NS: Flames to Forfeit Two Games Due to Ineligible Player

Luck and bad bounces continue to surround the Sir John A MacDonald Flames this season in the Nova Scotia Student Athletic Federation Football League (NSSAFFL).

The Flames must forfeit two games as a result of an ineligible player on their team. This decision could severely hamper their chances to get to the playoffs.
Darrell Dempster, the executive director of the NSSAF, explained the turn of events that led to the league ruling:

“NSSAF was advised in a letter sent Wednesday September 28th by the administration of Sir John A MacDonald that the school had used an ineligible student athlete in the first two games of the year,” says Dempster.

Under the NSSAF rules, section (4.5) applies to this and states the following: “If a school uses an ineligible student in a contest, such contest shall be forfeited to the non-offending school or schools.”

As a result, the NSSAF informed the Sir John A administration of their ruling on Thursday September 29, 2011.

Flames head coach Alan Wetmore explains that the school deemed the player eligible to play at the start of the season. Therefore, the team went ahead based on the school’s initial assessment.

“I would like to state on behalf of the Sir John Flames’ management and
coaching staff, the school indicated to us that he was eligible,” explains Wetmore. “We played him for 2 games based on that indication.”

Rumours started to circulate on Saturday September 24th that the player in question may not have actually been eligible. That was the day before the key game against the Citadel Phoenix.

Wetmore explains that there was no way to confirm if this was true because it was the weekend when it did start to surface. At that point, the only ones that knew of the potential ineligibility was the Flames football team.

Faced with a tough situation, Wetmore and his coaching/management staff had to make the decision.

“We chose to pull him off the roster for the Citadel Game,” explains Wetmore, who adds that the player is one of the best on the young team also a leader. “It was not an easy thing to do.”

Once this decision was made, Wetmore requested the referees and Citadel coaching staff be present to witness the player being scratched off the game day roster.

The next day, coaching staff and management informed the school administration and the NSSAF football league. Once the school administration finished their investigation, it was found that the player was indeed ineligible.

Therefore, the above actions of the NSSAF took place and the Flames forfeited the two games won against Sackville Kingfishers (58-13) and Dr. John Hugh Gillis (85-0). Instead of having a 2-2 record, the Flames are now 0-4.

Coach Wetmore says that the team understands why they have to forfeit the games (due to the ruling); however, they are appealing the issue of the actual player’s ineligibility. The player’s age is in accordance with the regulations. Furthermore, he has never played for another high school.

However, the player is in his fourth year of school. Wetmore says that is what makes him ineligible under NSSAF rules. The Flames want to challenge this by appealing the ineligibility.

“He took a semester (50 days) off of school in grade 11 to work and help with family finances,” explains Wetmore. “He is a member of our military, a fine young man who has an opportunity to enhance his grade point average, play CIS football and potentially receive a scholarship.”

“On these grounds we are appealing his ineligibility because we feel like he deserves this positive opportunity to get his life moving in a great direction.”

Wetmore expects a decision by the end of the week and will stand by the league’s decision.

“We respect any decision that the league comes to and would like to apologize to the league, Sackville and JH Gillis for the mistake,” comments Wetmore.

Coaches in the league are sympathetic to the Flames situation.

“We understand the disappointment SJA is facing now that their two victories have been taken from them,” says Citadel Phoenix coach Jeff Lawley. “We know there was no intention on their part to break the rules.”

Horton head coach Alec Hyndman agrees.

“I do not believe they used this player knowing he was ineligible,” states Hyndman. “Looks like a mistake that can happen to anyone in the league.”

This ruling has put the Flames in a rough spot, especially with their road to making the playoffs. Hyndman reflects on how this forfeit will reflect on the league standings and playoff positioning down the road.

“It’s unfortunate, they are one of the top teams and to see them 0-4 really opens up the tier 1 playoffs for our division,” comments Hyndman. “It means that instead of us and SJA finishing 1-2 in our division, someone else will get that home field advantage in the first round.”

Hyndman stresses the importance of what the Flames will need to do down the stretch and is optimistic for the team’s chances.

“They need to win out, which I can believe they can, to finish in the top four of our division,” says Hyndman.

Phoenix coach Lawley is also optimistic about the Flames chances despite the tough road ahead.

“This puts SJA in a very difficult position but they are a very good team and they will do what it takes to make playoffs,” says Lawley.