By Jeff Devine, The Chronicle
ABBEVILLE—The Abbeville High School football program has been fined and placed on probation after the program used an ineligible player in violation of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s transfer rule, according to the AHSAA.
The AHSAA announced the action Wednesday, Sept. 30, stating that the violation involved a student who was not eligible to compete for Abbeville under the association’s transfer regulations.
According to the AHSAA, the ineligible player participated in two games for Abbeville. The program lost both contests in which the student participated.
The AHSAA did not identify the student or disclose the amount of the fine in its statement.
The violation was self-reported by Abbeville High School, according to the association.
The AHSAA Transfer Rule establishes eligibility requirements for students who move from one school to another. In general, a student who transfers to another member school is not immediately eligible to participate in athletics unless the student qualifies under an applicable exception or otherwise satisfies the association’s eligibility requirements.
The AHSAA has taken similar action against other football programs this season following eligibility violations. On Sept. 16, the association announced that Maplesville High School’s football program had been fined and placed on probation after using an ineligible player. That violation was also self-reported by the school.
The AHSAA said Abbeville’s penalty stems specifically from the use of an ineligible player in violation of the Transfer Rule. The association did not announce any additional penalties involving the student or individual coaches in its Sept. 30 statement.
The AHSAA also penalized Carroll High School after players from Andalusia High School started a physical altercation on the field and Head Football Coach Steve McLendon stepped in to stop the fight.
McLendon was suspended for two games, including his first homecoming as head coach; CHS was fined $1,000, and the Eagles’ football program was placed on probation.
According to the AHSAA’s handbook, when an altercation occurs, both schools are supposed to be investigated and, if the governing body sees fit, face punishments. As of September 30, the AHSAA has not released any Information about potential penalties for Andalusia High School, its football program, or its players.
In a slap in the face to the Carroll High School fans, one of the major instigators involved in the altercation started by Andalusia was not suspended or disciplined. Instead, he was seemingly rewarded by being named one of the game captains for the very next game.
We have been waiting for news about Andalusia to drop from our contact at the Alabama High School Athletic Association, but so far we only hear crickets.
So, will the AHSAA penalize Andalusia as they should, or are they just taking their sweet time before releasing their decision? Because we have waited over two weeks to hear something about this. Yet, so far we have received no word about Andalusia and any potential penalties for instigating and occupation of the field.
The AHSAA governs interscholastic athletics for member schools across Alabama and establishes eligibility rules intended to regulate participation among its member programs.
