University School is not going to play its high school football playoff game against Glenville. The Preppers are prepared to end their season with a forfeit if that is the final outcome.
This decision stems from an ongoing investigation into its first-round opponent.
The governing body of high school football in Ohio deemed its opponent ineligible. A local judge allowed them to play anyway!
Glenville received a temporary restraining order.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced on Thursday that Glenville High School is banned from the playoffs. It stemmed from an investigation into eligibility violations.
Ted Ginn Sr. serves as the head coach of the Tarblooders, one of the most dominant programs in the state. He also founded the nearby Ginn Academy. Ginn Academy does not have a football team. As such, its students are allowed to play at another school.
However, the rule is very specific. Any student who attends Ginn Academy has the option to play high school football for the Cleveland Metro school that is “closest to their place of residence.”
That does not mean they get to pick where they want to play. They can only play for the school closest to them.
According to the OHSAA, Glenville did not adhere to the rule as it is written. Ginn supposedly allowed Ginn Academy students to play for the Tarblooders even though Glenville is not the school closest to their residence.
Although the investigation remains ongoing, the OHSAA determined that it had enough reason to remove Glenville from the postseason. The Tarblooders were not allowed to compete in the playoffs as of Thursday night.
And then it got litigious.
At least two Glenville football players (and their parents) went to court on Friday morning and filed a lawsuit against the OHSAA. Judge Andrew Santoli of the Cuyahoga County Common Please Court granted them with a temporary restraining order and ruled that the playoff game must be completed before the end of the weekend. The Tarblooders are allowed to play per court mandate.
University School will not play the Ohio high school football playoff game.
The high school football playoff game was originally scheduled for Friday night. It was not played as scheduled.
However, judge Santoli said that it must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night so the OHSAA rescheduled kickoff for Saturday afternoon. Glenville is allowed to play because of the restraining order. University School has decided to not to.
The Preppers are going to prepare for the next round of the playoffs. They are prepared to forfeit against the Tarblooders.
“University School prepared and looked forward to competing in this year’s State Football Tournament in its match-up with Glenville, originally scheduled for the evening of Friday, October 30. We were disappointed to learn of the initial cancellation of the contest on Thursday, October 29 and, then, surprised to learn of the temporary restraining order leading the OHSAA to reschedule the game for the afternoon of Saturday, October 31. We will not compete in the now re-scheduled contest, respect the court’s prudence in deciding the ultimate outcome of the legal dispute, and will prepare to compete with Salem on Friday night if that is the resolution.”
A court hearing is scheduled for Monday. Glenville and University School will not play the high school football game before then.