FHSAA alters Freedom suspensions in TBT melee
Two suspended Freedom players were reinstated, while three others had their suspensions altered Friday by the Florida High School Athletic Association, which reviewed the athletes' actions in the Sept. 21 melee at Tampa Bay Tech
FHSAA spokesperson Robert Hernberger said of those suspensions that were changed, two of them went from one week to three weeks (meaning those unidentified players will not be available tonight against Hillsborough). The other suspended player will have his six week suspension down to four weeks.
The altercation, which was sparked by a late hit at the TBT sideline, originally resulted in 13 suspensions (12 players, one TBT assistant). Five Freedom players, five TBT players and a TBT assistant were handed six week suspensions for "gross unsporting conduct," and two Freedom players received one-game suspensions.
The two programs were also fined (TBT-$3,250, Freedom - $1,700) and put on administrative probation.
-- JOE SMITH
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