Although Mitchell is an adult and a professional now, we should not be incriminating a former HS athlete. As I stated earlier, he just took advantage of a system that continually allows transfers to compete for a higher achieving institution without justified means. The only way that Highlands program has changed due to these past sanctions is they no longer get junior to senior transfers.

 

Now the kids move in their freshman year, which is not illegal.

 

So the system should not "allow" transfers at all? There has to be some type of rule on transfers

I do not have any link or anything on the final ruling of this case. I was told last night, after much discussion, that the KHSAA has spent (Now this is a rough estimate but it is a ball park answer) around $250,000 fighting a case that they lost. I have no information on the lawyers from the Mitchells or Highlands side of things.

 

Bridgid DeVries (KHSAA Comissioner) is retiring on July 9 2010. Supposedly after she retires this issue should be cleared up real quick. I have heard from a reliable source that she is a MAJOR reason that this is being held up.

 

Help me out here. How did they come up witht the $250,000 figure? Doesn't the KHSAA have lawyers on retainer?

 

Why would Bridgid DeVries be holding up resolution of this matter? If Highlands has the rule of law on it's side, how could DeVries hold it up? Even if she could, why would she?

So if a high school senior who happens to be possible D1 caliber football player wants to transfer into a high school with a perennial powerhouse football program and play football, and his parents lease an apartment in that school district while still owning and maintaining a house in an out-of-district city, and you see no reason that might look, or much less be, a little shifty? You don't think it could possibly be frowned upon for that team to take advantage of that person jumping ship for a program that's more successful at the time? You don't think that starting him over other players who've been proving their worth on the field for 3 years (or more, considering the FTMSFL) might be a little off-putting to people?

 

Just curious, have never heard of this league, :confused:?FTMSFL

Okay...

 

Call me old-fashioned, but I think it's pretty unsportsmanlike to ditch a team for the sake of 'greener pastures', and I think it's unsportsmanlike to enable an individual to ditch their team and then reap the benefits of them doing so.

 

Wow! Reading through this entire thread it appears this whole situation has been a tad bit of a personal problem for you. It is quite obvious that your hatered for Highlands is showing through and this appears quite clear. Calling kids, coaches and programs such as Highlands out is as unsportsmanlike in its own and as classless at it gets. I would quit while Iam ahead, but then again, how do you say it again, "make no bones" your avatar speaks volumes. :thumb::deadhorse: Let it go my friend. 20n10

Just curious, have never heard of this league, :confused:?FTMSFL

 

You're right. It's FTJFL...not FTMSFL. I stand corrected. :notworthy:

Mike Mitchell has commented.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/preps/2010/02/12/mike-mitchell-on-the-highlands-appeal/

Wow! Reading through this entire thread it appears this whole situation has been a tad bit of a personal problem for you. It is quite obvious that your hatered for Highlands is showing through and this appears quite clear. Calling kids, coaches and programs such as Highlands out is as unsportsmanlike in its own and as classless at it gets. I would quit while Iam ahead, but then again, how do you say it again, "make no bones" your avatar speaks volumes. :thumb::deadhorse: Let it go my friend. 20n10

 

No personal problem here. I just call 'em as I see 'em. I say unsportsmanlike, and you call me classless though? Alright buddy. I guess officials are being classless every time they call a penalty for someone being unsportsmanlike in a game then?? How dare they call a kid, or a coach or a program "unsportsmanlike"??

 

As for whatever point your "quit while Iam ahead" statement was trying to make, yes, I am a Cov Cath fan. Seeing as I am a Cov Cath fan, yes, my avatar is Cov Cath's mascot. I might also add that I bear no hatered, or even hatred towards Highlands, regardless of how "obvious" you say it is. I am very good friends with several Highlands graduates and faculty members. I'm even godfather to the children of a couple Highlands alumni. Do I share in the sometimes over-involved rivalry between Cov Cath and Highlands? Yes. Do I hate Highlands? No. Really, come on. Hate? Give me a break.

Here's a question: if a court ruled that Mitchell's eligibility was intact (and it's my understanding that the last word on this situation given by a court was that MM's eligibility was intact) and the KHSAA refuses to remove sanctions on Highlands because they believe MM was ineligible, could the KHSAA be held in contempt of court?

 

Also, I get the sense that some BGP'ers think this issue just "popped" back up recently, but I believe there has been a group in Fort Thomas pushing/pursuing this matter for quite some time (perhaps since 2005).[/QUOTE]

 

As and outsider, I have to ask 'Why?' Are the 12 wins that big of a deal? Here is a kid that is now in the NFL, and I would think would probably be in the NFL whether he had transferred to Beechwood, NCC or any of the other options he could of chosen for academic reasons (which I think we all agree is the reason he transferred). Hasn't he moved past this? Or is it the $1500 HHS was fined? If it is the $, doesn't he probably spend this much now on a good dinner with his NFL buddies? Or is it the perception that HHS can't stand the thought of people thinking they did something wrong?

 

The only reason I can see for continuing this. is if by continuing you save a future student/athlete from being denied the opportunity of participating in their high school athletic career. And my understanding is that the KHSAA has amended their bylaws so this doesn't happen again.

 

If the reason for HHS sending the letter is any of the first three, they need to LET IT GO!

Mike Mitchell has commented.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/preps/2010/02/12/mike-mitchell-on-the-highlands-appeal/

 

From the above link:

 

Mitchell said he didn’t want to be interviewed about the subject, but did add, “It was a high school situation. It’s over with. I’ve moved past that. Whatever Highlands and anyone else wants to do with it, that’s up to them.”

Help me out here. How did they come up witht the $250,000 figure? Doesn't the KHSAA have lawyers on retainer?

 

Why would Bridgid DeVries be holding up resolution of this matter? If Highlands has the rule of law on it's side, how could DeVries hold it up? Even if she could, why would she?

 

 

The KHSAA recently (this past summer I believe) hired in house counsel. Prior to doing so, they used a law firm that charged an hourly rate I believe on litigation matters.

The KHSAA recently (this past summer I believe) hired in house counsel. Prior to doing so, they used a law firm that charged an hourly rate I believe on litigation matters.

 

I was born at the army base at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The cost to my parents was somewhere in the neighborhood of $7.00.

 

The point being, one often gets what one pays for.

As and outsider, I have to ask 'Why?' Are the 12 wins that big of a deal? Here is a kid that is now in the NFL, and I would think would probably be in the NFL whether he had transferred to Beechwood, NCC or any of the other options he could of chosen for academic reasons (which I think we all agree is the reason he transferred). Hasn't he moved past this? Or is it the $1500 HHS was fined? If it is the $, doesn't he probably spend this much now on a good dinner with his NFL buddies? Or is it the perception that HHS can't stand the thought of people thinking they did something wrong?

 

The only reason I can see for continuing this. is if by continuing you save a future student/athlete from being denied the opportunity of participating in their high school athletic career. And my understanding is that the KHSAA has amended their bylaws so this doesn't happen again.

 

If the reason for HHS sending the letter is any of the first three, they need to LET IT GO!

 

National All Time wins. I believe, but am not 100% sure, that this the national record does not include the 12 wins in 2004 that were won legally on the field.

 

According to http://texashsfootball.com/board/index.php?showtopic=4549 , if you add up last years wins, this is how the all time record looks if the 12 wins were not added:

 

1. Valdosta, Ga-----(5-5)-------843--- + 7 = 850

2. Louisville Male, Ky-(9-5)---790--- + 10= 800

3. Massillon, Oh-------(6-5)----786--- + 10 = 796

4. Highlands, Ky--(14-1)-------772--- + 15 = 787

5. Mt Carmel, Pa---(13-1)-----774--- + 7 = 781

 

This is what it looks like if the 12 legally deserved wins are added:

 

1. Valdosta, Ga-----(5-5)-------843--- + 7 = 850

2. Louisville Male, Ky-(9-5)---790--- + 10= 800

3. Highlands, Ky--(14-1)-------784--- + 15 = 799

4. Massillon, Oh-------(6-5)----786--- + 10 = 796

5. Mt Carmel, Pa---(13-1)-----774--- + 7 =781

 

If Mitchell would have lost the case or something would have happened where he was not eligible then I would understand not letting Highlands get back their legally deserved wins. Highlands did win the games by the rules.

 

The other reason was that Mike Mitchell was deemed eligible! It's a matter of principal; The KHSAA should not think it has more power than it actually does. The KHSAA should not be able to tell a team what their record was even though they legally won the games. People are looking at reasons to blame Highlands and Mike Mitchell. Why not look at the KHSAA and determine that they are/were at fault.

So the system should not "allow" transfers at all? There has to be some type of rule on transfers

 

You are correct. There has to be some kind of rule....wait, i believe there is. The schools are the ones in violation of the rule as pointed out in this thread, not the athlete. Although the athlete is typically the one who is punished most often. KHSAA needs to penalize the schools more strictly and these transfer issues and lawsuits will be a moot point.

You are correct. There has to be some kind of rule....wait, i believe there is. The schools are the ones in violation of the rule as pointed out in this thread, not the athlete. Although the athlete is typically the one who is punished most often. KHSAA needs to penalize the schools more strictly and these transfer issues and lawsuits will be a moot point.

 

What about when a school does eveything by the rules and they still get punished? What about the $1,500, the suspension of 2 games of the head coach, or 12 wins earned by the football team? Both happened when the player was legal. If you look at this case, the KHSAA is punishing Highlands for something that they didn't do.

You are correct. There has to be some kind of rule....wait, i believe there is. The schools are the ones in violation of the rule as pointed out in this thread, not the athlete. Although the athlete is typically the one who is punished most often. KHSAA needs to penalize the schools more strictly and these transfer issues and lawsuits will be a moot point.

 

Does anyone know of any other instances where groups/individuals have been punished for following a court order?