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WPIAL to rule on tight end's eligibility
<!-- icons are from http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/silk/ --> By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, August 19, 2006
The WPIAL Board of Control will hold a hearing Monday to determine the eligibility of star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who transferred to Woodland Hills last week. The hearing, which will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the WPIAL's Green Tree offices, was announced after an investigation by the WPIAL into possible athletic intent.
"We'll get to the bottom of it," WPIAL executive director Tim OMalley said.
Gronkowski, 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, is the seventh-ranked tight end in the nation, according to rivals.com. He transferred from Williamsville North, a suburb of Buffalo, N.Y., to Woodland Hills and enrolled Aug. 11
His father, Gordon, owns a national string of physical fitness equipment retailers, including five in the Pittsburgh area, and moved with his son into an apartment in the Woodland Hills School District. O'Malley said the transfer meets the first criteria established in the PIAA by-laws -- moving with either or both parents into the school district. But he said subsequent comments by Gronkowski's father indicated possible football-related motives for the move.
"If it was motivated by considerations other than that he has business here, we need to look into it," O'Malley said.
John Grupp can be reached at [email protected]
WPIAL to rule on tight end's eligibility
<!-- icons are from http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/silk/ --> By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, August 19, 2006
The WPIAL Board of Control will hold a hearing Monday to determine the eligibility of star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who transferred to Woodland Hills last week. The hearing, which will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the WPIAL's Green Tree offices, was announced after an investigation by the WPIAL into possible athletic intent.
"We'll get to the bottom of it," WPIAL executive director Tim OMalley said.
Gronkowski, 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, is the seventh-ranked tight end in the nation, according to rivals.com. He transferred from Williamsville North, a suburb of Buffalo, N.Y., to Woodland Hills and enrolled Aug. 11
His father, Gordon, owns a national string of physical fitness equipment retailers, including five in the Pittsburgh area, and moved with his son into an apartment in the Woodland Hills School District. O'Malley said the transfer meets the first criteria established in the PIAA by-laws -- moving with either or both parents into the school district. But he said subsequent comments by Gronkowski's father indicated possible football-related motives for the move.
"If it was motivated by considerations other than that he has business here, we need to look into it," O'Malley said.
John Grupp can be reached at [email protected]
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sandgk
Watson, Crick & A Twist
Maybe his dad should just move into the Montour school district. j/k
Truthfully, there are significant diferences between the Sunseri case and this one involving Gronkowski. Sunseri's move was all about the athletics and was not a true family move. With Gronkowski, his dad wanted to do two things. Take better care of the 5 stores he owns in the area of the 'Burg and give a leg up to his son's budding athletic ambitions.
I for one see nothing wrong with that.
Did I mention before that the Pittsburgh Press is filled with big-city reporter wannabes? Their coverage on this issue is just another example.
Truthfully, there are significant diferences between the Sunseri case and this one involving Gronkowski. Sunseri's move was all about the athletics and was not a true family move. With Gronkowski, his dad wanted to do two things. Take better care of the 5 stores he owns in the area of the 'Burg and give a leg up to his son's budding athletic ambitions.
I for one see nothing wrong with that.
Did I mention before that the Pittsburgh Press is filled with big-city reporter wannabes? Their coverage on this issue is just another example.
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That's par for the course for the WPIAL. I have so many words I can say right now about their "rules and regulations" but this is a family site.
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WPIAL benches high school football transfer
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
<!--BEGIN PHOTO-->
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="145"> <tbody><tr><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td>
</td><td>Rob Gronkowski
<hr> <center>Reader Forum</center>
What do you think of the WPIAL's ruling?
<hr> </td></tr></tbody> </table> <!--END PHOTO-->
Rob Gronkowski, a star high school football player with a lofty national reputation, has been ruled ineligible to play this season by the local governing body for high school athletics.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound senior, who is a high-profile recruit and has numerous college scholarship offers, was benched by the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League yesterday because it claimed he transferred from a school near Buffalo, N.Y., to Woodland Hills High School a week-and-a-half ago for athletic reasons.
Under Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association rules, which the WPIAL follows, a student-athlete can be ruled ineligible if he transfers schools for athletic reasons. Rob Gronkowski, ranked the No. 2 tight end in the country by one scouting service, left Williamsville North (N.Y.) and enrolled at Woodland Hills Aug. 11. He can appeal the WPIAL's decision to the PIAA and have a hearing in front of that organization Thursday.
The Gronkowski case is being watched by school officials, coaches, parents and fans in two states as a prime example of talented athletes changing addresses for sports reasons.
The WPIAL Board of Control made its decision after a hearing with Rob Gronkowski, his father, Gordie, Woodland Hills coach/athletic director George Novak and co-school principal Margaret Boden. But the WPIAL's verdict is not all that unusual.
The past two school years, the WPIAL has conducted 24 eligibility hearings concerning transfer cases. Ten resulted in ineligibility. A few of those decisions have been overturned by the PIAA.
The Gronkowskis declined comment after the hearing and were unavailable for comment last night.
"The board felt there was substantial athletic purpose which influenced the transfer," WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said. "For that reason, we decided to deny his eligibility."
The WPIAL was not going to investigate Rob Gronkowski's transfer until league officials saw comments Gordie Gronkowski made in the Post-Gazette Aug. 13. Gordie Gronkowski said there were two main reasons he and his son moved to the Pittsburgh area a few weeks ago and rented an apartment in the Woodland Hills district. First, Gordie Gronkowski owns five G and G Fitness Equipment stores in the Pittsburgh area. Secondly, his son wanted to play a higher quality of football.
Gordie Gronkowski told the Buffalo News this weekend that his comments to the Post-Gazette were taken out of context.
"The whole thing was a setup," Gronkowski said.
The Gronkowskis elected to have yesterday's hearing closed to the media, and Mr. O'Malley said he wasn't permitted to reveal details.
But Mr. O'Malley did say the Gronkowskis gave new reasons for their transfer.
"There was a tremendous amount of information shared that certainly created some discussion, consideration and thought by the board," Mr. O'Malley said. "Clearly, there's more to it than ended up in the newspapers."
Rob Gronkowski also is an excellent basketball player, averaging 22 points a game last season for Williamsville North. He is still eligible to play basketball and any other sport, except football.
He was one of two football players ruled ineligible yesterday after hearings.
Andy Ciesielski transferred from Shaler to Hampton, but the WPIAL board said his transfer also was, in part, for athletic reasons.
Also yesterday, the WPIAL established a five-member committee to come up with a formal proposal that would change the PIAA transfer rule.
WPIAL president Rich Constantine will be the committee chairman and hopes to have a new rule presented to the PIAA in the next six months. The PIAA would have to pass the new rule on three different votes before it becomes a by-law.
In the past, Mr. O'Malley and other WPIAL officials have said the league would like to see an automatic period of ineligibility for any transfer student.
"I don't know if the answer to the transfer rule is out there or not," Mr. Constantine said. "But rather than sit back and take a back seat, let's be active. If something doesn't work, fix it."
WPIAL benches high school football transfer
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
<!--BEGIN PHOTO-->
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="145"> <tbody><tr><td>
<hr> <center>Reader Forum</center>
<hr> </td></tr></tbody> </table> <!--END PHOTO-->
Rob Gronkowski, a star high school football player with a lofty national reputation, has been ruled ineligible to play this season by the local governing body for high school athletics.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound senior, who is a high-profile recruit and has numerous college scholarship offers, was benched by the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League yesterday because it claimed he transferred from a school near Buffalo, N.Y., to Woodland Hills High School a week-and-a-half ago for athletic reasons.
Under Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association rules, which the WPIAL follows, a student-athlete can be ruled ineligible if he transfers schools for athletic reasons. Rob Gronkowski, ranked the No. 2 tight end in the country by one scouting service, left Williamsville North (N.Y.) and enrolled at Woodland Hills Aug. 11. He can appeal the WPIAL's decision to the PIAA and have a hearing in front of that organization Thursday.
The Gronkowski case is being watched by school officials, coaches, parents and fans in two states as a prime example of talented athletes changing addresses for sports reasons.
The WPIAL Board of Control made its decision after a hearing with Rob Gronkowski, his father, Gordie, Woodland Hills coach/athletic director George Novak and co-school principal Margaret Boden. But the WPIAL's verdict is not all that unusual.
The past two school years, the WPIAL has conducted 24 eligibility hearings concerning transfer cases. Ten resulted in ineligibility. A few of those decisions have been overturned by the PIAA.
The Gronkowskis declined comment after the hearing and were unavailable for comment last night.
"The board felt there was substantial athletic purpose which influenced the transfer," WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said. "For that reason, we decided to deny his eligibility."
The WPIAL was not going to investigate Rob Gronkowski's transfer until league officials saw comments Gordie Gronkowski made in the Post-Gazette Aug. 13. Gordie Gronkowski said there were two main reasons he and his son moved to the Pittsburgh area a few weeks ago and rented an apartment in the Woodland Hills district. First, Gordie Gronkowski owns five G and G Fitness Equipment stores in the Pittsburgh area. Secondly, his son wanted to play a higher quality of football.
Gordie Gronkowski told the Buffalo News this weekend that his comments to the Post-Gazette were taken out of context.
"The whole thing was a setup," Gronkowski said.
The Gronkowskis elected to have yesterday's hearing closed to the media, and Mr. O'Malley said he wasn't permitted to reveal details.
But Mr. O'Malley did say the Gronkowskis gave new reasons for their transfer.
"There was a tremendous amount of information shared that certainly created some discussion, consideration and thought by the board," Mr. O'Malley said. "Clearly, there's more to it than ended up in the newspapers."
Rob Gronkowski also is an excellent basketball player, averaging 22 points a game last season for Williamsville North. He is still eligible to play basketball and any other sport, except football.
He was one of two football players ruled ineligible yesterday after hearings.
Andy Ciesielski transferred from Shaler to Hampton, but the WPIAL board said his transfer also was, in part, for athletic reasons.
Also yesterday, the WPIAL established a five-member committee to come up with a formal proposal that would change the PIAA transfer rule.
WPIAL president Rich Constantine will be the committee chairman and hopes to have a new rule presented to the PIAA in the next six months. The PIAA would have to pass the new rule on three different votes before it becomes a by-law.
In the past, Mr. O'Malley and other WPIAL officials have said the league would like to see an automatic period of ineligibility for any transfer student.
"I don't know if the answer to the transfer rule is out there or not," Mr. Constantine said. "But rather than sit back and take a back seat, let's be active. If something doesn't work, fix it."
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BuckTwenty
Parties with Pete Johnson's Beard
Extremely sad situation for Gronkowski and family. Certainly doesn't help his recruitment knowing that he's going to be out of the game for a year before he plays football again.
However, this will also help show him which schools really do want him, because it is likely that some schools may lose some interest in him over this. A good example of this is when we were recruiting Brian Hartline. He broke his leg on the first play of his first game, and we pursued him just that much harder. Ultimately, it helped seal the deal on his recruitment and he verballed to OSU. The rest is history
However, this will also help show him which schools really do want him, because it is likely that some schools may lose some interest in him over this. A good example of this is when we were recruiting Brian Hartline. He broke his leg on the first play of his first game, and we pursued him just that much harder. Ultimately, it helped seal the deal on his recruitment and he verballed to OSU. The rest is history
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BearBuck27
Game Day!!!
Not to get nitpicky, but Hartline committed in June at camp according to Scout. Another situation like this was David Lighty in BBall recruiting, where he tore his ACL, and Thad sealed the deal.
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And now that they've denied his eligibility, I think that aroma you smell is the suit brewing...
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High School Notebook: Gronkowski files WPIAL eligibility appeal with PIAA
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
By Mike White and Colin Dunlap, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Woodland Hills High School football player Rob Gronkowski has appealed his ineligiblity to the PIAA.
Gronkowski, a senior, will have a hearing in front of the PIAA Board of Control tomorrow in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Gronkowski transferred from Williamsville North near Buffalo, N.Y., to Woodland Hills Aug. 11, but the WPIAL ruled him ineligible two days ago, saying he transferred for athletic reasons. Gronkowski is ranked by scouting services as one of the top tight ends in the country and has numerous scholarship offers from major colleges.
Any student-athlete who is ruled ineligible at the district level can appeal the decision to the PIAA. The PIAA has overturned some WPIAL rulings.
Woodland Hills coach George Novak yesterday declined comment on the WPIAL's ruling. Novak will accompany Gronkowski and his father, Gordie, to Mechanicsburg for the PIAA hearing.
High School Notebook: Gronkowski files WPIAL eligibility appeal with PIAA
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
By Mike White and Colin Dunlap, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Woodland Hills High School football player Rob Gronkowski has appealed his ineligiblity to the PIAA.
Gronkowski, a senior, will have a hearing in front of the PIAA Board of Control tomorrow in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Gronkowski transferred from Williamsville North near Buffalo, N.Y., to Woodland Hills Aug. 11, but the WPIAL ruled him ineligible two days ago, saying he transferred for athletic reasons. Gronkowski is ranked by scouting services as one of the top tight ends in the country and has numerous scholarship offers from major colleges.
Any student-athlete who is ruled ineligible at the district level can appeal the decision to the PIAA. The PIAA has overturned some WPIAL rulings.
Woodland Hills coach George Novak yesterday declined comment on the WPIAL's ruling. Novak will accompany Gronkowski and his father, Gordie, to Mechanicsburg for the PIAA hearing.
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