goathead, (11/1/2009 7:38:55 AM)

Society at its best. Blame others for your mistakes. The grass is greener on the other side. The Alberts have been at BK for generations but it wasn't at good fit for JA?

Say I work for a certain school district in Arkansas. I could tell any athlete out there that they are accepted into our district. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE BEEN!

I agree that Jimmerson and Johnson are at fault....they know the rules. However, come on here. Mr. A is trying to say they didn't know it would be a violation for their son to practice at BTW while still enrolled at BK. Until you officially withdrawal from a school, you are enrolled there. Isn't that basically common sense?

Blame game at its best!

I feel bad for the kid, I wonder if Jimmerson or Johnson have apologized to him or the family?

zzx375, BA (11/1/2009 8:07:04 AM)

How does one deal with athletic eligibility and compliance? To whom should one talk?

How about calling your local NCAA D1 institution's Chief Compliance officer to get some handle on how things in that venue are handled?

Very stringent rules there, including the athlete doesn't get near a field or a team bus unless the institution can produce every single legitimate piece of documentation showing eligibility.

BTW, the Chief Compliace officer typically has no connection with the Athletic Department. The separation of duties and influence is quite thorough.

Steff M, Claremore (11/1/2009 8:07:39 AM)

That pretty much covers it. Hard to believe Jimmerson didn't know he had to be enrolled to participate in the spring, and the principal was involved in the situation by using the "principal's discretion" thing, but he didn't know either? Seems like a pretty basic thing to know about.

Quality, Tulsa (11/1/2009 8:11:29 AM)

Mr. Albert in response to your interview to the TulsaWorld. On September 14, 2009 when the JV played East Central YOUR WIFE, The MOTHER of JORDY walked up an introduced herself to myself and another JV Parent the following is the exact conversation: Hi I'm Jordy's mother you know the parent of Jordy the one that everyone thinks Coach Jimmerson recruited however he wasn't. Now why would you introducd yourself this way? Is my question I really found that odd. Additionally your WIFE had this same conversation while working the concession stand at a VARSITY home game with the same parent that was standing with me at the EC game.And even in the report released by TPS states the issue about the Hardship acceptance. Thata states being unhappy was not grounds for a Hardship transfer. You were not only told this once but twice. Yes the coaches may have made a error HOWEVER so DID YOU as a PARENT!!! Accept responsibility for your actions. Stop passing blame you say we need to move forward however how can you move forward when you feel that a person is lying. Not only has this situation affected Jordy but all of the HORNET football team!


And Goathead thinks the coaches need to apologize to Jordy and his parents! I can tell you as a parent of a football player the coaches have apologized to the whole team not just Jordy. Mistakes have been made and WE all should learn a lesson not as a parent but society: Sports are important but we all need to play by the rules and place the weight of this mistake at the foot of the football coach but as a parent accept your responsibility for this mess..
Jordy hang in there!! And to the other football players and student body remember the adult lesson that is being taught: if not sure investigate fully and don't think your the acception to the rules. HORNET PRIDE runs deep.

SC, (11/1/2009 8:33:53 AM)

Arrogance, dishonesty, ignorance, and stupidity, what a great leadership team. I'd like to see the grade transcripts of the next principal and athletic directors-I don't see how these guys can keep their jobs when they have been caught lying so publicly and so badly.

billsmith, (11/1/2009 8:39:04 AM)

Not everyone is being held accountable here. It seems to me that Stphanie Spring is like the stool piegon copping a plea deal here. She needs to be held accountable also. To say she doesn't want it to seem like she questions the honesty of the principals on every situation is in the very least a weak attempt at a cop out. Stephanie, stand up and be a man, er, a woman and admit where you screwed up and beg for forgiveness and quit putting every thing on the people at the lower level.

goathead, (11/1/2009 8:39:43 AM)

That is good that they apologized, if they did indeed.

SC brings up a good point...arrogance. However, I don't believe the coaches and the prinicpal were the only arrogant ones here...I believe the Alberts were part of the arrogance. They don't believe they did anything wrong. Should have taught a lesson about "hanging in there" when you aren't in the best situation. The other 3 Albert kids went to BK, but it wasn't a good fit for Jordy. Sounds to me like Jordy had the problem, not BK.

LASTLY, WHY IN THE WORLD ARE THE PARENTS SO UPSET ABOUT THIS....YOU WANTED YOUR KID TO GO TO btw FOR THE IB PROGRAM, NOT TO PLAY FOOTBALL, REMEMBER?

Ordinary Joe, (11/1/2009 8:39:59 AM)

Let's end all of this now. OSSAA needs a rule change. Just like the NCAA if you transfer from one school to another you lose a year of eligibilty. Physically moving from one school district to another just because one has a better team than where you currently reside is ridciulous. Living in one school district and renting an apartment in another just so you kid can meet residency requirements should be a clear violation. I don't want my son, who has lived in the distict and played sports in that district all of his life, to be punished because someone else decided to disregard the rules. I don't feel the least bit sorry for any of the people in this story. Because nobody is that dumb and uninformed.

Eastside Rules, (11/1/2009 8:58:56 AM)

Agee O Joe, the solution is so simple, you transfer you sit for 1 year. Except I would limit it to transfers within 30 miles.

40something, (11/1/2009 9:00:42 AM)

What I want to know is how Principal Johnson can possibly be carrying on with the duties of his job with clouds of dumbness and dishonesty floating over his head. How can he look students and faculty in the face? When my child was in school there, BTW had an excellent principal who was an organized and effective leader. She was sensitive to the history and cultural diversity of BTW. One of her many accomplishments was orchestrating the move from the old building to the new building, a formidable task. She faced constant disapproval from many parents because she happened to be white. I now shudder when I think of the chaos that would have ensued if Johnson had been in charge of a task of this magnitude. He's got to go. Now.

KansasSooner, Prefer the country (11/1/2009 9:13:28 AM)

I'm not implying schools and their admins aren't to blame but it certainly appears to me that the OSSAA is partially at fault in all of these recent issues too. Is nobody standing up to challenge the OSSAA in any way? I would think the Albert's have some grounds for such a challenge.

Since the Danny Rennel's problems occurred, the OSSAA seems to have morphed into that asinine "National Communists Against Athletes" organization in a lot of ways.

bjorn2run, (11/1/2009 9:43:24 AM)

Administrators suspended for the 'rest of the year'? Who gets to decide if they ever get to continue at BTW? What if they aren't wanted back? Who gets to decide that? What if they are wanted out before the end of the year?

Popeye, T-Town (11/1/2009 9:43:27 AM)

I think things have been a little loosey goosey in more districts than the Tulsa Public Schools. Having said that, 40something is right on target. Booker T's claim to fame has been in being the exceptional school.

Once Johnson got involved with the athletic department, deeply involved apparently, he more than any other should have had a firm grasp on the rules. There's no excuse for this having happened, particularly at Booker T. Washington.

bruinsooner, (11/1/2009 9:50:10 AM)

I don't understand all the fuss about this article. The child and his parents are getting exactly what they wanted from Booker T. Washington High School: studyying in the renowned International Baccalaureate Program.

Average Consumer, Jenks (11/1/2009 9:53:50 AM)

Those in authority at the OSSAA should be snatched baldheaded. Oklahoma high school athletics is pleading for more ACTIVE structure, ACTIVE organization and ACTIVE oversight. The dreams of Oklahoma kids who want to play sports at the college level are at risk because those with the authority to squash those dreams are REACTIVE rather than PROACTIVE. In all these violation cases the OSSAA is shutting the gate after the horses are long gone. Woop-ti-frickin-do!!!!
In this article, every single adult (except the agenda-riddled principal) from the parent to the coach to the head of the OSSAA, essentially said “I’ll take your word for it.” Sounds honorable, but it’s worth nothing.
High school sports in Oklahoma IS important and we should be treating it with importance. We need to stop saying “It’s just high school (fill in the sport).” As much as we’d like to, we can’t place the burden of compliance on the high schools and then “take their word for it.” IT’S NOT WORKING.
OSSAA, you are the common thread. Get off your passive butts and take some ownership to protect our Oklahoma high school athletes!!!!!!!

ftbllmom, (11/1/2009 10:36:48 AM)

Mr Albert you are not a victim, sir. You were just as capable of looking into the transfer guidelines for your student athlete as anyone else. It is unfortunate for your son & mine that you did not take the time. You should take responsilblity for your part in this & quit trying to place the blame on others. Mistakes were made & we are all paying the price. You could use a lesson on Hornet Pride.

Pirate Brad, Sperry (11/1/2009 10:53:08 AM)

A.C. nice post.
The OSSAA is by no means helping this situation of late. Their approach to fix problems years after they exist is an outrage.

It amazes me that to this day we still have people that believe you cannot be a good student and a good athlete at the same time and Players/Students must be made to make a choice between the two. Geez people if a player can play let them do what they need to do to get the most out of it. If a student is good at academics no one wants to hold them back as they shouldn't, but heaven help us if he is a good athlete.

funuche, (11/1/2009 10:53:46 AM)

What about this it is obvious BTW Cheated no doubt about it. The facts are there whether you want to believe them or not. The new question is did BTW also cheat on their adm and screw Bixby and Shawnee and put them in 6a or did TPS do the same? DR Spring was involved in this whole thing she knew about it and if she did not she needs to fired for not doing her job when they told her "it would be taken care of" SHOULD BTW BE IN 6a NEXT AND WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF TPS DID THEY CHEAT ON NUMBERS?

SoonerRob, (11/1/2009 11:44:43 AM)

The Albert's are spinning this one, but lets look at some of the facts:

1. Jordy applied to BTW in May even though the deadline was in January. Surely everyone can see that preferential treatment was given to an athlete, which equates to recruiting under the OSSAA rules.

2. Mr. Albert claims that it was known to everyone that Jordy was not returning to BK even though they did not withdraw until August. However, I heard Jordy himself say that if he did not get the hardship to be able to play at BTW that he may return to BK.

3. The Albert's were denied a hardship transfer and had to change the reason for the request before the OSSAA approved a "hardship". Read between the lines on this one people ...... The Alberts threatened the OSSAA and the OSSAA helped them come up with a basis for the hardship!

4. As many have said, the reason Jordy transferred was for the IB program. If so, why is the family so unhappy. They got exactly what they wanted and the transfer wasn't for athletics, so why all the fussing?

It does not take a genius to figure out that what BTW and the Alberts did was try to flaunt/bend the rules to benefit the team and Jordy. I know that Jordy is a great kid as I am sure the BTW football players are as well. While the adults are the problem here, the kids were intended to benefit from the recruiting of a kid that could help the team and help highlight a talented player for college recruiters. The kids should suffer for playing an ineligble player, but the adults should suffer the most. I believe that Mr. Johnson should be fired!

GoFigure, (11/1/2009 2:11:13 PM)

Here we go again, another group of kids will suffer and not get to defend their state title from last year that had nothing to do with this fiasco. All the hard work they have put into the season along with their hopes and dreams are gone and no one seems to care about that! If this OSSAA, would have been doing their jobs properly down through the years and policing this thing yearly, we wouldn't have these violations. Overhaul this OSSAA and move forward for the kids!!!.

d van, Tulsa (11/1/2009 2:13:05 PM)

The reason Johnson & Jimmerson are protected from full repercussions is simple:

They can pull the "race card".

They'll threaten to get North Tulsans all riled up and threatening NAACP lawsuits.

Remember the years of John Thompson & his minion, Laverne Wimberly? They set the community back several years, and the school board became MORE hesitant to hire black candidates as a result.

Bad leaders are bad for the community and especially the kids.

TPS is doing a disservice to North Tulsans by tolerating these guys!

The most subtle form of racism is "low expectations".

There are plenty of great principals & coaches of any ethnic heritage, who can lead this institution better than what these guys have demonstrated.

GoFigure, (11/1/2009 2:15:30 PM)

Who appoints these OSSAA people and who in heaven's name do THEY report to?????? NOBODY???

Fire The Politicians, (11/1/2009 3:50:42 PM)

d van: Can, will and have played the "race card" already. What some don't seem to understand is that it was not "the man" who caused BTW to forfeit the games, it was Johnson. If Johnson had followed simple rules, then BTW would be in the playoffs and defending their crown. Instead, he cheated, lied and bullied and now he has cost the Hornets the chance to repeat. Wait til the report comes out about how many students played although they were academically ineligible.

The irony of all this is that Johnson is in D.C. to receive the "Blue Ribbon" School Award for BTW. Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels.

If he had a shred of decency, he would ask to be reassigned and ask Ballard to appoint someone to take his place.

Fire The Politicians, (11/1/2009 3:54:25 PM)

Oh, and now Johnson is on Facebook "friending" hundreds of kids at Booker T. Why all of a sudden is he doing this? How transparently phony can you be?

d van, Tulsa (11/1/2009 4:29:40 PM)

I think that Booker T parents hold the cards right NOW. If they do and say nothing, then he'll likely stay. If they call, and write the school board members, there will be some accountability.

yankeeball, (11/1/2009 4:54:49 PM)

give me a break- if Jordy;s parents did not know the rule why did they call Stephanie SPring to ask about his elgibility last spring- Spring has confirmed this. They were told he would probably have to sit a year.
Dont play innocent

funuche, (11/1/2009 5:11:19 PM)

Someone please answer the question did Mr Johnson also cheat on the attendance last year? It has also effected Bixby and Shawnee. I would also bet Spring is involved in some of this.

Rhymeister, International (11/1/2009 6:01:09 PM)

I feel bad for the kid. Back in the day the reverse wasn't allowed, i tried to go to Kelley in order to enhance the prospects of getting a baseball scholarship but you had to sit out a season, which is ridiculous.

Whoknew?, Tulsa (11/1/2009 6:31:00 PM)

If it's true Johnson is friending students, why?

HSFootballFan, Tulsa (11/1/2009 7:17:13 PM)

I heard the Johnson on Facebook thing is a joke because he added one of my friends and they said that his status says something about screwing up Booker T...doubt he would actually write that. Plus his profile pic is the same pic used on the school website. Must be someone pulling a prank.

goathead, (11/1/2009 7:51:47 PM)

gofigure - guess who is to blame in all these innocent BTW kids having to forfeit? Its not the OSSAA people. They didn't make Jordy Albert transfer. Its his parents! After that, its Jimmerson, after that its Johnson. You can't go through life expecting someone else to inform you on everything. Get off your lazy rear and do the research yourself.

As well, why are students allowed to apply for another hardship once the first one is denied? They changed the reason on the second, which amounts to lying! That got them the hardship.

If my kid comes home from school after being suspended, and tells me he got suspended for smoking, he gets a whipping. Then he changes story and says he got suspended for singing, HE LIED! The Alberts lied. They changed the reason on the second form to get the hardship. When you write down a reason that isn't the truth, YOU LIE!!!! And, you got caught...too bad you messed up your sons high school career.

40something, (11/1/2009 8:42:08 PM)

Funuche, I doubt very much that any school underestimates its ADM because school funding is based on the ADM. Also, my child was there during the two recent years that BTW was in 6A and all the coaches and students I talked with were thrilled to be playing in the highest class. They did pretty well, too, considering that some schools (B.A., Union) were about 3.5 times the size of BTW. Even when BTW entered 6A, they knew it would be only for a brief period because the suburbs were growing in population (and BTW's ADM was only 4 students greater in count than the 5A highest ADM).

bruinsooner, (11/1/2009 9:08:45 PM)

to GoFigure=another group of kids will suffer because...(rules were broken by adults).

If the young man were playing for Kelly and not Booker T maybe Booker T would not have a title to defend. Ever think about that? How about 5A schools like Shawnee or anywhere that were at a disadvantage because a school from a metro area has an athlete that really belongs to another school.

BOOMER! SOONER!, (11/1/2009 9:59:43 PM)

bruinsooner, he played at Kelley last year, and Kelley didn't win the title. So I don't see your point.

bootstraps, (11/1/2009 10:27:47 PM)

Quality-
Right now all Hornet Pride does- is run...cheating. Johnson and Jimmerson have to go. Wait till you see how many MORE inelligible players there are. This is so far from over, the fat lady has to fly in from Italy.

Big Daddy T, Tulsa (11/1/2009 10:39:07 PM)

Bruinsooner, Shawnee didn't win the title last year because they didn't play well enough when it counted. BTW played a very good MWC Carl Albert school last year and came out on top with apparently all eligible players. Jordy Albert was a backup at Bishop Kelley last year so he was in no way involved with the Hornets state title of 2008. I'm guessing you are just bitter because it has been forever if ever that B'Ville has won a state title in Football. I feel bad for the kids at BTW because they didn't bring this on themselves and now they will not be able to defend the state title. As for the situation that
Rhymeister, is speaking of, I know this guy personally as I was on the baseball team with him and know that he was more than talented enough to get a college scholarship, however our teams weren't the best and it was tough to get kids noticed if you didn't go to BK or Hale. Back then Owasso hadn't risen to the level they are playing at now. Speaking of the Rams, isn't it interesting that they recruited a kid from Sperry to play baseball for them but nothing has been done yet to them because his family has until the beginning of the 2nd semester of this school year to "MOVE" or obtain residency in the Owasso school district. To me they should have already had to establish that residency or be told to put the kid back in Sperry schools. The kid I'm speaking of is probably going to be the most sought after high school prospect for both colleges and pro's this next baseball season. I know that his older brother who graduated from Sperry a couple of years ago was a great pitcher and the reports are that this one is even better. I don't blame him at all for wanting to go to Owasso and play for Coach Turner. Coach Turner takes his team all over the Southwest each spring to play against the top competition available and has put numerous kids in college and the pro's over the years.

d van, Tulsa (11/2/2009 1:01:46 AM)

the OSSAA has bastardized the definition of "HARDSHIP" by granting it for any kid that moves to another school district and completes the paperwork.

When the rules were set, you had to show that you were forced by a family or personal crisis, to move.

Shame on the OSSAA for letting the system fall apart!

vger1970, tulsa (11/2/2009 4:53:09 AM)

Btw was only 4 students higher than the next 5a. But they have a waiting list with 300 kids on it. Is'nt this intentionaly staying in 5a with lower enrollments when there are students waiting to attend? Why are'nt those 300 kids getting in ahead of jordy? Obviously this is preferential treatment and recruitment. Btw has an advantage because the principal can allow 5% of his students into the school based on his own dicretion. He chooses athletes (Jordy) over 300 other students on waiting lists, so Jordy can QB ,Stacking his team. Is'nt this the definition of recruiting? Maybe the parents of the 300 students on the waiting list should be a little P.O.

T.B'Ville, Bruins (11/2/2009 6:06:31 AM)

There needs to be a study done that shows how many kids applied to BTW for the IB program and was accepted that also played sports comapaired to the ones that just was in the IB program and didnt play sports.

Rhymeister, International (11/2/2009 6:28:59 AM)

Big Daddy T, who are you?

The guy Big Daddy T is talking about is Bobby Bundy's brother, Dylan and my heart goes out to him because supposedly Sperry's program is going through an upheaval since the retirement of Bill Fisher. This kid can stay at Sperry at still likely be a first-round draft pick. Should he be punished for wanting to go to a better program and likely a better school? I see both sides, still I agree with Big Daddy T, that should be resolved before he transferred in...

bruinsooner, (11/2/2009 8:03:01 AM)

BigDaddy and Boomer, here is my point. Many of the best players seem to be moving to get onto a better team. Then supporters of that team which may (or may not have won the state title) get upset when their team that absorbed these players has to forfeit games and "all the young kids have to suffer by sitting out the playoffs when they have worked so hard". What about the other teams like Shawnee, Carl Albert, Enid, Ponca City, McAlester, Miami, Durant, and hundreds more in Oklahoma who do not have half a chance versus these metro superteams that bring in the "move-ins"? Didn't those kids work hard, too. Why should they be handicapped against a team/school that cheated?
Another argument I am sick of hearing the superteam boosters whine about is "this is about the chance for college scholarships." A player on a crummy team and/or on a small school team can get noticed. Did Ronnell Lewis of Dewar play for Jenks or Union? He played 8 man football and "got looks." Players of teams in metro Tulsa "get looks" despite the team they play for. When the Big 12 scouts come to see the latest dream team at Jenks or Union, who is the opponent? Is it always Jenks vs. Union every week? No. It is Jenks versus Ponca, or Enid, or Stillwater, or Bartlesville, etc, etc. If a player is a good player, he will "get looks".

bruinsooner, (11/2/2009 8:12:55 AM)

And another point to the question, what is wrong with a player on xyz team wanting to play on a superteam if it is usually the best?

Did anyone ever notice that sometimes everybody loses at something? Do things in life always go to plan? Is it a good idea for a child to learn to deal with a setback or with adversity?

Are we talking about a kid and his education or are we talking about the Super Bowl, World Series, Olympics, and the Stanley Cup?

whatif, (11/2/2009 8:29:55 AM)

The Bundy kid was recruited and don't kid youself that he wasn't. How many hometown Owasso boys will have to sit the bench because of this kid? Is that fair to them? He isn't the first kid Turner has recruited, nor will he be the last until something is done. I agree with the previous comments, if you are good colleges will find you. You don't have to win state titles year after year. You just have to prove youself on the field, court or whatever you are participating in.

Jay of Tulsa, (11/2/2009 8:35:08 AM)

The timeline tells me he wanted to play football fot BTW. They knew enough about the OSSAA rules to ask for a hardship waiver, but not the recruiting..appears that they overlooked certain rules to better themselves.
Ignorance of the rules is no excuse, take you lumps. Jenks did.

Euless Trinity, Euless (11/2/2009 8:52:44 AM)

Ha Ha they need to just let the TW readers who comment have the final say in who can move, transfer, that would solve all. Funny the same people on here who will convict a kid and his parents for wanting to attend and play sports at a different school, would most likely acquit a murder, rapist, or child molester, as long as they do not move next door to them.

I love how someone will say "what are we teaching our kids when sports is more important than learning and academics". Yet, we are in a budget crunch, with new reductions scheduled and schools are laying off teachers, but no one is screaming to shut down or co-op the athletics to save money.

Ok, everyone go back to complaining about Troy Aikman, moving to Henryetta.

DMD, O (11/2/2009 8:58:14 AM)

You can't live in Sperry and pitch for Owasso baseball? But, you CAN live right here in BA and play 1st base for Owasso? Doesn't they have a "no transfer you must live in the District policy" anyway?

Pirate Brad, Sperry (11/2/2009 9:05:48 AM)

Whatif,

Thats not valid. If someone does not get to play at Owasso doesn't that mean someone else will at Sperry?

DMD, let's not talk about Bradley's mother getting a job at BA.

whatif, (11/2/2009 9:08:36 AM)

You are right, the first baseman does live in BA. Probably need to check into that also.

whatif, (11/2/2009 9:16:20 AM)

Coaches have lost all perspective, they are only concerned about the win. As long as you have a C or D that makes you eligible to play. Last time I checked, A's and B's were what got you in college.

bamom123, (11/2/2009 11:18:23 AM)

Okay, before you start forming a lynch mob you might want to get the facts instead of pointing out all the kids you know that play sports that don't live in the same town they go to school in. Its called a district transfer people. My nephew is the 1st baseman for Owasso and he has been attending Owasso Schools since kindergarten. I don't think they knew he would be playing varsity ball in kindergarten.

DMD, O (11/2/2009 12:59:01 PM)

Not sure it matters but who knows?

Bradleys mom got a job, they got turned down for hardship, so they moved.

Tulsa B, (11/2/2009 1:51:09 PM)

Aaaah the smell of recruiting in the air.

SS_Hippy, Tulsa (11/2/2009 3:19:15 PM)

good comment hardwright
and parents of an exceptional student aren't smart enought to find out the rules. give me a break.
more wahhh don't blame me, spin, deny and then give a press conference. and then sue.

bruinsooner, (11/2/2009 6:30:58 PM)

I thought about applying for the job leading the OSSAA. I'm glad I didn't.

Hillbillie70, (11/3/2009 1:37:38 AM)

I heard the Tulsa Public schools AD on the sports animal saying that she knew there were problems at Jenks. I don't hear her talking about the problems within the Tulsa Public schools... Do you think there may be more than just BTW with problems? Maybe they should look at all of their schools.