Actually, Bluffton is not region champ just yet. Even if the region games previously played stand, Bluffton and Hilton Head pay once more and, if Hilton Head wins, they will have identical region records.
Now to continue the debate, there are two issues here. The first is "does the punishment fit the crime?". Personally, I thought that the punishment was excessive from the outset (see earlier post), but there are strong arguments in favor of the punishment handed down.
The second issue is "did the SCHSL reverse itself and, if so, was that a good idea?" Only the school and the SCHSL know what sanction was actually handed down but Coach Cook has repeatedly stated that the decision of the Executive Committee was to ban Bluffton from post-season competion. If that was the case and regardless of good behavior on the part of the current Bluffton players, it would appear that the SCHSL has reversed itself and done considerable damage to its credability. To quote the handy-dandy SCHSL Handbook (p.A-27 of the Constitution):
Quote:
Coaches must exemplify through their own actions and behavior an acceptable example of good sportsmanship and conduct. Coaches have access to their players on a daily basis and they need to take time to stress the importance of good conduct and sportsmanship by players in interscholastic contests. Allowing players to commit an unsportsmanlike act without a reprimand is really telling the player he has done nothing wrong.
