St. Pete Catholic gears up for FHSAA appeal
In case you missed today's story, St. Petersburg Catholic principal, Father John Serio, said he will ask the FHSAA board of directors to consider removing the final two years of the school's three-year, football postseason ban in Thursday's appeal hearing in Orlando.
It will be the second appeal for SPC, which was handed a $13,000 fine and lengthy postseason ban last May by the FHSAA for illegal practices and recruiting violations involving its football program.
SPC's first appeal - in October - failed, but Serio said the school has made several changes since then, including the hiring of a new football coach and soon-to-be AD.
Both former football coach Dan Mancuso and wife Ann Marie (AD) have stepped down, with Serio saying he "pushed the decision" for Ann Marie to move aside. He admitted having Dan report to his wife was a scenario "fraught with danger."
FHSAA cited three football players who were recruited but didn't attend SPC -- Northeast's Antwan Carson, St. Petersburg lineman Lawon Scott (now at Ole Miss) and St. Petersburg safety Jernois Bradberry. All three spoke with the Times this week for today's story, linked below.
In it, one FHSAA board member said Tuesday that he wasn't moved by SPC's changes, that the charges were so "egregious and blatant," he'd still support the full sentence.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/30/Sports/SPC_gears_up_for_appe.shtml
Download the entire SPC case file, including the FHSAA investigation findings, player statements and the school's response.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/29/SDOC1241.pdf
Check the Times prep's blog Thursday morning for the results of the hearing
-- JOE SMITH
Times photo of new SPC football coach Tod Creneti gathers the Barons and assistant coaches for a pre-practice prayer two weeks ago. The Barons are hoping the FHSAA gives them another chance for postseason. PHOTO BY JOHN PENDYGRAFT
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
SPC you are a joke to all schools.
You did the crime now pay your time.
Cheaters. Who in their right mind would have the most notorious recruiters in coaching and his wife as the AD?
FHSAA stand to your punishment!
Posted by: joke | May 30, 2007 at 02:41 PM
I read through everything and this Principal is a joke. He tried to cover it all up........and the team was practicing on Saturdays outside of the season.....I mean, come on. Also, his 'decision' to let the AD be the wife of a coach is upsurb.
SPC, take your medicine and learn from it.
Posted by: | May 30, 2007 at 03:31 PM
Can you believe the stones on Fr. Serio. He brings down the school that Fr. Lou has been building for the past several years, and then asks the FHSAA to overlook his shortcommings. Well at least he made a DECISION, or maybe she made it for him as usual. If they get off on this one, I can only imagine how easy the FHSAA is. If I'm right, I believe an earlier BLOG at a different article, mentioned the new coach Creneti trying to solicit coaches from the youth football league in St Pete to be a part of his staff. If this is true what does that tell the FHSAA? How sincere is Fr. Serio, and what will Creneti be doing to bring back SPC? It sure doesn't l;ook good if your a Baron. Where's FR. Lou???????????? We need you here, because the basketball program is next.....etc,etc,etc.....
Posted by: | May 30, 2007 at 03:51 PM
Serio saying they need it reduced because of all the changes they made. The AD just now quit............a year later!
Posted by: | May 30, 2007 at 04:23 PM
The basketball team is just as guilty. Aaron Holmes from Clearwater lived with a rich family who's son played for SPC. Is that illegal?
Posted by: Basketball at SPC | May 30, 2007 at 04:59 PM
isnt it funny how this carson kid says he was recruited buy SPC, But yet he has never played anywhere else. sounds like a kid starving for attention.
Posted by: | May 30, 2007 at 05:00 PM
SPC is rotten to the core full of deceit and lies...how can responsible Catholics allow this to continue?
Posted by: | May 31, 2007 at 08:57 AM
Responsible Catholics at SPC? Talk about your oxymoron.
Posted by: | May 31, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Don't blame Father Serio. He did what it took to clean up that mess. Mancuso has been a thorn in every high school in the county. Now that he is gone SPC will clean up it's act. Those who critize Father Serio are only those who don't know the whole truth.
Posted by: The Blog's Blog | June 01, 2007 at 06:51 PM