It's not like the KHSAA rules were written in Sanskrit here...they say (paraphrasing) that an athlete has to sit a year after transferring districts unless they have a bona fide change of address.

 

The Mitchells "moved" with their high school senior son into an apartment in Ft. Thomas after a fairly public (at least amongst the Cov Cath community) departure from Cov Cath after airing numerous grievances about his football career at CCH. The Mitchells did, however, maintain a house in Florence and had family members living in that house. It seems pretty evident what the apartment situation was about - regardless of the fact that their "move" would keep them within the required guidelines, no matter how marginally.

 

Now, Highlands could have chosen to not play Mitchell. They could have taken the high road (no pun intended - at all) and said, "Look, we see what you're doing here, you're trying to work the system, and we don't appreciate it. Please don't send your son out for the football team, because we won't allow him to play. It will reflect poorly on our program." They didn't do that though. They decided to let the Mitchells do what the letter of the law (or more appropriately, the poor writing of the law) allowed. It was legal, yes. However, the repercussion on the school is the fact that now there are many folks looking poorly at Highlands for their decision.

 

Also, I understand your argument that Highlands would have been holding themselves to a higher standard than other programs in the state. So to that, let me ask this: isn't a program of excellence based around holding yourself and your program to a higher standard?

 

Some schools have higher academic standards than others. They also have higher academic standards for athletic elegibility "while no one else in the state was required to follow their interpretation". Covington Latin School comes to mind here. Now, based on their students' ages and rigorous academic requirements, CLS has historically obviously lacked in the athletic department. However, I see nothing but praise going their way for the achievements of their school and their students.

 

Also, I understand your argument that Highlands would have been holding themselves to a higher standard than other programs in the state. So to that, let me ask this: isn't a program of excellence based around holding yourself and your program to a higher standard?

 

Some schools have higher academic standards than others. They also have higher academic standards for athletic elegibility "while no one else in the state was required to follow their interpretation". Covington Latin School comes to mind here. Now, based on their students' ages and rigorous academic requirements, CLS has historically obviously lacked in the athletic department. However, I see nothing but praise going their way for the achievements of their school and their students.

 

It seems like you wanted the worst for Mike Mitchell. First you say that even if he transferred to Highlands he should not be able to play therefore wreck his future. Second you want him to stay at Cov. Cath. where he was unhappy and I can tell you first hand there were numerous things that he was unhappy about at Cov Cath (I will not go into what they are because I do not want to give out information that might reflect bad on people or institutions). Third he has achieved his goal of making it to the NFL.

 

Unethical is to try to hinder a kids future, and there would be a great chance to eliminate some of Mikes possibilities if he wasn't able to play for Highlands.

 

Unethical is Brigid Devries declining the reccomendation by KHSAA investigating officer to have Mike eligible from the begininning.

 

Unethical is claiming that Mike did not transfer ethically when you don't know many of the facts and reasons.

 

The reason the people are looking poorly on Highlands is because they do not know the FACTS of the case. If you look through this thread there were many people that do not know that Mike ended up being eligible.

It's not like the KHSAA rules were written in Sanskrit here...they say (paraphrasing) that an athlete has to sit a year after transferring districts unless they have a bona fide change of address.

 

The Mitchells "moved" with their high school senior son into an apartment in Ft. Thomas after a fairly public (at least amongst the Cov Cath community) departure from Cov Cath after airing numerous grievances about his football career at CCH. The Mitchells did, however, maintain a house in Florence and had family members living in that house. It seems pretty evident what the apartment situation was about - regardless of the fact that their "move" would keep them within the required guidelines, no matter how marginally.

Now, Highlands could have chosen to not play Mitchell. They could have taken the high road (no pun intended - at all) and said, "Look, we see what you're doing here, you're trying to work the system, and we don't appreciate it. Please don't send your son out for the football team, because we won't allow him to play. It will reflect poorly on our program." They didn't do that though. They decided to let the Mitchells do what the letter of the law (or more appropriately, the poor writing of the law) allowed. It was legal, yes. However, the repercussion on the school is the fact that now there are many folks looking poorly at Highlands for their decision.

 

Also, I understand your argument that Highlands would have been holding themselves to a higher standard than other programs in the state. So to that, let me ask this: isn't a program of excellence based around holding yourself and your program to a higher standard?

 

Some schools have higher academic standards than others. They also have higher academic standards for athletic elegibility "while no one else in the state was required to follow their interpretation". Covington Latin School comes to mind here. Now, based on their students' ages and rigorous academic requirements, CLS has historically obviously lacked in the athletic department. However, I see nothing but praise going their way for the achievements of their school and their students.

 

I'm not saying this was the case, but suppose Mitchell was being treated horribly by Cov Cath for no apparent reason at all - say the coaches just didn't like him. And say his parents decided to transfer him to HHS for a better high school football experience. Which high road should HHS have taken - the one you state that they recognize the Mitchells were trying to "work the system", or the other, that no kid should loose out on a decent high school football career due to a personal problem with the coaches?

 

I'm not saying this was the case with Mike at CC. I truely have no idea why he transfered. I'm just merely trying to point out that the "high road" is often in the eye of the beholder.

I'm not saying this was the case, but suppose Mitchell was being treated horribly by Cov Cath for no apparent reason at all - say the coaches just didn't like him. And say his parents decided to transfer him to HHS for a better high school football experience. Which high road should HHS have taken - the one you state that they recognize the Mitchells were trying to "work the system", or the other, that no kid should loose out on a decent high school football career due to a personal problem with the coaches?

 

I'm not saying this was the case with Mike at CC. I truely have no idea why he transfered. I'm just merely trying to point out that the "high road" is often in the eye of the beholder.

 

Yes, but he lived in Florence. He could have gone to Boone, but he would have sat out. This was purely a football move, and for the season the KHSAA considered him to be ineligible, but was able to play under an injunction. He tried to exploit the system. It worked in his favor. He got a DI scholarship and made it to the League. However, Highlands has to take the good w/ the bad on this. Administration and Mueller were aware of what happened. While they technically did nothing wrong, people are allowed to question how ethical it was. Football is a privilege, not a right. Highlands didn't have to go along with it. Other schools would do the same thing as Highlands, but their judgment would also be questioned.

Yes, but he lived in Florence. He could have gone to Boone, but he would have sat out. This was purely a football move, and for the season the KHSAA considered him to be ineligible, but was able to play under an injunction. He tried to exploit the system. It worked in his favor. He got a DI scholarship and made it to the League. However, Highlands has to take the good w/ the bad on this. Administration and Mueller were aware of what happened. While they technically did nothing wrong, people are allowed to question how ethical it was. Football is a privilege, not a right. Highlands didn't have to go along with it. Other schools would do the same thing as Highlands, but their judgment would also be questioned.

 

The use of the word technically should not be used. The way to word the sentence is ... While they did nothing wrong, people are allowed to question how ethical it was.

 

And Mike did not expliot the system, he refined it. Now players that transfer that are given a temporary injunction are allowed to play because of the Mike Mitchell case. The system has changed and he would have been eligible by the refined rules also.

It seems like you wanted the worst for Mike Mitchell. First you say that even if he transferred to Highlands he should not be able to play therefore wreck his future. Second you want him to stay at Cov. Cath. where he was unhappy and I can tell you first hand there were numerous things that he was unhappy about at Cov Cath (I will not go into what they are because I do not want to give out information that might reflect bad on people or institutions). Third he has achieved his goal of making it to the NFL.

 

Unethical is to try to hinder a kids future, and there would be a great chance to eliminate some of Mikes possibilities if he wasn't able to play for Highlands.

 

Unethical is Brigid Devries declining the recommendation by KHSAA investigating officer to have Mike eligible from the beginning.

 

Unethical is claiming that Mike did not transfer ethically when you don't know many of the facts and reasons.

 

The reason the people are looking poorly on Highlands is because they do not know the FACTS of the case. If you look through this thread there were many people that do not know that Mike ended up being eligible.

 

You caught me...I just have it in for Mike Mitchell. I hate talented football players. I wish he would have stayed at Cov Cath so we could could try to screw him over and dash his hopes of playing professional football. :irked:

 

Cov Cath wasn't "trying" to hinder Mike's future. I think the truth of the matter was that Lynn Ray was trying to improve his chances of playing college and pro ball by keeping him on one side of the ball and improving his defensive game (he did, after all, end up playing defense ONLY in college and the NFL). However, apparently Lynn and the Mitchells didn't see eye to eye on things. Who's ever heard of a coach having his players' best interests at heart though?

 

And as to the true facts and reasons, I guess nobody knows those but the Mitchells. I (and a lot of other folks as well) think that that who situation looked a little more than suspicious. So that being said, how's about this: you and I can just agree to disagree?

You caught me...I just have it in for Mike Mitchell. I hate talented football players. I wish he would have stayed at Cov Cath so we could could try to screw him over and dash his hopes of playing professional football. :irked:

 

Cov Cath wasn't "trying" to hinder Mike's future. I think the truth of the matter was that Lynn Ray was trying to improve his chances of playing college and pro ball by keeping him on one side of the ball and improving his defensive game (he did, after all, end up playing defense ONLY in college and the NFL). However, apparently Lynn and the Mitchells didn't see eye to eye on things. Who's ever heard of a coach having his players' best interests at heart though?

 

And as to the true facts and reasons, I guess nobody knows those but the Mitchells. I (and a lot of other folks as well) think that that who situation looked a little more than suspicious. So that being said, how's about this: you and I can just agree to disagree?

 

Maybe after another eight pages of posts on a subject that some have said they could care less about.

I'm not saying this was the case, but suppose Mitchell was being treated horribly by Cov Cath for no apparent reason at all - say the coaches just didn't like him. And say his parents decided to transfer him to HHS for a better high school football experience. Which high road should HHS have taken - the one you state that they recognize the Mitchells were trying to "work the system", or the other, that no kid should loose out on a decent high school football career due to a personal problem with the coaches?

 

I'm not saying this was the case with Mike at CC. I truly have no idea why he transferred. I'm just merely trying to point out that the "high road" is often in the eye of the beholder.

 

I'd have to go with what Mexi said on this one...he should've gone to Boone in that case, where he would be stuck sitting out as well.

 

I think one thing that can be said here is that we have to live with the decisions we make. If you decide to commit to a high school in hopes of making a career based on your success in that school's athletic program, then it would behoove you to do your best and to try to work with and to get along with the coaching staff and administration at that program, otherwise you may end up suffering in the end.

 

Also, based on the decisions that we make, comes the esteem or disregard of others based on the character we use to make those decisions. Skirting around rules often garners poor favor and disrespect from others. This is a lesson that I think some people are learning now.

You caught me...I just have it in for Mike Mitchell. I hate talented football players. I wish he would have stayed at Cov Cath so we could could try to screw him over and dash his hopes of playing professional football. :irked:

 

Cov Cath wasn't "trying" to hinder Mike's future. I think the truth of the matter was that Lynn Ray was trying to improve his chances of playing college and pro ball by keeping him on one side of the ball and improving his defensive game (he did, after all, end up playing defense ONLY in college and the NFL). However, apparently Lynn and the Mitchells didn't see eye to eye on things. Who's ever heard of a coach having his players' best interests at heart though?

 

And as to the true facts and reasons, I guess nobody knows those but the Mitchells. I (and a lot of other folks as well) think that that who situation looked a little more than suspicious. So that being said, how's about this: you and I can just agree to disagree?

 

 

We are obviously disagree until the end of this. I just don't like when people make false accusations about Mike Mitchell, the Mitchell family, or Highlands High School. I only have about 52 posts on this site, I usually just read about recaps on games, upcoming stars, etc. And 50 of my posts have been on this thread. This subject I am very passionate about because I was on the team and Mike is one of my friends. I do not have a problem with people being suspicious, thats fine do that all you want it's not going to change anything. I just encourage people on this message board to post things that are correct and not things that they assume to be true. I think the main thing people don't know is that Mitchell ended up being eligible. That's a fact that is not debateable.

We are obviously disagree until the end of this. I just don't like when people make false accusations about Mike Mitchell, the Mitchell family, or Highlands High School. I only have about 52 posts on this site, I usually just read about recaps on games, upcoming stars, etc. And 50 of my posts have been on this thread. This subject I am very passionate about because I was on the team and Mike is one of my friends. I do not have a problem with people being suspicious, thats fine do that all you want it's not going to change anything. I just encourage people on this message board to post things that are correct and not things that they assume to be true. I think the main thing people don't know is that Mitchell ended up being eligible. That's a fact that is not debateable.

 

Ahh, dang you are trying to take all the fun away from this place!!

We are obviously disagree until the end of this. I just don't like when people make false accusations about Mike Mitchell, the Mitchell family, or Highlands High School. I only have about 52 posts on this site, I usually just read about recaps on games, upcoming stars, etc. And 50 of my posts have been on this thread. This subject I am very passionate about because I was on the team and Mike is one of my friends. I do not have a problem with people being suspicious, thats fine do that all you want it's not going to change anything. I just encourage people on this message board to post things that are correct and not things that they assume to be true. I think the main thing people don't know is that Mitchell ended up being eligible. That's a fact that is not debateable.

 

My last post on this. Whether he was ultimately found eligible or not, his ultimate reason for transferring was athletic. Not once has anyone mentioned that he felt unchallenged by or unhappy w/ CovCath's curriculum. What his family did was send him to the school that they felt gave him the best chance of reaching his ultimate goal. The intent, was unethical by the nature of the law. It was legal by the letter of the law. It worked out for everyone as Highlands got their state title and Mitchell got his scholarship. The KHSAA didn't like the way everything went down and punished one of its members. The thing that keeps this thing from getting finality w/ those outside of Fort Thomas is that this whole thing never ran its due course in the judicial system on the merits. It did on procedure. The COA didn't throw this out and say that the KHSAA had no case based on the facts, it said that since Mitchell was out of school, there was no case or controversy to be decided so they would waste their time. Therefore, the local circuit court's decision is the final decision and people are skeptical of it. Highlands needs to just let this go. Again, I would have done the same thing as the Mitchells did for their son if mine was as talented as he. However, a controversial move will have ramifications. Now, I'm done.

I think, primarily, it was unethical of the Mitchells to do what they did. Clearly the intention of the KHSAA's rule was to prevent families from switching schools to get their students into a more desirable athletic program. They took advantage of poorly written rules, even though it is pretty easy to see what the rules are trying to enforce.

 

Highlands was not as unethical, in my opinion, but there's still something to be said for the fact that they allowed one of their student athletes to skirt and exploit the system.

 

Sooooooo...... What are you actually saying here. :clap: Your showing your true colors again. :thumb: 20n10

First, a friendly word of warning. This post is getting dangerously close to being very "Leatherneckesque"!

 

It seems that a lot of posters in this thread believe Highlands should have done a better job interpreting and enforcing KHSAA rules. While abiding by those rules is an obligation of membership, enforcement of the rules is up to the KHSAA. Since there was confusion as to the interpretation of the rules, the Mitchells sought a higher authority's assistance.

 

Lastly, as to the thought of taking the high road, I believe your take on the high road leans towards the KHSAA's interpretation, versus the student's and school's interpretation.

 

I'm flattered by the comparison to Colonels Wear Blue. :ylsuper:

 

I will say this in general: if any school elects not to play a kid that the court has ruled to be eligible, then that school will be just as guilty as the KHSAA was in thinking that it's opinion on the kid's eligibility trumps the court's determination. The judiciary is the final judge on eligibility matters; not the KHSAA, not some coach and not some school board. If Highlands had decided to not play Mitchell whether for "ethical reasons" or simply to avoid possible sanction from the KHSAA, after the court said he was eligible, I'd have been at the next Ft. Thomas Independent School District Board meeting screaming like heck and giving them a civics lesson about the rule of law and the separation of powers. If it is wrong for the KHSAA to think their decision on eligibility trumps the judiciary (which the General Assembly has made perfectly clear is wrong), it is likewise wrong for a school or coach to think its/his decision on whether a player should be eligible and play is likewise wrong.

Maybe after another eight pages of posts on a subject that some have said they could care less about.

 

I stopped posting. Oh wait DANG IT I just posted again :irked::lol: Oh well now that I am here might as well be crappy!!!! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

Those are some great posts Colonels Wear Blue! :thumb:

 

For the record the next time around when I need my son to go to another school because it's not working out for him at the one he is attending....I am soooooooo printing this thread for all the reasons it should be ok for me to do so. :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Ok............Goodnight John-Boy.......(fade to black)

I stopped posting. Oh wait DANG IT I just posted again :irked::lol: Oh well now that I am here might as well be crappy!!!! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

Those are some great posts Colonels Wear Blue! :thumb:

 

For the record the next time around when I need my son to go to another school because it's not working out for him at the one he is attending....I am soooooooo printing this thread for all the reasons it should be ok for me to do so. :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

 

And reading into the bolded part of your post the sarcasm that I believe is intended, that's fine that you feel that way. On the other hand if playing football was important to a young son of mine and Highlands hired a head coach that I thought was a very poor role model for him or was conducting practices in an unsafe manner and I couldn't get the head coached removed, I'd strongly consider transferring him to another school just like I'd consider transferring him if I decided his science, math etc teachers weren't getting it done. And no before any one suggests it, I am not in any way implying such was the case with Mitchell at CovCath. Just pointing out that, at least for me, there are valid reasons why I'd want to transfer my son.

Edited February 17, 201016 yr by Birdsfan
Fixed quote box.