Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 30, 1993 TAG: 9301300102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
PROTEST QUESTIONS LINGER
In the aftermath of Thursday's decision by the Virginia High School League Executive Committee on Salem's protest against Richlands in the state football playoffs last month, several questions remain.First, can the rules in the VHSL handbook be rewritten so the executive committee has more power than to merely discipline a school? The VHSL executive committee refused to overturn Richlands' 17-7 victory over Salem in the Group AA Division 4 state semifinals even after Tornadoes coach Dennis Vaught admitted his team was equipped with illegal 5/8-inch cleats.
(An order form to CMT Sporting Goods in Roanoke showed the school ordered 3/4-inch cleats, but Vaught said in a Jan. 18, 1993, letter to Richlands principal Brenda Lawson that the cleats measured 5/8 of an inch.)
The executive committee ruled the most it could do would be to put Richlands High on strong probation, which means the school cannot participate in the 1993 playoffs.
Executive committee chairman Bob Patterson stated, "The league considers this a very serious matter. No coach or school can justify playing outside the rules of the game. That sends a message which is contrary to our Sportsmanship Code and the basic philosophy of the Virginia High School League. As educators, we must always teach and practice the values of fair play and proper behavior."
That was the only mention made of Vaught, whose immediate coaching future in the hands of Tazewell County superintendent Woodrow Mullins.
"The executive committee cannot reprimand or censure a coach because they are employees of a school. They can only take action against a school," VHSL executive director Earl Gillespie said.
Reminded that William Fleming basketball coach Burrall Paye and Pulaski County football coach Joel Hicks had been censured in recent years for remarks about officiating, Gillespie said:
"The sportsmanship committee can censure or reprimand coaches. They meet on call. Maybe this should have been a sportsmanship incident. In view of the lateness of the report, the executive committee acted in lieu of the sportsmanship committee."
As for rewriting rules so the executive committee could forfeit a game over usage of illegal equipment, Gillespie said the VHSL handbook could be amended to accommodate that. "It would put us in conflict with national federation rules and we would lose our position and voting privileges," he added.
Second, what of the charge that Salem wore illegal cleats against Richlands?
Vaught, in admitting his team wore illegal cleats, said in his report that he allowed his team to do so because an assistant coach told him Salem wore long cleats in pregame warmups.
Salem coach Willis White replied: "No, we've never used long cleats, and, hey, that's true. We don't even have any in the building."
Third, was Charlotte County school superintendent Paul Stapleton right to admonishing White for stating he had been told by people that they did not believe the VHSL would do anything to Richlands?
White was replying to a question about why Salem waited more than a month before protesting the game, which was played on Dec. 5.
Stapleton said the committee was offended by White's remarks.
"It was the unanimous feeling of the committee that it be said. I was asked if I'd mind making the remarks, and I said I would do it," Stapleton said. "The committee felt that it may have been an attempt to sway the committee, but even if it wasn't, the remarks by Coach White did put the committee in a derogatory light. It's my honest feeling that those kind of remarks had no place being made."
Patterson said the feeling of the executive committee was not unanimous, "that not everybody was even at the table at the time [of the vote to admonish White]. Anyway, it was decided by the group there that a statement would be made. It wasn't even official."
Orange County coach John Curia caught Richlands wearing the illegal cleats in warmups before the state championship game. He pointed it out to game officials, who first said he should call the VHSL. Curia then addressed the issue with Vaught. The Richlands coach took his team off the field, removed the cleats and informed officials his squad was legally equipped.
There was no further check, although Curia said he believes Richlands still wore the cleats in a 19-10 victory over his team in the state title game, also played on a muddy field.
Curia was not present when the committee reached its verdict. When told that White was criticized and Richlands was dealt a strong probation, Curia said: "I'm very disappointed to hear that someone reprimanded Coach White. He should not have been criticized. He should have been complimented."
Of the decision, Curia said: "It seemed to me that in the presentation, Salem made a very strong case for forfeiture and Richlands said, `You're right.' "
White said he does not believe justice was served.
"I'll never feel good," he said. "The VHSL will probably write me another reprimand. Instead of getting mail from Richlands [as he did after the initial protest], I'll get it from Charlottesville. I don't care. If I'm right, what will they do, crucify me for telling the truth?
"The Virginia High School League won't have to worry about me ever coming back with another complaint."