Special to The Times
A rival school and a rival parent tipped off the GHSA to possible recruiting violations that ended with Appling County’s football team forfeiting 10 victories and its region championship, according to GHSA records.
In the end, it was the player and coach who Pierce County identified which prompted the GHSA’s final ruling that Appling County violated a recruiting and undue influence bylaw called “following a coach.”
“GHSA initially approved three students for enrollment prior to their involvement in athletics at Appling County High School,” Appling County Schools superintendent Janet Goodman said in a released statement. “After the football season was completed, GHSA reversed itself and made a decision, based on allegations made by neighboring coaches and individuals connected with those coaches, to suspend the athletic eligibility of three Appling County students.”
The rule is widely known among athletic directors and most coaches, but not too many parents and players.
