Gadsden County football banned from postseason, coach and players suspended for violations
In a letter sent to Gadsden County principal Marlon Ball, the FHSAA said the football team violated six bylaws, including not reporting non-traditional student athletes (students who don't attend the school), student athletes submitting forms with falsified information or participating with incomplete forms, and players participating in summer activities without completing the non-traditional student registration process.
Gadsden County, which was the 2024 Class 2A state runner-up and a favorite to win this year's title, will be unable to participate in the postseason this fall.
Ellington, in a letter posted on his X account on July 28, said the school will appeal the findings. He said, 'the allegation of irregular registration is not the result of actions taken by the student athletes, me, or Gadsden County High School officials.'
Ellington said in the letter that neither he nor the players can respond or provide context regarding the investigation.
According to the findings, Gadsden County allowed four student athletes to play during the 2024 season without properly reporting as non-traditional students. The FHSAA defines non-traditional students as students who not enrolled in and do not physically attend the school at which they participate.
Gadsden County went 12-2, reached the Class 2A state championship game and Ellington was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 2A Coach of the Year in 2024.
The FHSAA findings also state that eight players submitted forms — signed by the student, parent/legal guardian and notary — that contained falsified information.
The potential sanctions Gadsden County is facing include the school being placed on Restrictive Probation and the football team being unable to participate in the 2025 postseason. The school also being assessed eight $2,500 penalties (one for each student), a $1000 penalty and a $500 penalty for a total of $21,500.
In addition, Ellington must forfeit $5,000 salary and is unable to coach or attend an interscholastic football contest at any level for one year, starting with the Kickoff Classic.
Gadsden County, expected to be one of the top teams in the state this fall, is scheduled to play defending Class 7A state champion Venice on Aug. 15.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FHSAA bans Gadsden County football from postseason for major violations
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Brooklyn Nets jersey history No. 21 - Wayne Ellington (2015-16)
The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the "New Jersey Americans". Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today. To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise's jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. The 22nd of those 52 different numbers is jersey No. 21, which has has had a total of 26 players wear the number in the history of the team. The 19th of those players wearing No. 21 played in the Brooklyn Nets era, guard alum Wayne Ellington. After ending his college career at UNC, Ellington was picked up with the 28th overall selection of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wynnewood, Pennsylvania native also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers before he signed with Brooklyn in 2015. His stay with the team would span a single season, coming to an end when he signed with the Miami Heat in 2016. During his time suiting up for the Nets, Ellington wore only jersey No. 21 and put up 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Gadsden County football coach Russell Ellington, eight players face one-year suspension
Gadsden County coach Russell Ellington and eight Jaguars players are facing a one-year suspension from the Florida High School Athletic Association for registration irregularities. Ellington revealed the possible suspensions in a letter posted to his X account on July 28, which also is the first day football teams in Florida began preseason practice. 'You may have heard the Florida High School Athletic Association issued preliminary findings of registration irregularities involving eight Gadsden County High School football athletes during the concurrent football season,' Ellington wrote. 'As a result, the association has recommended a one-year suspension of the players, and me.' Ellington said the school is appealing the recommendation and is hopeful it would be overturned 'because the allegation of irregular registration is not the result of actions taken by the student athletes, me, or Gadsden County High School officials.' More: Here are key takeaways from Big Bend teams at high school football media day Ellington said in the letter that neither he nor the players can respond or provide context regarding the investigation. Ellington did not name the eight players under investigation. The FHSAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, according to published reports, including WCTV in Tallahassee, the FHSAA is banning Gadsden County from participating in the state series this season and is also fining the school $21,500. Ellington has been at Gadsden County for two seasons and guided the Jaguars to the Class 2A state championship game in 2024. He also was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Football Coach of the Year for Class 2A. Gadsden County went 12-2 last fall. The team went undefeated in Florida during the regular season with the lone loss came on the road at Coffee (Georgia). Before falling to national power Cocoa in the state championship game, the Jaguars reeled off nine consecutive double-digit wins. Gadsden County is expected to be one of the state this season and have several impact players, including senior linebacker Daylen Green (Arkansas commit), senior offensive lineman Jakobe Green (Florida State commit) and senior linebacker Lorenzo Barnes (USF commit). More: Gadsden County's Jakobe Green looks to be the best lineman in Big Bend before moving on to FSU This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gadsden County football coach, eight players face one-year suspension
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Gadsden County football banned from postseason, coach and players suspended for violations
The Florida High School Athletic Association suspended Gadsden County football coach Russell Ellington and eight unnamed Jaguars players for a year and the FHSAA fined the school $21,500 for the various violations. In a letter sent to Gadsden County principal Marlon Ball, the FHSAA said the football team violated six bylaws, including not reporting non-traditional student athletes (students who don't attend the school), student athletes submitting forms with falsified information or participating with incomplete forms, and players participating in summer activities without completing the non-traditional student registration process. Gadsden County, which was the 2024 Class 2A state runner-up and a favorite to win this year's title, will be unable to participate in the postseason this fall. Ellington, in a letter posted on his X account on July 28, said the school will appeal the findings. He said, 'the allegation of irregular registration is not the result of actions taken by the student athletes, me, or Gadsden County High School officials.' Ellington said in the letter that neither he nor the players can respond or provide context regarding the investigation. According to the findings, Gadsden County allowed four student athletes to play during the 2024 season without properly reporting as non-traditional students. The FHSAA defines non-traditional students as students who not enrolled in and do not physically attend the school at which they participate. Gadsden County went 12-2, reached the Class 2A state championship game and Ellington was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 2A Coach of the Year in 2024. The FHSAA findings also state that eight players submitted forms — signed by the student, parent/legal guardian and notary — that contained falsified information. The potential sanctions Gadsden County is facing include the school being placed on Restrictive Probation and the football team being unable to participate in the 2025 postseason. The school also being assessed eight $2,500 penalties (one for each student), a $1000 penalty and a $500 penalty for a total of $21,500. In addition, Ellington must forfeit $5,000 salary and is unable to coach or attend an interscholastic football contest at any level for one year, starting with the Kickoff Classic. Gadsden County, expected to be one of the top teams in the state this fall, is scheduled to play defending Class 7A state champion Venice on Aug. 15. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FHSAA bans Gadsden County football from postseason for major violations
