Nature Coast/Central game canceled (UPDATE: 6:15 a.m.)

Click here to read a detailed account that ran in Thursday's Times read it now.

BROOKSVILLE - Friday's football game between Nature Coast and Central has been canceled. Both teams were practicing when principals from those schools shared the news.

The decision was made during a conference call Wednesday between FHSAA associate executive director for athletic administration Denarvise Thornton, and superintendents and county athletic directors from Hernando and Lake counties, Nature Coast principal Tizzy Schoelles said.

This was the continued fallout from a bench-clearing brawl last week between Nature Coast and Groveland South Lake. The game was called with three minutes, 45 seconds remaining after the lights went out and a fight ensued. South Lake's game Friday against Tavares also was canceled.

Florida High School Athletic Association spokeswoman Cristina Alvarez said the organization had no comment and referred questions to letters sent to both schools obtained Monday by the St. Petersburg Times.

In those documents, Joyner and an unidentified Nature Coast football player were cited for "throwing punches." Joyner has been suspended from coaching for six weeks, and the player is suspended indefinitely.
Schoelles and Joyner will travel to Orlando on Thursday to present an appeal to Thornton for those suspensions. She added there would be no appeal to play Friday's games.

-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@me.com

Comments

NCT should have used Lubee's "shotgun defense."

[blah]

Lubee--you are a fool and have no idea what class is.

frank and frank are meatheads-nuff said

elle (2:01)nature coast got suspended b/c they were involved in yet another fight. have some cheese with your whine

mo lubee (8:03) talent makes the coach. one eyed willy joyner is not even the best coach in hernando county let alone florida

[Mo Lubee]

I posted back and forth with the Sumter Raiders parents before and after our last game with them. They are a quality program.
Here is what South Sumters (HALL OF FAME) Coach Inman Sherman had to say about the NCT program:

Raiders coach Inman Sherman said he wants schools such as Hernando and Pasco back on the schedule, and he wants to keep the Sharks as well.

"We want to play good teams that are aimed at the playoffs and doing things the right way," Sherman said. "We think those three are programs doing things the right way."

Somehow I think a coach of this attainment is a better judge of values, honor and integrity than some of the negative poppinjays posting here.

[Mo Lubee]

Seems like a lot of people have a lot of different reasons for posting against Nature Coast, but none of them seem to involve honor or principle.

My grandaughter is a cheerleader and I can tell you Nature Coast is an excellent school teaching good values and has an excellent Principal and staff, including the best football coach in Florida.

The football team joins together with the opposing team win or lose after the game to offer up prayer at the 50 yard line.

Most of the posts I see on here are from adults denigrating Nature Coast kids that will grow up to be better adults than most of the twits posting here. Jealousy is ugly to watch, vitrolic posts designed to damage the pride of kids is shameful.

How could anyone call those guy's biased? they call what they see in real time & write their reviews/recap, I don't always agree with their opinions but they're darn good at describing what they see & thats what their job is.

They have encouraged & supported all of the Hernando county schools, I watch those broadcasts all the time, EVERY school has had it's ego stroked & been given an "atta boy" boy those two announcer's. Hardly biased.. stick to the issue.

http://sports.fhsaa.org/fb/results.php?date=11/14/08

Check it out...
Hah I love it 1-0 lol!

9-1
0-6

election, this game, whatever. both were bum rushes.

NCT should still get to go to the playoffs without their coach (who was suspended for 6 weeks).

2:35, talk to me when you don't feel you need to be anonymous.

[the real 352]

you can not go bye what the hitv guys said about that game. they called that game onesided all night they wanted nct to win last year and u can by the way it was called. and the were upset tht they lost

elle, tell everyone who you voted for President so everyone will know how smart you are. NCT got suspended because they deserved it.

[elle]

11:59 The entire South Lake team was suspended because the entire South Lake team left their sidelines and ran across an entire field in order to fight. NCT had a number of players involved in the incident but it was no where equal to the entire team. I'm amazed to see so many people wrapped up in this story and continue to comment on strictly hearsay. You sit at you computer and comment on how honorable your team is or how it's NCT's fault. How many of you even put this much time into the presidental election? I'm going to guess you spend more time arguing about HS football than you did about making decisions for our county and country. Real "honorable".

Here is what South Sumters (HALL OF FAME) Coach Inman Sherman had to say about the NCT program:

Raiders coach Inman Sherman said he wants schools such as Hernando and Pasco back on the schedule, and he wants to keep the Sharks as well.

"We want to play good teams that are aimed at the playoffs and doing things the right way," Sherman said. "We think those three are programs doing things the right way."

Hey Central dont act all innocent :
Want a neutral report on last years incident Central fans? How about the HITV announcers??
Frank Abbondondolo
-While I should be congratulating the Bears for salvaging their season with a win for the county title, instead I find myself shocked, disappointed and appalled by their disgusting display of poor sportsmanship after the final whistle blew! There is no place for that behavior in sports at any level in my opinion and a team I was fond of for my 10 years of broadcasting here has lost a LOT of my respect and admiration. I can excuse youthful exuberance and emotions in a big game. Sadly trash talking is just part of sports today so even that could be excused or at least understood most of the time. But what happened after this game is inexcusable and I find it odd that Coach Joyner apologized for his teams’ understandable retaliation defending their home field while Coach Lohrey remains silent (according to reports) after his team initiated the ruckus with their raunchiest actions. I hope this was an apparition and not a sign of thing's to come!

And Frank Mallek
-As the game ended and both teams should have been lining up to shake hands after a hard fought battle, the Central Bears decided victory was not enough. The entire teams danced it's way to midfield to stomp on the Shark logo on the field in a display of unsportsmanlike disrespect that I have never seen in the ten years that I have been broadcasting games here for HITV.
Look....I follow the Hernando County Schools.....I have for much longer than the ten years I've been broadcasting games here. I understand that the intensity had been brewing all week at both schools, but what happened Friday night was a travesty to the game and to all of high school sports and I'm sure that my opinion of what should happen to Central High players and the ENTIRE coaching staff is best kept to myself. The respect that I have always had for Central High, dating back to first days of Coach Crogs, has been seriously altered. Coach Jamie Joyner was infuriated, not at Central High, but at his own team because they decided to retaliate . "And class programs don't do that". I can understand your feeling coach and I do agree with you, but I don't care if I'm playing football, cards, or tidily winks, if you beat me in a hard fought contest and then "spit in face" after victory, which is essentially what the Bears did, I doubt I could compose myself enough to just wipe it off my face, smile and shake your hand.
I wish the Nature Coast Tech Sharks all the luck in the world next week against North Marion and I hope your season continues for weeks to come.

*Both gentlemen have been broadcasting Hernando Cty games for 10 years. No bias, just there honest opinion on what they saw!

http://www.hcsb.k12.fl.us/monday_football_in_review07

One more time:
(remember, these guys have been covering Henando sports well before
Nature Coast was even thought of Being built)
Want a neutral report on last years incident Central fans? How about the HITV announcers??
Frank Abbondondolo
-While I should be congratulating the Bears for salvaging their season with a win for the county title, instead I find myself shocked, disappointed and appalled by their disgusting display of poor sportsmanship after the final whistle blew! There is no place for that behavior in sports at any level in my opinion and a team I was fond of for my 10 years of broadcasting here has lost a LOT of my respect and admiration. I can excuse youthful exuberance and emotions in a big game. Sadly trash talking is just part of sports today so even that could be excused or at least understood most of the time. But what happened after this game is inexcusable and I find it odd that Coach Joyner apologized for his teams’ understandable retaliation defending their home field while Coach Lohrey remains silent (according to reports) after his team initiated the ruckus with their raunchiest actions. I hope this was an apparition and not a sign of thing's to come!

And Frank Mallek
-As the game ended and both teams should have been lining up to shake hands after a hard fought battle, the Central Bears decided victory was not enough. The entire teams danced it's way to midfield to stomp on the Shark logo on the field in a display of unsportsmanlike disrespect that I have never seen in the ten years that I have been broadcasting games here for HITV.
Look....I follow the Hernando County Schools.....I have for much longer than the ten years I've been broadcasting games here. I understand that the intensity had been brewing all week at both schools, but what happened Friday night was a travesty to the game and to all of high school sports and I'm sure that my opinion of what should happen to Central High players and the ENTIRE coaching staff is best kept to myself. The respect that I have always had for Central High, dating back to first days of Coach Crogs, has been seriously altered. Coach Jamie Joyner was infuriated, not at Central High, but at his own team because they decided to retaliate . "And class programs don't do that". I can understand your feeling coach and I do agree with you, but I don't care if I'm playing football, cards, or tidily winks, if you beat me in a hard fought contest and then "spit in face" after victory, which is essentially what the Bears did, I doubt I could compose myself enough to just wipe it off my face, smile and shake your hand.
I wish the Nature Coast Tech Sharks all the luck in the world next week against North Marion and I hope your season continues for weeks to come.

*Both gentlemen have been broadcasting Hernando Cty games for 10 years. No bias, just there honest opinion on what they saw!

http://www.hcsb.k12.fl.us/monday_football_in_review07

[Phil Doucet]

Nature Coast Technical High School (NCT) is a great school with intelligent faculty and students who care about one another and their community. It is also home to some of Hernando County's finest coaches and student athletes. All students attend NCT by choice, and had to submit a portfolio and interview to be considered for acceptance or be chosen by lottery. Why are so many of you quick to condemn a great school and a wonderful family man? This is a time when all of Hernando County should rally together in support rather than divide in rendering judgment. If you feel strongly about this matter, prove it by using your real name. It is easy to criticize and pass judgment from a position of anonymity!

Lets blame the ref! Our coach is perfect. Did the refs hit anyone? Nope just your coach. 2nd time in 10 games? Yep its the refs.

Want a neutral report on last years incident Central fans? How about the HITV announcers??
Frank Abbondondolo
-While I should be congratulating the Bears for salvaging their season with a win for the county title, instead I find myself shocked, disappointed and appalled by their disgusting display of poor sportsmanship after the final whistle blew! There is no place for that behavior in sports at any level in my opinion and a team I was fond of for my 10 years of broadcasting here has lost a LOT of my respect and admiration. I can excuse youthful exuberance and emotions in a big game. Sadly trash talking is just part of sports today so even that could be excused or at least understood most of the time. But what happened after this game is inexcusable and I find it odd that Coach Joyner apologized for his teams’ understandable retaliation defending their home field while Coach Lohrey remains silent (according to reports) after his team initiated the ruckus with their raunchiest actions. I hope this was an apparition and not a sign of thing's to come!

And Frank Mallek
-As the game ended and both teams should have been lining up to shake hands after a hard fought battle, the Central Bears decided victory was not enough. The entire teams danced it's way to midfield to stomp on the Shark logo on the field in a display of unsportsmanlike disrespect that I have never seen in the ten years that I have been broadcasting games here for HITV.
Look....I follow the Hernando County Schools.....I have for much longer than the ten years I've been broadcasting games here. I understand that the intensity had been brewing all week at both schools, but what happened Friday night was a travesty to the game and to all of high school sports and I'm sure that my opinion of what should happen to Central High players and the ENTIRE coaching staff is best kept to myself. The respect that I have always had for Central High, dating back to first days of Coach Crogs, has been seriously altered. Coach Jamie Joyner was infuriated, not at Central High, but at his own team because they decided to retaliate . "And class programs don't do that". I can understand your feeling coach and I do agree with you, but I don't care if I'm playing football, cards, or tidily winks, if you beat me in a hard fought contest and then "spit in face" after victory, which is essentially what the Bears did, I doubt I could compose myself enough to just wipe it off my face, smile and shake your hand.
I wish the Nature Coast Tech Sharks all the luck in the world next week against North Marion and I hope your season continues for weeks to come.

*Both gentlemen have been broadcasting Hernando Cty games for 10 years. No bias, just there honest opinion on what they saw!

http://www.hcsb.k12.fl.us/monday_football_in_review07.htm

NATURE COAST IS NOT 9-1. WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING. WHO HAS BEATEN THE COAST?!?!?!?! DEFF NOT CENTRAL. DONT EVER TRY AND SAY YOU BEAT US.

[sg]

i've been on the field 3 times in 20 years as a coach tring to stop bench clearings,all three were after the game.there is no way to stop it instantly,it has to kinda run its course,usually 2-3 minutes,but there is no way any refs saw what really took place when the lights went out.

Who's in charge here? Why would the Hernando school superintendent allow Tizzy and Joyner to take off from work and go see FHSAA official Thornton in Orlando today when the superintendent just talked to Thornton yesterday?

[oh-kay]

But NCT had the larger fine, it was all their fault.

Are you people forgetting that central was punished by the FHSAA last year. I woulndt really call that honorable, would you.

[Interested fan]

Pleassssssssssssse, someone from Central and/or Tavares please contact your administrators and have the two teams hook up next week. Both teams did nothing wrong and should be allowed to play a game. This will not only honor the two sets of seniors but reinforce the fact that BOTH schools do follow FHASS sportmanship rules. They are two honorable programs and should be allowed to play. I am NOT involved in this mess in any manor. I have nothing to do with any of the four schools involved. However, I do believe in respect and both Central and Tavares should be treated with respect for doing the "RIGHT" things. Good Luck.

Hey Dude. If the coaches ordered the players across the field how did the head coach find himself punching someone on the field? Does the guy live by the phil. "dont do as I do...do as I say? Come on. As one parent stated "MOST" of the kids are probably good however, when a coach gets caught punching someone it is never right. Never!!!!

[care bear]

AMEN! interested fan...it's about time other schools stop paying for the nasty wrongdoing of NCT. CHS seniors deserve a better end than this. chs admin., please petition fhsaa and give the seniors on the team a last game they deserve. the one good thing to come out of this is that CHS has yet to be defeated by NCT!!! 6-0 hooray! they can't take that away

One of those fights were started by and involved Central! Why should the FHSAA do them any favors?

Entire South Lake football team suspended? What about NCT?

http://www.dailycommercial.com/Sports/1113preps

[Interested fan]

This is nuts. Bottom line is this. There have been two fights in the last 10 football games dating back to last year. Both fights involved Nature Coast. You cannot run from that. You cannot hide from that. The FHSAA should not allow them to play in the playoffs. PERIOD. They should also let Central play in a post season Bowl game. The rule book says this. Any team who does NOT make the playoffs is allowed to play in a bowl game on Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday (the first week of the playoffs) against any team who also does not qualify for the playoffs. The way it is done is coaches call around to other schools asking if they are interested in playing. There are hundreds of these games played every year. Now one of the rules is this. Each team MUST have a winning record. However, Central administration, if honorable should call the state and ask for an exception as their seniors have not been allowed to play in their last game and THEY did nothing wrong. Any Central parent, player, fan or teacher reading this should inquire about the ablility to play in the post season bowl game.

I don't know where 85 came from. There aren't that many players. But the players can state how the coaching staff ordered them across the track to the fence after South Lake ran across the field. They were actually talking to their parents and friends during the incident.

[oh-kay]

Why do you need the refs name, so you can malign his character like you have everyone affiliated with other Hernando County schools. I actually think his name is mentioned in one of the articles I read.

And whats the name of the NCT player who is suspended?

[yah]

Oh, but all 85 of the NCT players have perfect night vision, and their testimony is reliable????? Yahhhhahahahahahahahahah

Who were the refs that accused the coach and player? What are their names? We know who the alleged attackers are but, who are the accusers? Why don't they defend what they say they saw?

The Refs can't see infractions right in front of them how can they see a punch in the dark? I hope they understand they cold be ruining a man's career if they are wrong? On the other hand, if they are wrong, I hope he sues them and FHSAA. I think the refs should have to take an eye exam.

Let me first say I take great offense to all the trash talking about the NCT players. My son has more honor and integrity then 90% of adults (no one's perfect), and although I can't speak for all the NCT players I know most to be hard working, polite, and honest young men off the field, and warriors on the field.There was one NCT player seen by the refs throwing a punch not an entire team fighting, and although they must stand together as a team and except the ruling of the FHSAA they do not need the community in which they live verbally linching them.I have known Coach Joyner for 4 years and although I don't always agree with him or his methods, and those of his coaches I do not believe he would hit anyone. It does not fit with what he teaches his team. It is truely a shame not only for NCT, but for Central and the other two schools involed, and it is time to use this event as a learning example for all our kids (not just the one's involed).After all its not just about football, but teaching our boys to be better men. Most will never play football after high school, but all will grow up,god willing, to be men.

[central parent]

I for one, am glad that Central doesn't have to deal with these thugs. I was at the last game, and I don't understand how the NCT parents claim that it was all Central's fault. NCT was angry because they expected to win last year and when they didn't they took offense to the celebrating of CHS. I was scared in the parking lot afterwards. The parents at NCT are very loud and overbearing, and flooded the blogs with their "factual" versions of what happend at that game. They even went as far as to claim that the Central coaches planned the whole thing. Now they are claiming the lights were turned out on purpose in South Lake.

Must really suck to have everyone against you.

Actually 2 State Champs, Booker T Washington and Pohokee got in a fight last year and Booker T's Coach actually had his leg broken. He was trying to break it up by throwing kids around - no one accused him of throwing punches though they probably could have.

NCT...#1 on everyones' stink list!

Man, did you guys see Houston and Phoenix last night? Good role models we have out there these days.

It is spelled No one (not noone). See everyone makes mistakes. Oh I guess what you are saying is as long as one team trys to figh another team then they should brawl. Well my friend, the real teams in this state and the champions walk away. Do you see Armwood fighting? Pasco? Gulf? Come on Nature Coast is out of control and the admisistration and coaches are aware of it. Lets see if that coach is allowed to return to the sidelines next season. I would not want my son playing against him. Shoot if he scores a touchdown I would fear the coach hitting him. They are out of control and should be out of the playoffs. Here comes Williston.

-9-0 on the field-
#10 in the State.
#4 in Tampa Bay per SP Times
#4 Bright House Sports Network

YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!!!! HAS ANYONE OF YOU TRIED TO BREAK UP A FIGHT BETWEEN TENNAGERS. NOW, HAS ANYONE OF YOU TRIED TO BREAK UP A FIGHT BETWEEN TEENAGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS!! I AM SORRY BUT THE TRUTH IS YOU HAVE TO GET BEWEEN THEM AND PHISICALLY SEPARATE THEM. THINK ABOUT ANY FIGHT THAT HAPPENS AT A SCHOOL HOW DO THEY GET BROKEN UP? THINK REAL HARD....DO THE KIDS JUST STOP ON THERE OWN.....DO THEY STOP WHEN GETTING THREATENED WITH SUSPENSION......THE ANSWER IS THAT SOME BRAVE EDUCATOR USUALLY STEPS IN AND BREAKS IT UP.
NO ONE IS SAYING THAT THE REF WAS TELLING A LIE. BUT MAYBE WHAT HE SAW WAS A COACH BREAKING UP A FIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DARK, AND MISTAKINGLY THOUGHT HE TREW A PUNCH. WHY DID THE REF NOT NAME THE PLAYER HE SAW GET PUNCHED. IF YOUR CLOSE ENOUGH TO ACCUSE SOMEONE OF THROWING A PUNCH THEN YOUR CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE WHAT NUMBER GOT PUNCHED.

[Go Bears.]

NO you are 9-1. And yes it might look like you would have won on paper but just like in any sport that doesn't mean anything in a rivalry game. 9-1. Nature coast 0-6 vs CHS.

[Big Al]

So, let us punish Central and prevent them from having their senior night and lets give NCT 2 weeks to rest and prepare for the playoffs. FHSAA sure missed the boat on this one. Sometimes I think FHSAA has too much power. There are better ways to handle this and this isn't one.

I still do not understand why the Supers. dont let Central play Tavares! Just don't let Central go to Lake County with there fault electrical work.

NCT is shooting itself in the foot by submitting to FHSAA 85 letters from the players on its football team. No one in the world should have to suffer the cruel and unusual punishment of having to read the letters composed by the NCT kids. It could also be self-incriminating for NCT if their staff gets nailed for impersonating English teachers.

[NCT NCT!!!]

Point blank everybody just mad that NCT 10-0. Yea i said it cause CHS would got whopped on had we played them so 10-0 here come the playoffs

It is spelled Confused..
Noone is out of control. Everyone can keep making all this stuff up and they don't even know the story. Last year Central intigated it and this year South Lake came to the NCT sideline.