MURFREESBORO (WRCB) – The administrators and coaching staff from Signal Mountain High School has traveled to Murfreesboro to appeal a TSSAA ruling on the eligibility of a player.
If the ruling is overturned, running back Tim McClendon would be allowed to play and Signal Mountain would have the opportunity to defend its state championship.
At issue are where McClendon lived, when and with whom and goes to whether Signal Mountain submitted incorrect info on his eligibility application.
WRCB's Gordon Boyd is at the appeal hearing and is live blogging the proceedings.
You can follow Gordon on Twitter: @gordonboyd3.
TSSAA: McClendon's admission to Signal on academic hardship does NOT automatically make him eligible to play. Mom lives in Brainerd zone
Also: role of Signal Assistant Coach Shane Roberson in moving McClendon from school to school. Signal is Tim's FIFTH high school.
McClendon calls Roberson a mentor and "father figure." Connected in 8th grade. Roberson coached him last year at Lakeview-Fort O
Signal also takes issue with TSSAA waiting 2 weeks to inform, after eligibility questions raised. Those two wins would qualify for playoffs
Signal's reps include McClendon, Roberson, Coach Bill Price, Principal Dr. Tom McCullough, and two parents/lawyers.
TSSAA hearing begins. Chairman Tommy Lane (Sequatchie) recused himself. Sequatchie is Signal's opponent next Friday.
TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress reviews documents. They include McClendon's transfer documentation from LFO.
Also includes information indicating a conflict on where McClendon's mother lived when he played for LFO last year. Rossville, or Chattanooga?
Residency goes as to whether McClendon actually "moved" when he transferred from LFO to Signal Mountain.
Principal Dr. Tom McCullough: "sizeable" number of students are transferees in; some children of faculty, academic hardship
McClendon's mother confirms she lives in Brainerd. Says he and coach Roberson bonded when he attended Orchard Knob Middle School.
Mom: Tim injured freshman year. Transferred to Brainerd; "jumped" in hallways, harassed.
Mom: transferred to Howard. Inquired about Signal Mountain, told 'inappropriate.' Howard also is a No-Child -Left-Behind School
Transferred to LFO for Junior year. Mom: I moved in with a friend in Rossville. Tim hurt knee, required surgery.
Mom: my husband and I were separated, but I worked things out and returned to Chatt. Tim remained in Georgia.
Mom: Coach Shane (Roberson) has been there for Tim, keeping him on the right track. After junior year, Tim came home to Chattanooga
Mom: I called Shane about getting him in as a hardship to Signal. I have him permission to discuss his history with District.
TSSAA: how close is LFO? Atty Clancy Covert: almost like the suburbs.
TSSAA: when did you move from Chatt to Rossville? Mom: around June. Tim is good friends with my Georgia roommate's son. I returned 12/11
Mom: I returned in December. Tim returned to Chatt UN June, after junior year at LFO. Tim attended Hixson for special ed freshman year
Mom; Hixson 20 minute drive from home in Brainerd, Signal about 20-25. Transportation problems getting to Hixson. I drive him to Signal.
McClendon speaks:met Shane Roberson first year of teaching.
McClendon: hurt knee after 3 JV games at Hixson. Sophomore year: jumped after 1 day at Brainerd, transferred to Howard, didn't play
McClendon: reunited with Shane at LFO. Hurt in first game there. Frustrated while rehabbing at LFO. Attended spring practice and game
McClendon: attended only one day of practice. Shane got me to spring scrimmage by saying I couldn't play the season otherwise.
McClendon: moved back to Chatt in June. Shane filled out the eligibility applications for hardship.
McClendon: Shane was on me about my grades at Hixson, Howard and LFO. "Getting better help" at Signal
TSSAA: why only one day of LFO spring practice: I knew I already was going back to Chatt (Roberson already had left)
TSSAA: who did you live with at LFO? Mother of friend; Mom and I moved before school.
Mom to TSSAA; my friend had guardianship to enroll him at LFO, because I did not have my own Catoosa County address. Court papers authorized
Coach Shane Roberson; had Tim in math class at Orchard Knob. Saw him break his leg during ballgame. I tutored him in Math. Took him home.
Roberson: I don't know whether I became his crutch or whatever, but somebody he could trust. He seemed to be longing for it.
Moved to Sequatchie when Tim went to Hixson. Kept in touch. Roberson moved to LFO year later (Tim then transferred to Brainerd/Howard)
Junior year: Tim transferred to LFO. I was his 'case manager', like a father figure. I moved to Signal Mountain/kids go there
Roberson; Tim's mom asked me to get him into Signal if at all possible.Tim "would have had problems " with GA's grad exam
Roberson: I made it clear to Tim there was a process, I made no promises (that he'd get in to Signal)
TSSAA to Roberson: did you help Tim move for LFO. Shane: I put Jim into contact with the right people. Talk to him on biweekly basis
TSSAA: was he still at Howard when he asked for help to hey into LFO? Shane: back in Feb 2010. Kid had pulled knife, chased Tim down hall
TSSAA:,academically, what could Hamilton Schools do that LFO couldn't? Roberson: Tennessee doesn't have graduation testing
Roberson: the plan for Tim was vocational. In Tennessee, he could graduate by passing core courses.
Roberson: I filled put eligibility applications. Did not know about Georgia grad exams when I helped him get into LFO
Roberson: I wrote recs for 5 kids to get them put of tough learning environments
Signal Mountain Coach Bill Price: been filling out TSSAA eligibility forms for 28 years. I filled out Tim's form
Price: walks TSSAA through form, with guidance from attorney Clancy Covert. Submitted all on-line
Price mindset on Tim's eligibility: he was academically eligible with a bona fide change if address. Hamilton County Schools reassigned
Price: never got notification of ineligibility until two weeks ago. Never questioned about it until today.
Principal Dr. Tom McCullough: 129, or 10% if student body from out-of-zone. Price: I thought Tim in our zone
TSSAA to Price: Mom did not live at Rossville address listed at the Rossville address. Price: she did live in both places in Georgia
Price to my coaches: this kid is good. He will be looked at. make sure he's eligible.
McCullough: hardships granted for number of reasons. International Baccalaureate, faculty children. Re Tim: grades, and issues at schools.
TSSAA also has provisions for granting eligibility through ATHLETIC hardship. Signal didn't avail itself of that option.
Grounds: 1) Unforeseen, unavoidable circumstances. 2) undue hardship 3) enforcement wouldn't achieve purpose intended 4) change if schools unrelated to athletics. Ex: private to public school transfer when parents can no longer afford tuition
Signal Athletic Director Patty Lane: Tim presented as a good kid, and that without our help he probably wouldn't graduate.
Lane: TSSAA first showed up 10/6; two weeks ago. My mindset; Tim had a bona fide change of address and was qualified to play
Hamilton County School Board member Jim Baker: Grant about 1,000 hardships a year for District of 21,000 students.
Baker: it's my understanding that granting a hardship gives students 'all rights and privileges' if attending that school.
Baker: Central Office grants. I've never had a hardship denial appealed to the Board in my twelve years on Board.
Dr. McCullough: met Tim in June when Coaches Price & Roberson brought him to me. Asked if he was eligible in GA. Told yes.
Dr. McCullough : my question was, does he have a bona fide change of residence?
Dr. McCullough: did determine he lived in Brainerd's district, but at Signal on hardship. TSSAA: transportation provided? Dr. M: no
Dr. McCullough: if this Board denies our appeal, the language defining 'territory' needs to be clarified.
Dr. McCullough: I believe that once hardship gives students to us, they're in "our territory."
TSSAA Counsel Rick Colbert: you're aware that academic eligibility and athletic eligibility are separately defined?
Coach Roberson: I met HCDE officials to explain Tim's hardship scenario. Lane: we have bullseye on our back. Jealousy.
Athletics Director Lane: made aware of "several" questions coming out of TSSAA meeting 9/22. Why didn't you tell us then?
Attorney Clancy Covert; definition of 'territory'. Your rules make clear local Boards establish 'territory.'
Covert: our position is he had a bona fide change of address, and a TSSAA letter granting eligibility confirms that
Covert: we stand on what we submitted.
Covert: you need to take a step back and look at the local Board's unfettered power to establish territory. Investigation incomplete
Covert: out of common courtesy, why didn't TSSAA give Signal Mountain a heads-up on the complaints when you got them?
Covert: according to your definitions, he's (Tim) ours for all intents and purposes.
Covert: we ask that reasonable minds look at this and overturn the recommendations if TSSAA Director Childress.
TSSAA Counsel Colbert: understand concern over timing, but we have small staff and Signal isn't the only school we're dealing with
Covert: if it was a credible concern, and our Rep is close by, why didn't you tell her. Tommy Layne: this man is questioning my integrity.
Layne: you're questioning mine and Sequatchie's integrity.
