Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 13, 1993 TAG: 9301130070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
SALEM PROTESTS STATE PLAYOFF LOSS SCHOOL CLAIMS OPPONENT USED ILLEGAL
Salem High School has sent to the Virginia High School League an official protest of its Group AA state semifinal football game at Richlands on Dec. 5.Salem is alleging that the Tornadoes used illegal cleats in their 17-7 victory.
The Salem protest hinges on a bill of sale for three-quarter-inch cleats by CMT Sporting Goods in Roanoke to Richlands the week of the state semifinal game that was played on an extremely muddy field after a week of snow and rain.
Orange County, which lost to Richlands 19-10 in the Division 4 state championship game a week later, also has been asked to respond to an officials' report from that game about possible use of the three-quarter-inch cleats by the Tornadoes.
In high school football, teams are allowed to use cleats no longer than one-half inch for safety reasons. Longer cleats tend to catch and can cause injuries.
In the aftermath of those two games, the media has hinted at the use of illegal cleats and attacked the VHSL and Richlands for the sloppy field conditions. Richlands is coached by former Patrick Henry coach Dennis Vaught, who also won the 1988 Group A Division 2 state championship at Lexington High.
Vaught was selected the Timesland coach of the year that fall.
"Basically, we came across some information that might demonstrate an intent to use three-quarter-inch cleats in our game," said Salem principal John Hall. "We decided that even the intent was enough to investigate the matter."
In addition to the sales slip, Salem has submitted photographs to the VHSL from several sources that the Spartans contend might show the Richlands players wore illegal cleats.
Salem coach Willis White said he wants to ask the VHSL to forfeit the semifinal loss to the Spartans.
"The only thing I know," White said, "is the name on the order blank is [Richlands] athletic director Gary Lane, who ordered them on Dec. 2 with guaranteed delivery by Dec. 4 [the day before the state semifinal]. I think the pictures show the illegal cleats."
Asked if he had ordered the allegedly illegal cleats, Lane said: "At this time I don't think it would be appropriate to comment on any of this."
Brenda Lawson, the Richlands principal, indicated that she had been in contact with VHSL programs supervisor Larry Johnson, who informed her that his group had been contacted about the use of the three-quarter-inch cleats.
"I'm operating from the premise that if there's a legitimate concern, I should be contacted by school officials from Salem or the Virginia High School League," said Lawson. "I will wait and see if there is a protest, and I will cooperate fully with the Virginia High School League."
CMT Sporting Goods sales manager Bruce Bias said it would not be in the best interest of Salem, Richlands or any other business account to give out specific information on a purchase.
"I have no idea where Salem would have gotten it [the sales slip]," said Bias.
The CMT official said three-quarter-inch cleats are available to order "if you need to get them, but I wouldn't know whether they're legal or illegal."
Hall has not asked for any specific action such as forfeiture, although that might be a possibility.
"The high school league regulations don't speak of the specific penalty of something like this, for equipment," Hall said. "But I do ask if they uphold the finding that the [illegal] equipment was used, to declare the results of the game null and void."
Johnson said the VHSL will not comment on the situation and that it had not received an official protest from Salem. Any protest would be taken up at the VHSL executive committee meeting, scheduled Jan. 27-28 in Charlottesville.
Hall said Salem's protest was mailed Monday.
"There's been a lot written about it, and the best thing now is to wait for a resolution, but there's never been a forfeit in the VHSL for use of illegal equipment," Johnson said.
Hall agreed that this case shouldn't be tried in the media before the VHSL has a chance to investigate.
He added that the photos had been in Salem's possession for some time, but that the Richlands order for the cleats from CMT spurred Salem into action.
"The league wouldn't investigate unless you file a protest," Hall said. "It's up to the league to ask officials and other parties what happened.
"I believe there is a strong possibility of an inequity here. As far as our students and the program, I would like to see it corrected if there is one."
Orange football coach John Curia said his school was working on a response about the use of illegal cleats. Orange officials said earlier they weren't asking for a forfeiture of the championship game, but if Salem's allegations are true, Orange would want those involved strongly censured.
"We were asked to respond to the use of illegal equipment," Curia said. "Salem had contacted us on the Friday [Dec. 11] before our game with Richlands and told us to beware that they might be using illegal cleats. We saw them [the cleats] when we came on the field [for practice]. We knew if they kicked off and then we turned it in, the players would be in violation, so we approached the officials."
Curia said the game officials checked Richlands' cleats.
"They came back and said they had illegal cleats and were taking care of the situation," Curia said. "We asked the officials if they were going to check [again] and they told us they were going to take the coach's [Vaught's] word."
Vaught did not return a phone call Tuesday.
The officials for the Orange-Richlands game were from the Western Virginia Football Officials' Association that services many Timesland schools, including all those in the Roanoke Valley.
Neither Ernie Bradd, the head of the WVFO, nor the VHSL would release the content of the officials' report from the Orange-Richlands game.