TSSAA bans CCS boys hoops from post-season
Concord Christian School’s decision not to field a varsity football team for the 2018 season has negatively affected its boys varsity basketball program.
In a unanimous vote by Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Board of Control, it “denied the request of Concord Christian School to participate in the (boys) post-season basketball series during the 2018-19 school year while not fielding a varsity football team,” stated BOC minutes from a Wednesday, June 6, meeting in Murfreesboro.
As of Friday, June 8, new CCS athletic director Bruce Johnson said, “We’ve not been informed of it. Nobody’s told us” from TSSAA.
Informed about the ruling, he said, “We’re disappointed. … But this is just a little setback.”
As for the rationale to punish Lions boys varsity hoops, Matthew Gillespie, TSSAA assistant executive director, released a statement Tuesday, June 12.
“This was Board action many years ago. It was put in place basically as a deterrent because schools were setting schedules, and numerous times would cancel games, seasons, etc., after schedules were set,” he said. “Many times the reason is because they felt they couldn’t win/compete based on their roster.”
Johnson said CCS “will appeal that immediately if there’s a process for that.”
However, Bernard Childress, TSSAA executive director, stated in an e-mailed response, “There is no appeal once the Board makes their decision. They are the governing body.”
