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High school violations all carry mutual theme, issues
Lack of knowledge of OSSAA rules is a common denominator.

Dr. Keith Ballard, TPS superintendent, addresses questions from the media during a press conference at the TPS Education Center, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. In the background is Kevin Burr, TPS superintendent of high schools. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World
 
By MATT BAKER World Sports Writer
Published: 11/8/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/8/2009  8:54 AM
For Tulsa World coverage of the Jenks and Booker T. Washington high schools eligibility controversies.

It started with an anonymous e-mail about one football player at Jenks.

Over the next six months, more tips flowed into the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association about possibly ineligible high school student-athletes. Subsequent investigations found dozens of violations involving more than 50 student-athletes at five schools.

Three football teams — Booker T. Washington, Sand Springs and Jones — have had their playoff hopes wiped out or threatened. The OSSAA indefinitely suspended Jenks' head coach last month and asked Durant to forfeit four games on Friday for using an ineligible player.

Reported violations included boosters trying to pay players; a school's failure to check grades; lack of proper paperwork; and a coach typing a player's lease.

Here are four common themes from an unprecedented wave of violations and sanctions:

1. One tip can change a team

OSSAA officials said they investigate every credible tip they receive.

Jenks' problems began after one person sent an anonymous e-mail to the OSSAA in April about one player's eligibility. By October, numerous violations involving seven athletes since 1998 were discovered, and two coaches were suspended.

At Booker T. Washington,
one phone call from a nearby district prompted Tulsa Public Schools to start investigating. By the time TPS finished, 43 students in four sports were ruled ineligible for academic, residency or recruiting reasons.

At Sand Springs, an anonymous letter to Claremore prompted an OSSAA investigation. The OSSAA ruled that one football player was ineligible because he lacked the proper paperwork, causing the Sandites to forfeit one game and eliminating their playoff hopes.

"There's a little more of a microscope on you as far as making sure you do things right," Owasso athletic director Danny Hightower said recently, "and we'll do whatever we need to do."

Area athletic directors said they've been more careful to check paperwork and eligibility since Jenks' problems were first reported, and the OSSAA has seen a spike in anonymous tips, executive secretary Ed Sheakley said.

All it takes is one person to spark an investigation.

"I tell my coaches every year, especially at the high school level, if you get an upperclassman and don't know where he came from, you better find out, because somebody knows," TPS athletic director Stephanie Spring said after Jenks' investigation but before Booker T. Washington's sanctions.

"You don't want to be embarrassed, and neither do I."

2. The paperwork

It sounds simple enough on paper, but it's tougher in practice. Athletic directors, coaches and principals deal with a lot of paperwork, from budgets to transportation requests, and eligibility forms can get left out.

For bona fide moves, schools have players fill out one paper, the new student form. For transfers, it's up to four forms.

But doing the paperwork can prevent problems. New students fill out a 23-question form, and schools are supposed to look into any "yes" answer. At Jenks, Jarrett Lake answered yes three times, and the school didn't properly investigate the questions, according to the district's report. The OSSAA later ruled Lake ineligible, and Jenks forfeited nine games from its 2008 season.

Booker T. Washington lacked that form for at least three students. Had the forms been completed, the athletic department would have been alerted to student-athletes from outside the district playing in games. The school will begin requiring those forms of all new students, not just those moving in from outside the district, TPS Superintendent Keith Ballard said.

Sheakley said that filling out the 23-question form is the most important thing for schools to learn.

"I hope that No. 1, they have new student forms on all their kids," Sheakley said.

Sand Springs' player was ineligible because the student-athlete didn't have a different form on file, a hardship waiver. Coach Dustin Kinard said the player didn't do anything wrong — the school just didn't know it had to file that form.

"I think every document has a definite purpose," said OSSAA board member Bob Bush, the superintendent at Seiling Schools. "They are there for a reason and written in such a way for a reason. Everyone that belongs to the association needs to adhere strictly by them. If they don't do the paperwork, this is what happens."

3. Know the rules

The OSSAA's rule book has more than 70 pages of policies and procedures, not including rules for specific sports. But athletic directors, coaches and principals have been held responsible for not knowing them.

"Ignorance is not an excuse," Ballard said as he announced Booker T. Washington's first round of penalties.

But it's a reason school officials have cited.

"We didn't know we needed to do this," Booker T. Washington principal Micheal Johnson said repeatedly, according to the TPS report.

"There's no way anyone can know all those rules," Booker T. Washington assistant athletic director Ioder "Butch" Fisher told the district, according to its report. "I can't be expected to memorize all of it."

The district held Johnson partially responsible, removing him from athletic duties and granting his request to change sites. Fisher resigned as site assistant athletic director.

At Sand Springs, Kinard said he didn't know the school had to file a hardship waiver for the football player because the student moved into the district. But because the player's parents are divorced and he had already established residency in another district, the OSSAA required the school to file a hardship waiver for the athlete to become eligible.

"We didn't think there was a hardship because he lived in our district," Kinard said. "What's the hardship? We're still not clear on what we did wrong."

That's why school officials should ask questions, Sheakley said.

"If they're unsure, then call and find out," Sheakley said.

The OSSAA plans to clarify its rule book by adding a question-and-answer section with specific examples on residency rules, Sheakley said, to avoid further confusion. The OSSAA has offered to hold eligibility workshops, and officials at Jenks and Booker T. Washington will undergo training on OSSAA rules as part of their self-imposed penalties.

Spring said school athletic directors are calling her more often with questions about eligibility.

"As an AD, it's been all about educating people on what they need to do," said Spring, who is also the president of the OSSAA's board of directors. "If they have any questions about eligibility, they need to understand they have to ask them. Rules are rules. They are not optional."

4. Admit mistakes

School officials weren't always forthcoming with information, according to district reports.

At Booker T. Washington, school officials seemed "reluctant to provide information to (Spring) because much of it comes back in small pieces," when the investigation started, according to TPS' report.

Soon after, TPS broadened its investigation and asked for a list of every out-of-district student at the school. That's how TPS found out about three of the six students who were ineligible for residency or recruiting violations, according to the report.

"Mistakes were made, and we all own up to our mistakes," said Mike Mims, a former boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington.

Mims was not employed by the school when the violations occurred, but TPS named him the school's new assistant principal over athletics on Wednesday.

"We had some things that we had to do to correct them," Mims said, "and I'm part of the correction process."

At Jenks, head coach Allan Trimble didn't tell the district about his involvement with a player's housing until after Jenks appealed an OSSAA ruling. After the appeals process, the district uncovered violations with six other student-athletes.

Sheakley said he hopes school officials will be honest and admit mistakes when they happen.

"We're educators. This is what we teach," Sheakley said. "These are our values that we instill upon kids. Honesty and integrity and ethics and morals should be at the top and be at the forefront.

"Hey, if you made a mistake or you screwed up, admit it, and let's make the adjustments we need to make and move on."

Matt Baker 581-8358
matt.baker@tulsaworld.com
By MATT BAKER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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21 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
d van, Tulsa (11/9/2009 11:29:51 AM)
What the column ignores is the waivers "hardship" doublespeak.
The Rulebook cites hardships as unusual circumstances like family breakups or other such crisis. So a school might not treat an ordinary transfer as a hardship.

But the PRACTICES of the OSSAA are a significant departure from the written code, is as much as any casual transfer is declared an accepted hardship IF a student lists a new home address.

So, for instance; a transfer from Victory Christian to Memorial because the kid got beat up regularly at Victory and ended up hospitalized, and missed the last 3 games of the football schedule; isn't allowed unless the kid at least moves next door. But a kid who loses the starting QB slot at Jenks can get a hardship when switching to Metro Christian If he moves next door.

This is a big part of the OSSAA need to REFORM ITSELF!!

Quit calling it a hardship if it isn't based on family crisis'.

Poor folks can't afford the multiple thousands that it costs to sell a house and buy a new one.
Yet that is the leading criteria for determining a waiver. the OSSAA is encouraging community instability thru their practice.
Report Comment
Rhymeister, International (11/8/2009 9:45:51 PM)
As a BTW alum I'm glad those who cheated there were exposed, there's no place for it.

And yes, I am happy Jenks got indicted as well because they have been recruiting players for decades. A lot of people in the know, including many at BTW, knew Kejuan Jones got a little something something to move over to Jenks.

Let's just make the playing field even for all teams.
Report Comment
T.B'Ville, Bruins (11/14/2009 3:23:55 AM)
soonerlaw, create a profile.
Report Comment
DMD, O (11/8/2009 12:10:18 PM)
Word on the street is Oologah and Millwood are next in line. Makes you wanna say hmmmmmm.
Report Comment
DMD, O (11/9/2009 4:26:05 PM)
Per Ryan Abner - News Ok: The OSSAA Board Of Directors will meet Wednesday morning at 9:00am. Here is one of the items on the agenda:

Agenda # 6 School Problems: Tulsa Washington, Warner, Tuttle, Jenks, SOuthmoore, Durant, Jones and Sand Springs

Story is posted on News ok . com in high school sports
Report Comment
dork74, Broken Arrow (11/11/2009 9:03:39 AM)
I just can't believe that none of these rule breakers have gotten fired. If someone in a "regular" job broke the rules and then tried to cover it up, they would have been fired that day, not re-assigned. In a time when this area has 8% unemployment, I would bet that none of these schools would have that much difficulty finding a new coach or AD, especially considering most of these guys qualifications. How many of these coaches and AD's are actually certified and qualified to teach?
Report Comment
dbarnes142, Tulsa (11/8/2009 7:58:11 AM)
If I hear another head coach say "I did'nt know about this rule....." I will throw up. Come on...Really? You did'nt know the player living 40 miles away needed to have proper paperwork to play? Really?
Report Comment
SoonerRob, (11/8/2009 5:26:29 PM)
Dude, I don't think you know what you are talking about. I think it goes more the other way when you start talking about academics. I know that Union has a starting defensive lineman that played for a private school last year. Unfortunately, he was on academic probation, flunked a class and was shown the door. Believe me, this kid is a good player and would have definitely helped the football team. However, the vast majority of the private schools are not going to totally sacrifice their educational standing for athletes.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/8/2009 2:19:29 PM)
I think it's human nature to get lax and assume everything is okay, and most of this is due to oversight, ignorance, or laziness, as opposed to an attempt to cheat. It's like the GI who starts to get a little lazy checking cars at a checkpoint because things have been going smoothly or he's a little tired, but as soon as a car bomb goes off and kills people, suddenly everyone is on high alert and extremely thorough in their jobs.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (11/10/2009 11:38:58 AM)
You just can't get over the Metro QB thing can you d van? Got to be some sort of personal issue there.
Report Comment
THE SCOUT, (11/8/2009 9:15:42 AM)
BEFORE SHEAKLEY BECAME PRESIDENT OF OSSAA YOU COULD REPORT SOME ONE ELIGIBILITY AT THAT SCHOOL THEY IGNORED IT.I SUPPORT SHEAKLEY AND SPRINGS FOR THEIR GREAT JOB. MONEY DOESEN'T PAY OFF EVERY BODY.
Report Comment
sooner24, (11/10/2009 12:19:16 AM)
Good thing this all happened before basketball season starts - that would be a long season to have to listen to all of this then. You can bet BB coaches are getting things worked out now!
Report Comment
SC, (11/8/2009 8:34:39 AM)
Fisher only taught half a day as athletic director. The rest of the time could have been spent reading the rule book. If you can't read a simple 70 page book, how do you expect to teach math-a real subject that students need to know? What a great role model, an adult male who doesn't like to read.
Report Comment
SC, (11/8/2009 9:15:37 AM)
Fisher and ilk also said that "everyone else is doing it."
Tell that to the Richmond High rape victim. Everyone was brutalizing her so that makes it ok?

A teacher should not being using the line, "everyone was doing it" as an excuse for his behavior. That excuse is used to justify the most horrific of crimes. Fisher should set an example and apologize with no ifs ands or buts added.
Report Comment
Whocanutrust?, (11/8/2009 6:07:08 PM)
Please stop making excuses for these people! What is the purpose for having a rule book if no one is reading and abiding by them? The Athletic Directors as well as the coaching staff know the rules. It should have been part of the employment contract.
Report Comment
maximus, tulsa (11/11/2009 8:58:16 AM)
Wow Rhymeister, that is funny. You think BTW plays fair? The whole magnet school idea makes it unfair for those BTW competes against. Can Central recruit kids in, offering them obscure classes or programs like BTW can? BTW has been playing on an unbalanced field for decades and its record vs other TPS schools proves it.
Report Comment
FuglyDude, (11/8/2009 3:57:06 PM)
didn't the athletic director at jenks have to be reprimanded? what about the athletic director for tps? who is that?
Report Comment
FuglyDude, (11/8/2009 3:58:21 PM)
i like those religious schools that take new student athletes even though they are flunking out of their public schools. wonder how much tuition they pay??? hmmmmmm......
Report Comment
soonerlaw, (11/8/2009 2:05:02 PM)
Believe this; Miami residents with the help of an insider at BTW spelled disaster time for Jimmerson after the rout on Miami. This was the downfall of BTW. Jimmerson should of never stated statements to a Miami father after that game. His wife was an attorney who knew some of the people at BTW. They exposed it all at BTW.
Report Comment
soonerlaw, (11/8/2009 2:07:26 PM)
I have e-mails to prove this, you do not beat up a team like BTW did to Miami and expect nothing in return, that 90-o is now a win for Miami 2-0, how ya liking it now BTW Jimmerson.
Report Comment
Average Consumer, Jenks (11/9/2009 11:05:20 AM)
Since the OSSAA is going to leave it up to the schools to self-police, could we organize enough to audit each other’s approved transfer and hardship paperwork within the district assignments? Bartlesville audits Jenks, Jenks audits Sand Springs, and so on, and re-assign when the district re-shuffles. Too Pollyanna? If the goal is for everyone to get the chance to play and play fairly, we need to develop a system of proactive accountability and transparency. We need to protect the kids that don’t do anything wrong.
 

 
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