Valdosta City Schools Appeal to GHSA Denied

April 20, 2021 / Athletic AdministrationCoachingFootball
The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) denied an appeal from the Valdosta City School (VCS) district after sanctions were handed down to the football program last week for a pay-for-play scheme.

According to a report from WALB News 10, the appeal’s committee decision to deny was unanimous, 4-0. The next step in the process for Valdosta is to appeal to the 13-member GHSA Board of Trustees or the full State Executive Committee, which has 75 members.

valdostaAccording to a statement issued by Valdosta City Schools, representatives “plan to appeal at the next level which is the State Executive Committee.

VCS’s full statement reads as follows:

“Several local officials and parents traveled to Thomaston, Georgia today, Monday, April 19, to seek an appeal of recent sanctions against Valdosta High School (VHS) from the Georgia High School Association (GHSA).

“Dr. Todd Cason, superintendent, Dr. Janice Richardson, VHS principal, Mr. Reginald Mitchell, VCS athletics director, two assistant principals, and parents of the students named in the sanctions were all in attendance. Rush Propst was not in attendance during the hearing as advised by legal counsel.

“The appeal committee convened at 9:00 am and met for close to three hours. Ultimately the appeal was denied to lift any of the imposed sanctions. The representatives of Valdosta City Schools plan to appeal at the next level which is the State Executive Committee.

“GHSA sent a letter to Valdosta City Schools on April 8 outlining an investigation into the football program.”

The letter, referenced in the above statement, is what sparked this controversy for the well-known athletic program. The letter claimed Valdosta head football coach Rush Propst, and other members of the touchdown club participated in a pay-for-play scheme to influence transfers with money and gifts.

In the meantime, the Valdosta football team is on probation for the remainder of 2021 and cannot compete for any state championships. Additionally, five players connected to the investigation are ineligible to play any sport for one year, and the school faces a $7,500 fine.

To read the full report from WALB-10 News, click here