(UPDATE) Nature Coast to file an injunction Friday; Williston game still possible

Friday's stories from the St. Petersburg Times

Nature Coast boosters prepare to file an inunction and force Williston playoff game

Hefty fines not unusual for FHSAA

Nature Coast's football season isn't over just yet.

The Nature Coast booster club began the process of filing an injunction in Hernando County court Thursday. The request is to reject a ruling by the Florida High School Athletic Association to disqualify the Sharks from Friday's Class 3A region quarterfinal game against Williston.

The booster club missed Thursday's filing deadline by 30 seconds, club president Larry Dodson said. He said the injunction will be filed at 8 a.m. on Friday when the courthouse opens. Dodson said he expects a judge to sign the injunction effectively blocking the FHSAA from disqualifying the Sharks from the playoffs.

The judge could rule in favor of the injunction, request a hearing or reject the injunction.

The FHSAA also penalized the Sharks $10,400, and stripped them of a spring game for their role in a bench clearing brawl Nov. 7 at Groveland South Lake. South Lake received similar penalties and an $8,500 fine. Both teams would be eligible for postseason play in 2009 upon completion of a sportsmanship education program.

"(The injunction) is based on the same premise the injunction was granted to Madison County (in 2002)," Dodson said. "The premise is innocent until proven guilty and the FHSAA report said everyone was guilty.
"We have eyewitness accounts to the contrary."

-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@me.com

Comments

[Tampa Bay Football]

Bob the Wort's analysis was dead on correct and the judge's ruling confirmed it.

Way to go Bob the Wort. (Gotta love that name!)

Love the Wort Hate the Thugz.

To the Sharks I say:
Adios, arrivederci, auf wiedersehen, au revoir, bye-bye, cheerio, ciao, sayonara, L8tr Playa!

[DJ Booga]

Is the district backing this move, or is it just the school and boosters. Hernando county needs to step up and deal with all the issues that have occured at NC.

[MAKO]

Bob - thank you and yes I agree with you as I don't care for lawsuits either, in my opinion, they(lawsuits & lawyers) many times stand in the way of justice. Hoping this maybe one of the few times that a lawsuit might help!

My wishes for good luck to all!

[Bob TheWort]

After reading some of the responses It's easy to see how upset someone can be at a process that was so swift and how you must feel if it's your son, coach etc.

I guess the basis of our system is and should always be to err on the side of caution before rushing to judgment. Things did move pretty quickly in this situation.

I hope the right thing is done (I'm not really sure what that is now)but if that means a delay and another game for NCT, maybe that is the right thing.

Good luck.

I just want to add that the thing that really sets me off is when people seek an attorney, file a lawsuit. I know that sometimes it is necessary but there is so much of this in our country today that it's dragging our country down. This issue probably unfairly influenced my opinion on this situation.

Good luck to all.

[MAKO]

Wort you note "get an Attorney" and then you condem NCT for doing so? You make several assumptions, and we know what that usually means, don't we!

Perhaps you don't know that Southlake had a similar situation occur earlier this season where their coach got in an altercation with the opposing teams "Eastlake" coach reportedly a longtime friend during the game on the field and that game also had to be suspended after benches cleared - we can't assume "they" have a pattern can we? or is it really just NCT that you think should get punished - your bias is obvious!

Likely, your a fan or staff of one of the other local high schools in Hernando County whose glorey days tapered a bit when NCT opened and you blame NCT instead of your own administrators etc. for not keeping up with the Jone's. If you and others spent as much time and effort trying to improve your own program as you do trying to tear down NCT, things might be different!

I can speak from both sides as I've been a parent of kids in NCT and another local high school and there is really no comparison between the two as NCT is remarkable in the excellent educational experience my child has received from teachers and coaches - unfortunately, it was much different in the other high school, another of my kids attended.

I tell you NCT staff teaches/stresses good sportsmanship on many levels!

I ask you - picture yourself standing approx 15 feet from your son being tackled from behind by some big goons in the dark, now he is on the ground getting pummled, you run over holloring at them, they dont stop, now you grab one and pull him off as you start with the other, the one you pulled off hit you and jumps right back at your son, I guess at this point you just back away and watch them beat the daylights out of him, some dad you are, all this while the FHSAA officials are standing 5 feet away, doing nothing!

It will take time and a thorough independent investigation to overcome Southlake's home court advantage in this situation to ensure all parties get a fair shake! That means any potential victims on either sideline!

[Kathleen Helgeson]

Very True MAKO. Bob a concerned parent would want what was right. What was fair. free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fair judge.
legitimately sought, pursued, done, given, etc.; proper under the rules: a fair fight. Taking away the season was not. I am glad my NCT family is fighting for the kids and any real concerned parent would not have it any other way. GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!

[Bob TheWort]

This is a suspension issued by a governing body (FHSAA) that violations occurred (on both sides) during an event and they handed down a ruling.

This is not a traffic ticket, a battery or a murder, this is sanctioning body dealing with something occurring during a game, very much like AAU, NFL, NHL, NBA, etc.

Once again if you don't like a decision or outcome in life, get an attorney and maybe you can get what you want or at least part of.

I wasn't there and do not profess to know what happened but there is assumption on my part that FHSAA is a professional and unbiased organization with the best interest of the sport, its players and fans at its core.

And further that they interviewed all the relevant parties, gathered as much information as possible and came to the best decision they could based on this information.

Lets assume NCT get the injunction, gets their playoff game and then later the decision of FHSAA is upheld.

NCT then got what they wanted because they went to court and that is wrong.

According to FHSAA there were 48 violations! Is everyone to believe there no violations occurred and that this is a big witch hunt.

Just look at NCT's interaction with all the other schools and previous altercations. Were the other schools to blame then too?

Unfortunately there is an old saying that the best predicator of future behavior is past performance and I think the track record of this schools sports programs and speaks volumes.

There is a problem with the programs at NCT and it starts at the top down.

[MAKO]

Wort - You may not be as intelligent as you think you are, or perhaps you maybe a citizen of some other country, the lesson is; in this Free Country, your suppose to be innocent until "PROVEN" guilty!

[Bob TheWort]

There is a real life lesson here being taught by NCTs principal, coaches and booster club.

1) You do not have to follow the rules.

2) Don't accept responsibility for your actions.

2) If all else fails, GET AN ATTORNEY and file an injunction.

These are several of the major problems facing this country today and these type of shenanigans just reinforce it!

And I don't want to hear any C*** about teaching students about standing up for their rights etc.

A governing body investigated the situation, found 48 violations (48!) fined the school $10,400 (South Lake $8500), suspended them and put them on probation until June of 2010.

I'm no expert on the FHSAA but as a intelligent citizen and a concerned parent, I'm pretty sure they must have pretty darn good reasons!

Everyone pursuing this course of action should be ashamed!

[Joe Beharriell]

Get real NCT and stop begging.

[Hazeee]

What a joke.

There's no indication that they weren't involved in some kind of violation. 48 counts, I mean, let's be realistic here.

If the judge turns this over, it will do these kids more harm than good. Life is full of consequences.

[Tampa Bay Football]

Once again 30 seconds late and $10,400 short.

The dog ate the injunction filing. Or the power went out and the metal detectors didn't work. So the security guards charged across the courthouse and had to hand check the the thugs I mean plaintiffs for weapons which is why they were 30 seconds late to making the filing deadline.

Who is paying for this? Better no be tax money. Better not be gate receipts or fund raising activities or anything related to school functions.

I see Title IX violations. They're everywhere... Maybe the playaz "found" the money? You adults go right on ahead showing the innocent little football playaz that the rulez don't apply to them. This will get them far in life. Like Stark or Raiford.

[MAKO]

Agree - best of luck to the team and boosters in their efforts

[BlackandGold]

Good. These guys need to play.