Pulaski County Punished by VHSL

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/breaking/wb/252201

Pulaski County's football program was penalized by the Virginia High School League today with a one-year postseason playoff ban, a $1,000 fine and other sanctions for violating the VHSL's out-of-season practice rule.

Pulaski County school officials appealed the one-year probation penalty during a hearing today at the VHSL offices in Charlottesville but a VHSL executive subcommittee voted 5-0 to deny the appeal.

The VHSL also imposed two further penalties: a ban on preseason scrimmages and a reduction of allowable practice dates from 20 to 15 before the first game of the season.

The subcommittee deemed Pulaski County's violation as "blatant, egregious and flagrant" and the board also cited a "lack of institutional oversight and control."

"This was no minor infraction," VHSL executive director Ken Tilley said in a prepared statement. "The nature and the circumstances of the activities went far beyond what is permitted under VHSL rules. Extensive coaching and sport specific instruction were prevalent."

The VHSL sanctions came one week after the resignation of Pulaski County coach Jack Turner after seven seasons.

Pulaski County Superintendent Robert Becker attended the hearing along with school Principal Rod Reedy and athletic director Mark Hanks.

"While we are very disappointed with today's ruling by the VHSL's Executive Subcommittee, we are committed to moving forward in a positive direction that is the trademark of Pulaski County High School athletics," Becker said in a prepared statement.

http://www.southwesttimes.com/news.php?id=4884

Virginia High School League sanctions are pending against the Pulaski County High School football program. The school has sent a report detailing a violation against the Cougar football program to VHSL headquarters in Charlottesville.

The Southwest Times has learned that the violation centers around a DVD recording of an out-of-season workout session inside the Louisa Chrisley Fitness Center at PCHS.
The Pulaski County School System will not comment on the violation at this time, and VHSL deputy director Tom Zimorski said the VHSL is aware of the matter and it has been "investigated and reviewed, but a final decision has not been made concerning the severity of the sanctions. We are still in the middle of those discussions.''
Those discussions will apparently renew Thursday morning in Charlottesville when PCHS officials meet with the VHSL.
This is all taking place one week after former head coach Jack Turner resigned at Pulaski County. It appears that in a matter of days, it will be learned if the violation had anything to do with his resignation.
The pending sanctions would be a major setback to the Cougar football program, and extremely harmful to the pride of one of the most successful football programs in this region of the state for the past 30-plus years.
The Southwest Times has learned that sanctions could include a year of probation, the loss of pre-season practice sessions before the fast approaching 2010 season, the loss of pre-season scrimmage games, and being banned from playing in the 2010 playoffs regardless of how many games the Cougars might win during the regular season. It's possible that even if the Cougars win a River Ridge District championship, they would not be allowed to participate in the playoffs.

This is all hanging in the balance apparently because a DVD recording of a Cougar football workout was sent to some other schools in the area and the VHSL. The Southwest Times does not know at this time what sort of violation was included on the DVD.
It is also not known by whom, how, or why the DVD was confiscated from the Pulaski County football coaching office and apparently sent to the VHSL.
It should be noted that all the above sanctions are pending sanctions, and not yet final by any means. That determination will likely not be made until a few days after Pulaski County High School officials meet with the VHSL.