Moody High School has received its official punishment for smoking victory cigars in the locker room after winning the high school football state championship in Alabama. The program has been placed on probation in addition to suspensions and fines.
This is after the school itself handed the situation internally.
The high school football championship was a monumental moment for the community. The fallout from the celebration has been unfortunate.
Moody won the Alabama high school state championship.
Moody High School is located in the suburbs of Birmingham, about 25 miles east of downtown. It enrolls approximately 700 students in Grades 9-12. The Blue Devils earned home-field advantage during the high school football postseason with only two losses during the regular season. They won their first five playoff games by a combined score of 195-72.
That set up a state championship matchup with Vigor. Moody won 25-0.
It was the first-ever state championship in program history. However, the narrative very quickly switched from triumph to controversy.
A group of players celebrated their win by smoking cigars in the locker room at Protective Stadium, which is the year-round home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers. Their coaches obviously allowed them to do so and promoted the celebration on social media.
Players and coaches have been punished for the victory cigars.
Moody High School announced internal discipline for the high school football players and coaches who were involved with the celebration last week. It did not provide further explanation.
The minimum age to buy, possess and/or use cigars (and all other tobacco/nicotine products) in the United States is 21 years old. The players were not of legal age.
Perhaps more importantly, the cigar smoke can cause damage to a facility. Protective Stadium is not owned or operated by Moody. It is a Division-I locker room.
The Blue Devils were not authorized to smoke cigars and now they are on the hook.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced additional punishment for the Moody program. Head coach Jake Ganus, four assistant coaches and 10 players will be suspended from the fall and spring jamborees. They will also sit out the first regular season game of 2026.
Ganus stepped down from his role last week to take the same job at Pell City. He and any other suspended players or coaches who do not play for the Blue Devils next season must serve their suspensions at their new schools.
Moody High School will also be responsible for the cost of any damages to the Protective Stadium locker room from the cigar smoke. It will also have to pay an additional fine of $250 for each suspended player without any remaining high school football eligibility.