The Giles County football program has been disciplined by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association for allowing eighth-graders to lift weights and also for conducting football activities during school hours within a period that it was not allowed.
Giles County football coach David O’Connor
Coach David O’Connor, who recently returned as football coach after spending the previous three seasons at Buckhorn (Ala.) High School, violated a recently-adjusted TSSAA bylaw concerning eighth-graders working out, which was changed before O’Connor returned to Tennessee in January.
“The bylaws had changed in October and the director of schools was aware of it, but O’Connor came after that and was not aware,” TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress said. “But they understand that ignorance of the rules is not an excuse.”
The Bobcats’ self-imposed punishments, which were approved by the TSSAA, include eliminating one week of summer workouts prior to the dead period, immediately stopping eighth-graders from lifting weights at the high school and ending all sixth-period football activities for the remainder of the year. Childress sent a letter to Giles County on Friday outlining the rule violations, which were self-reported by the Giles County Board of Education.
Giles County suspended O’Connor for two games during the 2012 season for violating the recruiting rule after having illegal contact with a student from another high school over the summer.
Former Centennial football and baseball standout Deon Sanders
Once enemies: A pair of former Williamson County high school foes are now sharing success at the collegiate level.
Brentwood graduate Will Gaddis and Centennial graduate Deon Sanders took home Southern Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week honors, respectively, for Furman on Monday.
Gaddis, a sophomore right-hander, improved to 8-2 and picked up the second complete-game win of his career in an 11-4 victory over Western Carolina.
Sanders, a freshman who also plays football, led the Paladins to Saturday’s 9-8 comeback victory behind his two-home run, four-RBI performance that helped erase a 7-1 deficit.
Sanders is batting .571 since returning to the baseball team following Furman’s spring football practice.
CPA coach Drew Maddux
BA in CPA hoops tourney: The field has been announced for the third annual Next Level Hoops Fest, a three-day basketball tournament at Christ Presbyterian Academy.
In addition to the host Lions, who are coming off a 23-9 campaign in which they reached the Class AA sectionals, two-time defending Division II-AA champion Brentwood Academy will also be competing in the event, which is set for Dec. 27-29.
“The first two years response to the event was really inspiring and encouraging, and we are thankful for the eight programs and school communities that will be represented this year,” CPA coach Drew Maddux said.
Other participants will be Taylor County (Ky.), Milton (Ga.), University (La.), Baptist Prep (Ark.), Hopkinsville (Ky.) and Bentonville (Ark.) High School.
Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN and reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.