley Regional High School

Mr. Paul O’Boy, Athletic Director Bishop Feehan High School

Mr. James O’Leary, Athletic Director, St. John’s Preparatory School

Mr. James Pignataro, Principal, Grafton Memorial Senior High School

Mr. Dayne Poirot, Co-Athletic Director, Hoosac Valley High School

Mr. Brad Sidwell, Athletic Director, Franklin High School

Mr. Charles Stevenson, Athletic Director, Xaverian Brothers High School

Mr. George Usevich, Principal, Norwood Senior High School

 

From:  Patricia C. Fry, Principal, Plymouth South High School

 

Date:   December 19, 2012

 

Re:      Meeting Regarding MIAA Rule Violation During Tournament Play

Thank you all for taking the time to meet with us today regarding the rule violation that occurred at the football playoff game involving Plymouth South High School and Natick High School on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at 7:45 p.m.

As you are all aware, 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 established rule that all high school football teams 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.” 

Our athletic director and football coach, Scott Fry, attended the mandatory meeting for all athletic directors whose football teams qualified for the playoffs.  This meeting took place on Monday, November 26, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the MIAA office.  It was run by MIAA Assistant Director, Peter Smith; Associate Director Richard Pearson was also present. 

At this meeting, Scott received one of the official game balls -- the ONLY approved ball to be used in the game.  Natick Athletic Director Tim Collins was also present for this meeting and received the same directions and ball.  We can only assume that he shared these rules with the head coach as directed.  Tim was very thorough in all of our interactions prior to the game in regard to game management, etc. 

Attached to this memo is a copy of the “2012 MIAA Football Playoffs Planning Information” that was distributed at the meeting.  It is interesting to note that “official game ball” is, in fact, an agenda item (see attachment).   Prior to this meeting with the MIAA to review the rules, Mr. Fry had already purchased three of the Spalding balls so that his players could practice with them prior to the playoffs; he completed this purchase after clinching the ACL title on November 16, 2012.  It is incredible that a head coach who qualified for his first playoff game was aware of this rule on November 16^th, but the Natick coaching staff felt that it was acceptable to have their players use an illegal football.  (I believe that Natick High School had participated in a football playoff game prior to November 27, 2012.) 

The football game was truly an outstanding high school athletic event.  Both Natick and Plymouth South have very strong athletes, and although the weather was terrible, the spirit and play on the field was fantastic!  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.”  Coach Fry then asked the MIAA tournament manager to get involved, and that individual, Paul Peters, 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. 

The information detailed above is intended to frame today’s conversation and the decision that you, as a committee, will make regarding the coaching staff of Natick High School.  Principals are required to hire coaches who have integrity and believe in sportsmanship above all else.  To quote the Coaches’ Code of Ethics in the MIAA Handbook (July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2013), “The coach must be aware that he or she has a tremendous influence, either for good or bad, in the education of the student athlete and, thus, shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character….The coach shall be thoroughly acquainted with the contest rules and is responsible for their interpretation to team members.  The spirit and letter of rules should be regarded as mutual agreements.  The coach shall not try to seek an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules.”

In my opinion, the Natick coaching staff is to blame for this major violation.  Not only did they violate the rule, but more importantly, the spirit of the rule, which is a breach of the Coaches’ Code of Ethics quoted above.  If we cannot trust our coaches to follow the rules, how can they teach and lead our children?

In regard to the game officials, I am concerned that an easy outcome for this entire event is to “fire the officials.”  We don’t believe this is the appropriate response, and we will not accept this as the sole decision.  We do NOT blame the officials.  In my opinion, this is similar to the administration of the MCAS test.  Principals throughout Massachusetts are given rules to follow for state mandated testing.  For example, on one of the math testing days, students are allowed to use calculators and on another day they are not allowed.  If I do not tell the teachers those rules, and calculators are used on both days, how can I blame the teachers?  It would be my fault for not sharing the rule.  This may seem like an outrageous comparison, but it is very similar to what actually happened during this game.

When Coach Fry brought the issue of the use of the illegal ball to the attention of the game officials, they honestly had no idea of the rule.  In fact, the back judge said in a somewhat angry tone, “How am I expected to keep track of the ball all night – this is the ball they have been using the entire game – they have been running a ball in and out all night…”    However, the head official was visibly upset when their call was overruled; he understood that the rule had not been addressed.  He shared with Coach Fry that this was an unfair advantage and that we had every right to be upset.  This official should not be penalized for being honest and sincere in his remarks and actions after this major breach was brought to his attention.

My question to you all today is:  Whose job is it to review the rules with the game officials?  Common sense would indicate that it is the job of the tournament director.  In this case, that individual is former/retired athletic director of Natick High School, Paul Peters.  If, in fact, the officials were not apprised of the rules before the game (similar to the pre-game administrator meetings), how can they implement and ultimately enforce the rules?

In closing, what upsets me most is the initial response after the investigation by the MIAA. Although I believe Richard Pearson was thorough and honest, it was difficult to hear, “It has been confirmed through the MIAA investigation that Natick was allowed by the game official to use more than one type of football due to the weather conditions.”  He said, “Patty, in essence, it was a bad call.”  While I have a great deal of respect for Richard, I strongly disagree.  This was much more than a “bad call.”  This was an unethical and calculated move by a coach who ensured that Natick High School football would have an unfair advantage over Plymouth South.  If this was just a “bad call,” and the team was allowed to “use either ball,” a few questions come to mind:

·         If the ball had been “approved” by the officials then why did Natick accept the 15-yard penalty they received when this was discovered with five minutes left to play?

·         Why did the coaching staff even ask to have a different ball used?

·         Why did the officials not understand the emotion displayed when the ball was first discovered, saying that they had no idea what “rule” Mr. Fry was sharing?

·         Why did the tournament director have to come onto the field and overrule the official, if the officials “had approved the ball in advance?”

·         Why was Plymouth South High School not given the same opportunity to use a different ball?

As has been stated through MANY media outlets, nine games (18 teams) were played on November 27, 2012, throughout the state of Massachusetts.  There were weather issues everywhere.  Why is it that Natick High School is the only school that “asked” to use a different ball and why were granted this privilege?  In my opinion, based on the facts that I have reviewed, they were not granted this privilege; rather, they took a chance and no one ever checked.  Our senior football captain saw the injustice and fortunately notified his coach, who advocated for his team. 

 Although football coaches throughout the state may not agree with the rule, it is followed.  This is not about the rule, but about the enforcement of the rule.  The head coach is responsible for the players as well as the coaching staff.  If an assistant coach made the decision to send this ball into play, the head coach is ultimately responsible. 

 The attached photo of Troy Flutie, who is an outstanding quarterback, clearly displays the illegal ball.  All other photos of all the games, display the Spalding JV5.  Eighteen Plymouth South senior football players, including one female kicker, will never know if they could have made it all the way to the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium, thanks to the corrupt behavior of some coaches, whose mandate from the MIAA is: “….shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character.”

 In closing, we hope that you have listened to our explanation of the facts, not our opinions, of this investigation.  The MIAA has chosen to revoke titles from teams for infractions that were less serious in nature.  Plymouth South High School has taken the high road throughout all of this; we did not protest the game, we did not expect Natick to forfeit the win, and we did not penalize the players on the Natick High School football team for a decision that was made by an adult on their coaching staff. 

 Once again, thank you for your time.  We look forward to your response and the resulting actions that will be effected moving forward.

 Attachments:

·         ESPN online photo of Troy Flutie (Natick QB) with inappropriate football

·         2012 MIAA Football Playoffs Planning Information/Rules

·         MIAA Coaches Code of Ethics (pg. 11 of MIAA Blue Book -- July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2013)

·         Copy of Plymouth South High School “Principal’s Blog” Post

·         Rule 92 (Part IX: Tournaments -- MIAA Handbook July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2013)

·         Rule 97 (Tournament Administration & Accountability -- MIAA Handbook July 1, 2007 –

June 30, 2009)

·         Agenda – MIAA “Breakfast Meeting” – Playoff Rules/Guidelines

C: Scott Fry, Athletic Director, Plymouth South High School

      Gary Maestas, Superintendent, Plymouth Public Schools

Richard Neal, Director, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

Richard Pearson, Associate Director, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

Mr. Paul Peters, Tournament Director, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

Mr. Peter Smith, Assistant Director, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

Mr. Jim O’Connor – MIAA EMass Football Tournament Director