Clinton basketball and football teams must vacate wins

Clinton High School will have to vacate wins from the 2008-2009 basketball season and a win from the 2009 football season because of an ineligible player. Below is the release from Anderson County Schools.

Clinton High School has acknowledged a Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association finding today than Ryan Sharpe was ineligible to play for the Dragons during the 2008-2009 basketball season and during the first game of the 2009 football season, Principal Linda Davis said Monday afternoon.

Sharpe was granted eligibility after transferring from Jefferson County High School last fall based on a hardship situation.

TSSAA has determined that the circumstances of that hardship - Ryan's return to his father's home in Clinton after a dispute with his mother, with whom he says he lived in Jefferson County - were not met when he spent several nights a week at the home of a family friend, Scotty Herrell.

TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress wrote, "After reviewing the established facts many times, we have determined that Clinton High School did not technically violate Article II, Section 17 (Recruiting Rule) of the TSSAA Bylaws."
While TSSAA found that Sharpe "was provided a special privilege not normally provided to other students," Davis said the school's effort to help any student in need, and, in particular, Herrell's assistance to students , were not unusual and were not based on Sharpe's participation in athletics. Herrell is an assistant principal at CHS and serves as an assistant coach on the football team. He has been involved with the family since January 2005.

TSSAA plans to vacate the wins from basketball games in which Ryan Sharpe played during the 2008-2009 basketball season and the first win of the 2009 football season.

TSSAA has imposed the maximum fine of $250 for 2008-2009 and an additional $50 for the 2009 football game since Clinton Athletic Director James D. Davis voluntarily reported the potential violations as soon as the information about the situation was brought to the school's attention. TSSAA has also placed the school on two-years probation and assessed a $2000 fine.

"CHS has taken corrective action, reviewing extensively the rules and circumstances of this case with those involved," Davis said. "CHS does not, however, intend to take any disciplinary action against the staff because we do not feel that it is warranted. Our staff acted in good faith based on the information available," Davis said.