Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 17, 1993 TAG: 9301170108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
RICHLANDS' RESPONSE AWAITED
Salem has protested, and the VHSL is looking into the matter. Next the accused school, Richlands, will tell its side.Salem principal John Hall said he has received a copy of a letter written by Virginia High School League executive director Earl Gillespie to Richlands High School officials informing them of the Spartans' charges that Richlands used illegal cleats in the football playoff game between the schools.
This past week, Salem protested its 17-7 loss to Richlands in the Group AA Division 4 state semifinal playoff game. The protest hinged on the alleged use of three-quarter-inch cleats by the Blue Tornadoes. In high school, players are permitted to use only half-inch cleats.
"The letter detailed my letter to the VHSL and included information that I sent to them. It asked for a response from Richlands," Hall said.
Richlands principal Brenda Lawson did not return calls Friday, but she said late Thursday the school hadn't received any information from the VHSL.
Richlands head coach Dennis Vaught said he felt Richlands would be exonerated at the hearing, and he refused to answer other questions.
The protest is scheduled to be heard by the VHSL executive council Jan. 27-28. Bob Patterson, principal at William Byrd, is president of the 27-member group that is formed of principals from each of the three divisions (A, AA, AAA) in the VHSL, two representatives of the state department of education, two superintendents, two members of school boards, two athletic directors, past chairman Doug Hunt, two citizens including Roanoke city councilman Delvis McCadden, two members of the general assembly and Gillespie.
Patterson, who is a voting member of the group even though he is a chairman, said that when Richlands makes its response, it will be decided if any of the parties involved (Salem, Richlands and the officials from the game) need to come in and be addressed by the executive council.
The three-quarter inch cleats are legal to use for practice, VHSL programs supervisor Larry Johnson said.
"The rule book addresses only game situations. The intent was there to govern practices, but the feeling is what a team does to another as far as safety is concerned is more [important] than what they do to themselves. So if a team says it uses them only for practice, that wouldn't be illegal," Johnson said.
Hall said the community's reaction had been supportive of Salem's protest. He also received two calls from people who identified themselves as followers of the Richlands team. "We talked about it very reasonably, and they gave me an opportunity to explain our side," Hall said.
Banks Conner, president of CMT Sporting Goods, where the disputed cleats were purchased, said he was upset by his store's involvement in the protest. Salem High School officials submitted sales slips obtained from a CMT source detailing an order placed by Richlands for the three-quarter-inch cleats the week of the game.
"I don't think CMT should be involved in any dispute among schools," Conner said. "They're all our customers. I don't feel one school should be given an order that another school has placed. It is not a practice of CMT [to give out information] pertaining to a coach's accounts."
The CMT president said his store is trying to identify who provided Salem with the sales slip.
"We're aggressively pursuing it," Conner said, "and I will make a statement [when] action has been taken on resolving CMT's part in this. But we've done nothing that is illegal."
Staff writer Ray Cox provided information for this story.