Blaid now has the world off his shoulders since we won the court case
As many people know now that Lamar Warriors of Lamar Arkansas were '
supposingly' playing and ineligible football player who moved in to our district in mid September. We have been fighting the AAA (Arkansas Activity Association) for 2 weeks now! Since 90% of schools, individuals and communities have been receiving "INCORRECT" information and "ASSUMPTIONS" about this player, I thought I would take the time to use my blog to post the CORRECT information.
I did attend the Court hearing, for 4 hours I sat between my boys, the Lamar Warrior Football players, and we held hands, we prayed and listen tentatively to both sides being presented. That being said, I can tell you from the beginning how all this came about!
A student from a neighboring district moved to Lamar schools because he had been threatened and ganged up on at this school. They were on a trip back from a school which they had played a 'scrimmage' game. Some boys had thrown a bottle and hit him in back of the head, this is where it all started. From there it escalated to a fight and then continued to a 'threat' and 'hand gestures' of a gun towards this boy. His truck was stolen and destroyed. So the family feared for his life and moved him to Lamar. (Under AAA rules, in these cases this is considered a 'hardship' and the boys is automatically eligible) The school paperwork, transfer and AAA documentation was 'all' filled out. To verify that he was for sure eligible, 2 phone calls were made to AAA from our Administration and the school he transferred from also called AAA and they were also told he was eligible.
We were told "2" times that the paperwork was in order and he was eligible to play football. This was the second week of football season. Then 9
th week of football season, we received a phone call and was informed we had an ineligible player. If AAA new the 2
nd week of games, why did the school he transferred from wait until the 9
th week of games they would call AAA and inform them we have been playing an ineligible player?
THIS SEEMS VERY PERSONAL! Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm Or very scared of our football team!
We filed an appeal for a hearing to the AAA, on Tuesday of this week. The team that ended up 6
th in the conference, were informed on Thursday at a game against
Russellville and Cabot by the AAA executive director that they would be playing in the playoffs!
Hummmmm, we had not even had our hearing yet, so yes, that told us that they had planned on denying our appeal. We went to our appeal at the AAA office. Seven board members sat there while we (our attorney, Superintendent and Athletic Director) presented our case, one of the members had his head down on the table, one was
texting....another red flag, decision made?
Once we were denied from the AAA, we filed a petition for an injunction with the courts. Why? Because 2
x's we were presented that AAA was not going to balls up and admit they made a mistake by telling us the boy was eligible. Trying to put all the blame on us! Time was an essence, playoff were suppose to start tonight (Friday), and so we needed to move fast. Our school attorney had all the paperwork ready for Thursday (after Wednesday holiday) and Thursday morning we filed for the injunction. A judge agreed to hear and rule on it.
We spent 4 hours in the court room, I sat from 3:15 - 7:05 hearing both side as each attorney presented their case and witnesses. It was amazing how AAA were arrogant, and so sure they were going to win. The judge spent much time with each side and asking many questions to clarify the statements made.
When the judge came back from his chambers for the verdict, all the boys and I locked hands and held on tight to each other. You have to understand, these boys worked very hard during their season, the boy that transferred in was not a starter, he is a good player, but he never started, so it is fair to say, we won games with and without him. Our last game was with Paris Eagles, who was projected to beat us by 7
pts. By the end of this game, we won 52-21! Without the '
supposingly' ineligible player!
LOLThe judge started reading his verdict and I was blown away at how he was very disappointed how the AAA rule book was so vague,nothing was explained and half the paperwork that is suppose to be filled out was not even in the rule book, but on the website the papers were not accessed easily. He informed Lance Taylor the executive director of AAA should be governed and they need to get together and revamp their rules, that ONE man should not be the one who makes the decision if a school has an ineligible player or not! AMEN! Finally, someone realizes that ONE "Control" freak should not decide the fate of a school and its players! Especially, since HE is the one who said the boy was eligible!
HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMWe all prayed that the truth would come out! That was the reason for my previous post.....we knew our Father would bring the truth out. We didn't know if we would win our injunction, WE JUST WANTED TO BE HEARD, WE DID THINGS RIGHT!
I am happy for my boys and our school. WE made History and DESERVE to be in the playoffs! Thank the Lord above!
So our school is getting bashed terribly because the ruling has caused 3A playoffs to be postponed until the Judge can sign the ruling and the two attorneys can come to a
consensus.
My boys and our school do not deserve it, we are the BEST! And our new record is 10-1 (9-1 without the win over AAA)!
Keep praying for us and our boys! The reason behind all this was for OUR boys! Isn't that why we are teachers? What if this was your child who played football and in his senior year was stripped from their record and playoffs? You all would be fighting for the truth also! :)
