šØšØBREAKING: The #Vikings have REMOVED all speakers from the away locker room for the remainder of the season after Chicagoās postgame actions.
After the win over Minnesota, #Bears players played ā9 to 5ā by Dolly Parton on full volume for TWO full hours after the game concluded, a direct shot at JJ ā9ā McCarthy.
Yikes⦠š¬
This time, Iām not going away.
This time, the #IHSA went too far.
Before I go any further, letās be crystal clear on something: No one has ever said there shouldnāt be rules. Structure is always needed, just as consistency is, too.
But the only thing that has been consistent with the IHSA is its inconsistency.
Think about this: A dean doesnāt ban a kid from school over a first-time clerical error.
A teacher doesnāt ban a kid from their class over a first-time clerical error.
Good educational leaders use these moments to engage and educate, because intent wasnāt meant to cheat a system.
Humans make errors, especially first-time errors. Imagine how many adults would be out of careers if they were banned for first-time clerical errors?
Seriously, a group of adult educational leaders thought this was the right thing to do? I am still waiting for someone - ANYONE - to tell me the good that came from this and ending careers of innocent seniors.
We watched the IHSA PR spin this week try to cover these bannings over clerical errors, saying the previous 40 years ādictateā the way it handouts punishments.
When you have arbitrary rules that impact innocent kids, you either have a leadership or institutional crisis.
Tonight, Iām going to take you through specific examples of what this leadership team did this fall vs the past.
Always remember, IHSA: Donāt let the truth get in the way of the facts.
This fall: IHSA bans the Lemont girls volleyball team from the statewide tournament for playing 36 games instead of 35, stating that it gave a competitive advantage to Lemont over its peers.
Past: Three schools were declared ineligible for the boys basketball statewide tournament - Bogan and Hyde Park for playing one too many games and Uplift for participating in an extra tournament.
This fall: IHSA denies appeal.
Past: IHSA reversed ban.
Questions that should be asked: Was there intent? Did the kids know?
Responsibility falls on: Supt, principal, athletic director, assistant athletic director, head coach, assistant coach.
Possible penalty: Game(s) suspension of coach, community service for staff, less games or tournaments in 2024, fine that goes to local charity.
Penalty this year: Ban of kids, families, school and community.
Past penalty: Bogan, Hyde Park and Uplift were allowed to play in the statewide tournament, but they had to play without their head coaches.āØ
IHSA response this year: āThese teams received a competitive advantage that no other team in the tournament received, and there is over 40 years of precedence dictating that violating this rule excludes a team from (statewide tournament) participation," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said.
IHSA response in past: "After thoughtful and deliberate consideration, the Board ultimately felt that a scheduling error by the coaches and administration was not a severe enough infraction that it should result in the team losing the opportunity to play in the postseason," IHSA assistant executive director Kurt Gibson said.
So you tell me who is full of crap when the IHSA puts out a PR spin that says, āThere is over 40 years of precedence dictating that violating this rule excludes a team from (statewide tournament) participation.ā
The reason why things never change with the IHSA is because families cycle out, schools leaders are exhausted and stretched thin to follow through.
Remember: The IHSA told you they were going to address its strike policy after getting its butt kicked in court. Itās been 1,417 days since Dec. 12, 2019 when they tabled it because of weather and somehow - SOMEWAY - havenāt found time to fix it.
I havenāt forgot those kids and families that we couldnāt help in 2019, and I wonāt forget these innocent kids the IHSA crapped on this fall.
This time, Iām not going away. Things are already in motion.
Itās time for change.
Win š Defensive Play of the Game ā”ļø
@JeremyFejedelem picks off the tipped pass for one of his āļø interceptions during the game!
#LetsFly | #BoltBrotherhood