This will be an interesting decision by the S.C. High School League. With high-profile incidents occurring over the past 18 months the SCHSL can ill afford another public relations jolt. Remember these happenings:
***Marlboro County @ Northwestern Football Brawl resulted in both teams being suspended from the postseason in 2002.
***C.A. Johnson eligibility issues in boys basketball when the varsity coach also played JV players during the season above the limit on the number of games played. The Green Hornets were excluded from the playoffs and a public stink ensued.
***West Ashley girls soccer dressing JV players for the State Championship match vs. Mauldin last May. Definitely a no-no that was over-ridden last June and awarded the Wildcats with their title, which they earned on the field several weeks earlier.
***Keenan boys basketball getting into a fight/altercation with a team from Georgia in Columbia that saw several players/coaches suspended and cast a shadow over the Raiders season.
In my opinion, it's a tough scenario for a team to pay the penalty of something that happened in the past to another team altogether, but the incident certainly seemed 'ugly' and one that has happened to other teams in soccer and other sports state-wide. I think the AD and Principal need to be held accountable for some of these actions and since the AD was already out the door in Simpsonville, probably threw up little resistance to the actions by the SCHSL.
With that being said, I really don't see how the SCHSL will allow the Hillcrest boys varsity soccer team to participate in the postseason if they are to have any "teeth" in their decisions from here on out. The SCHSL stands for a lot of good things, but they're interpretation of the rules and laws seem to be rather obscure and perhaps outdated.
Also, it's unbelievable to me in this day and time how certain officials are "beyond reproach" and not held accountable by anyone -- Referee Assignors, SCHSL, their respective District, etc. Until referees and their assistants show the same appreciation for youth soccer that players, coaches, and fans display, then that will be the one missing link to the entire soccer equation getting along and moving forward in a productive manner.
As the administrator and coordinator of this website the past four years and someone involved with youth soccer since the mid-1970s, I think most people would be shocked to see how little MOST officials contribute to the game as a whole rather than showing up at games to collect a paycheck!