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High school notebook Date published: 11/26/2009
BY TAFT COGHILL JR. When James Monroe's football team was forced to forfeit six games and a playoff spot because of the use of an ineligible player last week, Rich Serbay said he would resign as athletic director. But after an emotional 10-6 win over Courtland on Nov. 16, Serbay, who is also JM's football coach, said he might have a change of heart. Still, JM principal John Gordon wanted to review Serbay's job performance following the violation. Serbay met with Gordon on Tuesday to discuss his future as athletic director. It was decided he'll keep the position, a job he's held the past 13 years. "I'm in the practice of reviewing my athletic director at the end of every year," Gordon said. "But this caused us to definitely have to have a discussion sooner." The ineligible player is in his ninth semester of high school, but Virginia High School League rules call for eligibility to be completed within eight semesters. Gordon said the player wasn't a key performer. Serbay reported the violation to Gordon, Fredericksburg City Schools Superintendent David Melton and the VHSL after he received a call from someone in the community and confirmed it with JM's guidance department. Gordon said it was an honest mistake and an isolated incident. "I think the main thing is when it comes to athletics you can never discount experience," Gordon said. "Coach Serbay has 13 years of experience [as A.D.], which was a major factor in my decision [to retain him]." There has been one change at JM, however. Gordon said the school will now have "increased levels of verifying the eligibility of all students who participate in extra-curricular activities." Gordon said there will be more involvement from the school's guidance department and the administration when determining eligibility. "Coach Serbay designed his own plan to make sure this type of problem doesn't happen again," Gordon said. FOLEY STEPS UP Chancellor senior cornerback Drew Foley has been thrown into the fire, and he's responded well. Foley (5-foot-8, 140 pounds) stepped into the Chargers' starting lineup after 2008 all-Region I cornerback Diamante Kelly was ruled academically ineligible prior to the next-to-last game of the regular season. Foley made the game-clinching interception for Chancellor (9-2) with 32 seconds left in its 28-21 Region I, Division 4 playoff victory over Smithfield this past Saturday. Foley will be in the starting lineup again when the Chargers visit Powhatan (11-0) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for the regional championship game. "People have tried to pick on him, and he's made the plays," Chancellor head coach Bob Oliver said. "He's a scrappy player." GONZALEZ PICKS COLLEGE Stafford senior golfer Nina Gonzalez has received a scholarship to compete for Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa. Gonzalez qualified for the Northwest Region tournament this past season. Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Karma, You are entitled to your opinion, but that dosen't mean that your response is the correct answer. My ideology was that not having to peform the AD duties would save him from another embrassing moment. Usually, the AD position is seperate and he/she would advise the coach if an player is ineligible. Remember, he still has both jobs but those kids who are seniors didn't get a second chance to participate in the playoffs. Good Luck to the the Jayem football team during the upcoming season next year
Karma,
You are entitled to your opinion, but that dosen't mean that your response is the correct answer. My ideology was that not having to peform the AD duties would save him from another embrassing moment. Usually, the AD position is seperate and he/she would advise the coach if an player is ineligible. Remember, he still has both jobs but kids who are seniors din't get a second chance to participate in the playoffs.
Good Luck to the the Jayem football team during the upcoming season next year
If the system is flawed - as jayem asserts - now is the time that the true character of Coach Serbay will show. There is nothing keeping Coach Serbay from recognizing that being AD and the head football coach may be too much for one person to handle. If he feels that he can handle both jobs - he should stay. His call.
I think that Coach Serbay made a honest mistake and should remain the football coach. He should have resigned from his duties as Athletic Director (AD). This would have allowed a checks and balance syatem to be in place and avoid a conflict of interest. When a problem is identified you should fix it. Nothing has changed with this situation and there is nothing in place to prevent it from happening again. Was anything learned? Only the players who worked hard have suffered from this.
I think that Coach Serbay made a honest mistake and should remain the football coach. He should have resigned from his duties as Athletic Director (AD). This would have allowed a checks and balance syatem to be in place and avoid a conflict of interest. When a problem is identified you should fix it. Nothing has changed with this situation and there is nothing in place to prevent it from happening again. Was anything learned? Only the players who worked hard have suffered from this.
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