Sunday, September 05, 1999
OHIO HIGH SCHOOL INSIDER
OHSAA fights court on player's eligibility
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
Three cheers for the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Rather than look the other way, the Board of Control, the governing body of the OHSAA, instructed attorneys to take a long overdue stand and fight.
The OHSAA has decided to appeal a Stark County Commons Pleas Court judgment (August 10) that declared Jessie Scott eligible to participate in athletics at Massillon Washington.
Scott was declared ineligible by the OHSAA after an investigation by an independent investigator revealed that Massillon Washington was guilty of recruiting Scott, a violation of Bylaw 4-9-2.
Besides declaring Scott ineligible, the OHSAA also placed Massillon Washington on three years probation while allowing the Tigers football team to remain eligible for postseason play.
Scott scored a touchdown in an opening game 35-25 victory over Akron Buchtel.
DEPLETED SQUAD: Although Woodward forfeited Friday's football game to Bellevue because it didn't have enough players, coach Ed Jackson is confident the remaining games will be played.
“We were down to 15 players after six were injured in the Troy game,” Jackson said. “We picked up nine on Monday but they weren't ready and didn't want to chance anyone getting hurt.”
Jackson also expects to pick up another 10 players on Tuesday and be ready to play Taft on Friday.
AWARDS: Anderson and Reading were the only Cincinnati schools awarded the 1998-99 Harold A. Meyers Award for Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity.
Over all, 41 schools met the criteria of taking significant steps, not only to emphasize sportsmanship, but also to stress the values of ethical behavior and integrity.
Thirty schools were repeat winners, including Anderson, with Reading a first-time recipient.
HAPPY FEET: The nickname “Twinkle Toes” doesn't seem to fit Allen Shelton, a 6-foot-1, 350-pound offensive lineman for the Walnut Hills football team.
But, after Shelton was inserted into the lineup as a running back last week and picked up a first down on a short yardage situation, the tag probably will stick.
“Allen has quick feet and is light-footed,” Walnut Hills coach Tom Sharp said. “John Young (offensive coach) likes to take a big lineman and let them run on short yardage plays.”
When Shelton got a chance, he delivered with a smile.
“I'd rather block, but it was fun,” Shelton said. “I just put my head down and went straight away. Some guy hit me low and tripped me up.”
Since the scale at Walnut Hills only registers up to 350 pounds, Shelton was weighed at the Cincinnati Bengals training camp in Georgetown when the team visited the facility in August.
“We now know Allen's official weight is 350.6 pounds,” Sharp said. “He's only 6-foot-1, but could play college football if he continues to work hard.”
Walnut Hills is now 0-2 after losing a close game to Turpin on Friday.
GOOD DECISION: The hiring of Troy Everhart as head football coach at Winton Woods appears to have been an excellent decision.
“We (committee) interviewed six candidates,” athletic director Herb Woeste said. “Troy had strong recommendations from Steve Klonne (Moeller) and Steve Sheehan (Oak Hills), two of the best coaches in Cincinnati. But that wasn't the only reason we hired him.”
Hired in late March, Everhart didn't wait until June to get started. He immediately visited the home of every player to talk with the parents.
It was apparent during Friday's game against Purcell Marian that Everhart is the right replacement for Lou Cynkar, the Warriors former coach who retired following the 1998 season.
Two things stuck out during and after the game.
First, Everhart has everything in prospective.
Rather than rant and rave after an official made a mistake by inad vertently blowing a whistle that nullified a long run, Everhart accepted the apology and went on to the next play. He never questioned a call.
Secondly, the Winton Woods players were good sports.
Immediately after the game, won 10-7 by Winton Woods, players from both teams knelt side-by-side at midfield to pray. Spectators from both side applauded the ritual.
IN MEMORY: Former Indian Hill, La Salle, Sycamore and Conner head football coach Joe Clark, who passed away last week, will be remembered for more than just coaching.
One of the nice guys in the profession who seldom raised his voice, Clark's life-long influence on thousands of students and athletes will be his legacy.
During Clark's football coaching career, he amassed a 221-98-9 record, which included three undefeated seasons and 12 league championships.
Inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Clark also was named Cincinnati Hills League Coach of the Year 12 times.
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