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BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
James Monroe High School's football coach and principal pleaded with the Virginia High School League for 30 minutes yesterday.
During a conference call, coach Rich Serbay and Principal John Gordon told three members of the VHSL's executive committee the order of events that led to the Yellow Jackets' using an ineligible player.
They asked for sympathy, explaining that their failure to notice the player had exhausted his eligibility was an honest mistake. They expressed how JM's having to forfeit six of eight victories and a spot in the Region I, Division 3 playoffs has affected the Fredericksburg community.
The executive committee listened, but after deliberating for an hour, it denied the Yellow Jackets' appeal to overturn the forfeited games.
That means James Monroe's season is over and it won't be able to defend its 2008 Group AA, Division 3 state title. Greensville High School takes JM's playoff spot.
"Of course, the school and myself are very disappointed," Gordon said. "However, we respect the decision of the Virginia High School League. We would like to thank the entire community for the support they've given to James Monroe High School and to our football team."
Mike McCall, the VHSL's communications director, confirmed that JM's appeal was denied. McCall said the VHSL's policy is not to comment on appeals other than to say if they were upheld or rejected.
Gordon said he knew the appeal was a long shot "because of the clarity of the rule."
The ineligible player is in his ninth semester of high school and the VHSL rule states that student-athletes have eight semesters from the time they enter high school to complete their eligibility.
The ineligible player began his career at Spotsylvania County's Massaponax High School in 2005-06, before he transferred to JM. He also spent time at the regional alternative school in Fredericksburg before returning to JM, where he's been a student the past two years.
Serbay said he assumed the player was a four-year senior, but received a call from someone in the community this past weekend saying he wasn't.
Serbay checked with JM's guidance department and confirmed the player was ineligible. He then told Gordon, Fredericksburg School Superintendent David Melton and the VHSL about the violation.
The player wasn't a starter or key contributor, Gordon said, and is "very apologetic" for what has happened.
Gordon also said he takes responsibility for the error because he signed off on every player's eligibility before submitting the list to the VHSL.
"I take responsibility for everything that's associated with James Monroe High School," said Gordon, a first-year principal.
Gordon said he's asked Serbay not to comment any further on the forfeitures.
Serbay said Monday that he had submitted his resignation as the school's athletic director, a position that he's held the past 13 years. The resignation hasn't been accepted by Gordon or Melton.
Gordon said he and Serbay will meet today or tomorrow to discuss his future as athletic director, not as football coach.
"It's going to come down to a mutual decision between he and I," Gordon said. "After we've had a chance to talk, we'll weigh the pros and cons of both sides. I'm going to make the decision I think is best for James Monroe High School."
Gordon said Serbay will meet with his players today. The end-of-season meeting has come much sooner than the Yellow Jackets expected a week ago.
"We're trying to make sure we take care of these kids," Gordon said, "and close out this football season for them."
Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com
