Parents Outraged After Wayne Hills Football Team Kicked Out Of Playoffs Over Ineligible Players
WAYNE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The Wayne Hills football program has been a powerhouse for years, winning numerous state titles.
But despite being the No. 1 seed in its division, the team is suddenly out of this year's competition.
Sunil Modak, whose son is a junior on the team, said he is "devastated."
"This came as a surprise. We feel we were blindsided," he told CBS2's Alice Gainer.
Football parents attended a closed-door meeting with school administrators Wednesday morning after they learned the team had been kicked out of the playoffs for having ineligible players on its roster. Many left angry with few answers.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ruled Wayne Hills football "has been disqualified from all 2016 tournament play based on season-long participation of three ineligible players."
The situation was reported to the league by Wayne Township school officials who said "a situation was brought to the superintendent's attention that a few players were possible ineligible due to suspected non-residency within Wayne Township."
"After reviewing the scenario and the appropriate documentation, the NJSIAA notified the administration that certain students on the Wayne Hills football teams were deemed ineligible because they did not have a bona fide change of address," the school said.
So according to league rules, Wayne Hills eight wins this season were forfeited, since the players in question participated in those games.
Modak said he and other parents are confused since the players were on the team last year, haven't been removed from school and allegedly do live in town.
"The timing is very suspicious. This is Tuesday – three days before the state playoff game," he said. "The kids involved have been here since October of 2015. This could have been handled a year ago, it could have been handled in the summer."
The Wayne Hills football team will appeal the ruling and the Board of Education and Administration said it will formally join parents in their pursuit of the resolution.
"But unless that appeal is answered within the next day or two, it's a waste of time since playoffs start Friday," Modak said.
That will be a tough loss to take without even stepping foot on the field.
The board also said it sent a letter to the NJSIAA requesting that the ineligible players be permitted to participate through the playoffs.
