An update on the appeal brought forth by Newcastle superintendent Dr. Cathy Walker regarding a former coach being on the Guthrie sidelines during the Class 5A state semifinal football game at Putnam City High School.
The OSSAA remained firm in their assessment of the situation at Wednesday’s appeal, saying that no rules were violated by Guthrie football and that it will remain an internal personnel issue. Executive director David Jackson cited the OSSAA handbook and the NFHS handbook in his arguments, stating that the rules put in place are aimed toward student-athletes, not coaches.
Furthermore, it was decided that it could not be proved that the coach in question called any plays for the Bluejays. Newcastle’s appeal to sanction Guthrie football was unanimously rejected by a 13-0 vote, but the OSSAA convened on the decision to look into the rule moving forward and eliminate “potential gray area.”
The rule in question is Rule 7 section 7 of the OSSAA handbook, which states:
“After a student has participated as a representative of one member school in a playoff contest or tournament leading up to a state championship, that student shall not under any circumstances be eligible to compete for another member school in that same series of playoffs or tournaments leading up to a state championship for that same school year.”
Walker claimed that there was little communication between her and the OSSAA and that it was “one-sided” toward Guthrie. She also said that a thorough investigation was not done by the OSSAA.
Guthrie football will play against Carl Albert in the Class 5A state championship in Edmond on Saturday, Dec. 14.