Oklahoma courts, governor weigh in on QB’s suspension
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
By Ron Jenkins ASSOCIATED PRESS
OKLAHOMA CITY — It isn’t exactly instant replay, but the Oklahoma Supreme Court will review film of a high-school playoff game to determine whether a quarterback should be suspended for kicking an opposing player.
The Oklahoma Class 5A playoffs are on hold until the court rules.
The court agreed yesterday to take the case and expedite a ruling on an appeal of a lower court opinion that reinstated Shawnee quarterback Tucker Brown.
Gov. Brad Henry, a graduate of Shawnee, even weighed in on the controversy, saying a court fight could have been avoided by some "reasonable officiating."
Under an order signed by Chief Justice Joseph M. Watt, Dec. 10 is the earliest a Class 5A playoff game between Shawnee and Tulsa East Central could be played, a twoweek delay.
Danny Rennels, executive director of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, postponed last weekend’s semifinal game between the teams after a judge’s order blocked the association from enforcing its suspension policy against Brown.
Mark Grossman, attorney for the OSSAA, said Pottawatomie County Judge Paul Vassar made a bad call in overturning the two-game suspension.
"Neither the association nor the court are supposed to be acting like an instant replay official here," Grossman said.
Brown, son of Shawnee coach Billy Brown, was ejected for violating the OSSAA’s antifighting rule with 19 seconds left in a 14-10 Shawnee victory Nov. 19 over Tulsa Washington.
Brown was kneeling in an effort to run out the clock when Washington’s Jermaine Holmes jumped over the line, grabbed Brown’s helmet and pulled him to the ground. Brown responded by kicking Holmes.
Rennels said the rule is "indisputable. If you kick someone . . . you sit out. It’s just that simple."
Vassar ruled against the OSSAA in a case brought by Suzanne Leigh Brown, the quarterback’s mother.
Henry, who watched the game, said he understood the OSSAA "has a need to uphold the ruling of their officials" but implied that officials overreacted by ejecting Brown.
"It’s just sad. It’s a shame that this ended up in the courts and it probably could have all been avoided by just some reasonable officiating at the end. That’s all I’m going to say," Henry said.
