Illinois High School Association Executive Director Marty Hickman ruled on Oct 26 that Rochester High School will forfeit its Sept 6 football victory over Sacred Heart Griffin High School, based on Rochester’s self-reported IHSA Amateurism By-law violations by members of its football team. The actual score of the game was 38-33 in favor of Rochester, but this ruling changes the outcome.
When the IHSA releases the football playoff pairings, Rochester will be seeded based upon an 8-1 record and Sacred Heart Griffin a 9-0 record, and the databases on Voxitatis have been adjusted to reflect the ruling.
By-law 3.080 is the one in question. The individuals had participated in the first eight games of the season, but were withheld from the Week 9 contest (Oct 25) after the violations were discovered. As a result of the violations, the players were ineligible for the first eight contests.
“We followed past precedent for these types of situations,” said Mr Hickman. “While it may be difficult to judge a defensive player’s impact on a game, upon reviewing information related to the Rochester-Sacred Heart Griffin game, it was apparent that one of the players had a significant influence on the game’s outcome. Based on the margins of victory, the Sacred Heart Griffin game was the only contest where I felt the outcome could have been different had those players not participated.”
IHSA By-law 3.080 (Amateurism)
3.080 AMATEURISM
3.081 For winning or placing in actual athletic competition, a student in a member school may accept a medal, cup, trophy or plaque, from the sponsoring agent regardless of cost.
3.082 Schools may provide an individual or teams that win an IHSA state championship, a ring/memento not to exceed $200 in fair market value. Businesses, booster clubs or other organizations desiring to make contributions toward the purchase of a championship ring/memento must make those contributions to the school.
3.083 A student in a member school may accept any other award for participation in an athletic contest, or for athletic honors or recognition, which does not exceed $75 in fair market value, in the following sports: badminton, baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling, and any other sport in which the student’s school provides interscholastic competition. In addition, a student in a member school may receive and retain items of wearing apparel which are worn for non-school athletic competition as part of a team uniform provided for and worn by the student during competition.
3.084 A student in a member school may accept a school letter for an interscholastic sport, regardless of cost.
3.085 Violation of the provisions of By-laws 3.081, 3.082, 3.083 or 3.084 shall cause ineligibility in the sport in which the violation occurred. An official ruling must be secured from the Executive Director before any student who violates these rules may be reinstated to eligibility.