Shiloh Football Team Must Forfeit Wins
Georgia High School Association issues repercussions following allegations of recruitment violations at a Snellville, Ga., school. Probation for a year included.
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Shiloh High footballers could have just taken it easy for the past season. It won't count anyhow.
Following months of doubts, inquiry and upheaval, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has decided to yank the only two wins that the team received in the previous season because three students should not have been playing.
GHSA Executive Director Ralph Swearngin issued the directive on May 30, finding that the athletes were ineligible transfer students from North Atlanta High in the spring of 2011. Specifically, Swearngin's penalty letter says the students violated by-law 1.72c, which states:
"A student-athlete transferring from one member school to another shall be ruled ineligible for one year because of 'undue influence' if it is proven that the player who played for a coach at a former GHSA school followed that coach when he/she moved to another GHSA school."
Those students -- Tyler Claytor, Michael Oden and Stephen Weatherly -- have now been publicly named in GHSA documents received by Patch. They have since graduated from Shiloh High School, and are moving on to college programs.
Another involved student, Wil Larimore, was deemed to have had a "bona fide move," according to the documents.
Although no fines were assessed, GHSA also put Shiloh High's football program on "Severe Warning Status" for one calendar year.
"This means that if recruitment allegations are found to be accurate in the next school uear and administrators at Shiloh have not taken reasonable safeguards against this activity, more severe penalties will be assessed," Swearngin said in a letter to principal Eric Parker.
At the crux of the matter are allegations against former teacher and coach Brian Montgomery, who quit before GHSA or the Gwinnett County school district could take any action involving him. He resigned on April 19.
Still, the GHSA penalty letter states that three of the students said Montgomery approached them about making a transfer -- "allegations that meet the GHSA definition of recruiting."
Also, the letter states that allegations were made regarding invites to summer practice sessions for non-Shiloh High players. That, too, is against the rules.
In a meeting with Shiloh High officials, Montgomery denied involvement in the transfer process of the aforementioned students. However, documents indicate that no written statement was ever received.
Montgomery's teaching and coaching fate lies with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The chair of the commission could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
In the future, Swearngin admonished Shiloh High to be ever vigilant regarding unethical recruitment of players.
You might also be interested in:
- GHSA Wrapping Up Shiloh Inquiry
- Shiloh High Names New Football Coach
- Shiloh High Football Coach Resigns
- Shiloh High Footballers College Bound
Let us know what you think in the comment section or poll below. Did Brian Montgomery break the rules, and are these penalties against Shiloh High fair?
Debra Gibson
10:08 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Where did these students transfer from? Are they a Gwinnett county residence? When my adult children(graduated) went to Shiloh there was a problem with students from other districts coming to Shiloh. If this is the case then there is more than Brian Montgomery at fault. Remember it is the kids that will suffer through seeing and actions.
Joy L. Woodson
10:49 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
In the story it mentions the students transferred from North Atlanta. This has more to do with the sports rules than it does Gwinnett County's transfer qualifications. Students living in other counties but going to Gwinnett County schools, well, that's a whole other can of worms!
Cheryl Jones
11:15 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
It's not just happening at Shiloh, they just got caught. It's happening at other schools in Gwinnett County as well.
North Georgia Weather
12:44 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
It happens even in the rec programs, nothing new here.
Cathy Abramson
10:57 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The county is just hurting the children. This ruling makes no sense.. Punish him not the team! Probation to a team that no longer has that Coach?!?!?!
C Weatherly
6:52 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
This article is a piece of garbage!!!! How does an investigation reveal that 3 Black players were in violation and the 1 White player that wrote to the AJC admitting that he followed the coach was declared a "bona fide move". .....Yes!!, I'm calling it like it is!!! As the parent of one of the Black players, how dare you accuse and deem my son to be ineligible without a full investigation - which would include an interview with me and my copies of all my documents showing when I moved to Snellville. An investigation would also include asking me why I left North Atlanta or at the very least, ask me if I followed the coach. NO INVESTIGATION WAS DONE!!!!!!!!!!! STOP LYING!!!!!....
@ Joy Woodson.......each of these students live in Gwinnett County. What are you talking about?!?
C Weatherly
6:57 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
.....and the GHSA is lying when they state that three of the students said Montgomery approached them about making a transfer. I know for a fact that my son NEVER said that. The real question is "which Gwinnett County coach was intimidated by the Coach Montgomery and also has very strong ties to GHSA?" Investigate that!!!!
Mrs. B
1:53 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Shiloh Administration should appeal this decision. Why just accept this BS, provide the evidence. These stories contradict one another. Will someone in the MEDIA take a STAND... investigate.... and PRINT the TRUTH! Enough with the BULL!
Mark Elmansky
2:48 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Gwinnett County is at again. They will never understand change. I agree, with the previous writer if the principal or district cares they will appeal. I coached for over 30 years and now retired but anyone with sense knows that coaches do not handle eligibility. GHSA approved the players to be eligible before the season and come back before school ends to investigate because of something printed in the media. Are you kidding me? Everyone knows that the media summarizes stories. The media cost that coach his job and now has cost the school their victories. Did anyone investigate the athletic director at the school and the athletic director at the district? They approve eligibity forms before it reaches the GHSA not coaches and that goes for all sports. Quit taking all of the blows Shiloh fight back or you will forever be treated like second-hand citizens.
Connie Roberts
9:39 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wow this is what the GHSA concludes! The kid whom all of the fuss was behind ended up being ruled as a bona fide move but you punish the program anyway. Plus you basically forced the coach to resign. Something about that doesn't add up. Poor Shiloh, because whomever this new coach is must be desperate to walk into that situation. The A.D. taught my mom; the entire program is in jeopardy over there. Good luck Generals!
Joy L. Woodson
12:14 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
Hello everyone. I have quite a lot of documents as it relates to this matter, including transfer info, GHSA rules, a petition, letters from district and school leaders, news articles, the resignation letter, statements from students, a letter from a parent, etc., etc. I think I've tried to condense everything in what I have written but still get the news out. However, if any of the parents directly involved would like to talk to me regarding their concerns, please contact me. I'm sure many others would like to hear your side from you all. Also, you can write me a letter to the editor, and I can publish that, as well.