Presbyterian Christian Headmaster Allen O. Smithers released a letter today that the Presbyterian Christian varsity football team has been ruled ineligible for the postseason.
Smithers cited in the letter sent to Sports601 by head football coach Derek White that it was due to season-ending physical injuries suffered on the junior varsity team.
“Some of you involved in our junior high/junior varsity football program will be aware of the egregious number of season-ending physical injuries of our players. We were left with only five healthy 9th graders and four healthy 8th graders. This would have forced us to move our 7th graders up to the junior varsity team in order to complete the season. In wisdom, this led us to take steps towards forfeiting the final three junior varsity games while still playing the players, we learned of a MAIS rule that says if a junior varsity team didn’t compete for the championship, the varsity team from the same school would be disqualified from competing in the playoffs,” said Smithers.
Smithers cites that he drove to Jackson and also wrote a hardship letter to the MAIS Affairs Committee but was still denied after a lengthy discussion.
“To say I am disappointed and frustrated is an understatement. Along with our Atheltic Director and our football coaching staff, I am simply unwilling to unwisely throw the growing bodies of our 7th-grade players on a field against much larger and more mature 9th graders that may result in physical lifelong injuries,” said Smithers.
There is one more step of appeal, which is through the MAIS Executive Committee. Presbyterian Christian is seeking resolution through the members of that committee.
The Bobcats are currently 5-4 (1-2) on the season, their best in two years.
