OSG High BREAKING: Dallas ISD Fires 15 After Recruiting Scandal

((HT: DallasNews.com/Haag-Hobbs))

The Dallas Independent School District’s Professional Standards Office launched an investigation into possible illegal recruiting practices after the March 24 death of Wilmer-Hutchins basketball player Troy Causey. Madison basketball player Johnathan Turner has been charged with killing him during a fight.

They were living under the same roof, but neither were living in the district of the school that they were attending to play high school basketball.

In May, DISD officials placed the two head coaches — John Burley, from Wilmer-Hutchins High School, and Roderick Johnson, from Madison High School — on administrative leave during the internal investigation.

After the Causey death, his mother came forward to explain how this all came to be.
Brett Shipp investigated
((HT: WFAA-TV))
This afternoon DISD Superintendent Mike Miles announced a boat-load of firings as a result. 11 employees in total- coaches, assistant coaches and staff from the schools were fired after the investigation. 10 of the employees were terminated for falsifying documents. The eleventh employee was fired for "improperly obtaining and sharing student records." Four members of the central office with "direct responsibilities in the area" were also "relieved of their duties." The names were not released by Miles at the time of his presser because the firings were still happening- this being the last day of the school year. "... the district is submitting a letter to the University Interscholastic League today to self-report the findings of the investigation." Miles said in a release. "Players at two of our schools were ineligible to participate in UIL-sanctioned games but still played. It will be up to the UIL State Executive Committee to determine any action, including the possible forfeiture of games that may be required of us."
The HQ thinks both schools are in trouble in that regard...

More when we know more...

OSG High: The Tale Of Two Hoops Stars Under One Roof

((HT: WFAA-TV))

This is the sad reality of high school athletics- kids transfer, their parents let them, and sometimes the best of intentions (no matter how illegal) turn into tragedy.

Two Dallas Independent School District high school basketball coaches are on administrative leave following the death of one player and the arrest of another who lived under the same roof. James Madison High and Wilmer-Hutchins High's head coaches- Roderick Johnson and John Burley- look like they were in a situation where they recruited two athletes and may have gone as far as having associates forge documents, signatures, and violated UIL (the Texas high school athletics association) residence guidelines when it comes to housing and enrolling athletes in their basketball programs and respective high schools.

Troy Causey of Wilmer-Hutchins and Johnathan Turner of Madison High School got in a fight in front of the home where they were both living in South Dallas. Causey died from his injuries and Turner has been charged with the murder. Turner says it was an accident.

Parents and relatives interviewed below were amazingly forthright in admitting their rationale for the actions they did.

Here's their Part Two with Brett Shipp
News 8 has uncovered two other DISD instances of improper recruiting and grade changing and they maintain that the DISD Athletics Director, Jeff Johnson, has not been held in any kind of account for all of this.
The HQ isn't naive into thinking that this stuff never happens- or never happens anywhere close to home. That would be an astronomically naive point-of-view in today's universe of cutthroat high school athletics. But to get events to spiral this out-of-control is a new level of out-of-control.

OSG High: UIL Games At Jerry-World Set Records

((HT: WFAA-TV))

And made for good highlights...

Aledo High became the first team in US high school football history (that the HQ can think of) that cleared 1,000 points in their season. Remember, Aledo was the team that beat one team 91-0 and caused the one of the parents of the team that got beat to call for a bullying investigation...

That went well...

And the Allen-Pearland game set a UIL record for attendance of almost 55,000 at Cowboys Stadium

Here's your look...

OSG High: Texas Parents Might Be Able To Purchase More Concussion Insurance

((HT: KXAN-TV Austin))

The HQ is all too well aware about concussions and their impact on professional athletes- and TBH had a great point the other day- what about how it can impact high school athletes...???

The Texas high school association, the UIL, is now part of a pilot program that will allow parents to purchase extra insurance for their kids, to the tune of about $5 extra, for kids who play football and soccer...

Here's their look...

House OKs UIL concussion insurance pilot program

The bill passed Tuesday and has to clear one more hurdle before heading to the Senate.

Private companies would underwrite the policies administered by the UIL and the Texas Education Agency. Both groups would then figure out decide which districts participate in the program.

OSG High: Act Of Faith Costs Athlete A Title Shot

((HT: KHOU-TV))

The HQ can't remember the last time something like this cost an athlete something- other than the occasional scoff from others for doing the act in public. But, now it seems that celebrating your God in public before crossing a finish line can cost you a win in high school.

A Columbus (TX) High school runner pointed skyward as his team was on their way to winning their relay race because according to UIL (the governing body for Texas high school athletics) by-laws, there can be no excessive celebration...

Really...???
Really...

Here's the rundown...
Runners do it all the time in sprint races... they're number one...
We get it...

If an athlete wants to do something like that to say someone else is number one and should get the credit... and it's not done overtly, then how is that different...???

Apparently to the UIL, it is...
The HQ doesn't quite think this is over...