Do you name names?

[FuturaBold]

I learned today that one of the high school football teams I cover had to forfeit three of its wins because it used three ineligible players in those games (one of the games actually counts as a double forfeit because the other team had ineligible players as well - good grief!) ... anyways, do you name who the kids are? I have no idea at this point but I've had an editor in the past who demanded names for stories like this ... my inclination is not to name names ... thoughts?

FB

 

[jps]

not sure ... is this a grade issue?
either way, I don't know that you use names. it wasn't the kids that cheated here - it was the coaches that had them play. name their names and ask them why this happened. see if they pass it off as a mistake, own up to a bad decision, etc. it is potentially a story, but it's a story about the adults in the situation, not the kids.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I wouldn't. I think you can write this story just as effectively without getting specific.

 

[TheMethod]

The correct answer is to name names. It's is your journalistic duty to report the story as completely and accurately as possible, so as to eliminate as much speculation as possible.

Also, you're going to get crucified by the parents for doing so. You have to decide which is more important to you.

 

[FuturaBold]

more information -- it is over academics that they are ineligible ... the AD owned up to it being human error - that they weren't thorough enough in checking grades, etc. He didn't try to pass the buck at all on that, and for that I was impressed... Actually, when he heard about another area school having ineligible players, that's what made him go and recheck his athletes. That's when he found where they had overlooked some grade issues with some ...

this seems to happen a lot in my state, which might be a broader story ...

 

[Ace]

What is the score of a double forfeit?

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

If the school doesn't release the names - and I doubt they will - no.
If the kids are minors, then also the answer is no.

Unless these are big-time stars (OJ Mayo, Terrell Pryor types), I wouldn't bother.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

What is the score of a double forfeit?

Maybe its like double-secret probabtion.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

If the school doesn't release the names - and I doubt they will - no.
If the kids are minors, then also the answer is no.

Unless these are big-time stars (OJ Mayo, Terrell Pryor types), I wouldn't bother.

I agree completely. Unless the school, the coach, the players or the parents tell you they've been suspended, I would not be specific.

 

[spnited]

In most states, it is illegal for the coach or AD to tell you who the ineligible players are if it is becuase of grades. They are not permitted to release academic informaton.

Simple answer is no need to name names. Just that 3 games were forfeited because 3 academically ineligible players participated.

If they are major players, it will become obvious who they are when they miss the rest of the season and you can write "with starting WR Joe Speedy and RB Bob Fullback declared ineligible for the season." If they're fringe players, nobody will notice.

 

[JackReacher]

If you can actually get someone to give you names on the record, you've done something, unless their absence from the team is obvious. And if you get 'em, run 'em.

You put lil Johnny's name in the paper when he runs for 100 yards and 2 TDs. Put his name in the paper for this, too.

Edit: If it's some scrub who never plays, I wouldn't bother. Any player who contrubutes on a regular basis, yes

 

[txsportsscribe]

In most states, it is illegal for the coach or AD to tell you who the ineligible players are if it is becuase of grades. They are not permitted to release academic informaton.

Simple answer is no need to name names. Just that 3 games were forfeited because 3 academically ineligible players participated.

If they are major players, it will become obvious who they are when they miss the rest of the season and you can write "with starting WR Joe Speedy and RB Bob Fullback declared ineligible for the season." If they're fringe players, nobody will notice.

but since it's illegal for the coaches to release their names, there's really no way to confirm the individual players unless they choose to out themselves so i'd stay away from "with starting WR Joe Speedy and RB Bob Fullback declared ineligible for the season."

 

[JackReacher]

In most states, it is illegal for the coach or AD to tell you who the ineligible players are if it is becuase of grades. They are not permitted to release academic informaton.

Simple answer is no need to name names. Just that 3 games were forfeited because 3 academically ineligible players participated.

If they are major players, it will become obvious who they are when they miss the rest of the season and you can write "with starting WR Joe Speedy and RB Bob Fullback declared ineligible for the season." If they're fringe players, nobody will notice.

but since it's illegal for the coaches to release their names, there's really no way to confirm the individual players unless they choose to out themselves so i'd stay away from "with starting WR Joe Speedy and RB Bob Fullback declared ineligible for the season."

yeah. Confirmation for a story like this is kinda important.

 

[Cubman71]

Most of the time, the kids aren't the ones at fault. It is someone else who muffed eligibility or transfer protocol. Why run the names? It's not the like the kids caused the forfeit because they got busted for DWI or armed robbery. If they are told they can plan and the mistake occurs this late in the season, that is someone else's problem.

Hold the school administration, coaches, and AD accountable.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Had this story early this season except the kid was ineligible because he hadn't been cleared by the state.

Kid transferred from a neighboring school, played in the first few soccer games of the season without having the paperwork cleared by the state. AD and coach both owned up to it. The big story, they had to forfeit a loss to a conference rival, which ended their league unbeaten streak at 66 games.

I named the kid. Didn't hear a complaint from anyone.

 

[Batman]

Had this story early this season except the kid was ineligible because he hadn't been cleared by the state.

Kid transferred from a neighboring school, played in the first few soccer games of the season without having the paperwork cleared by the state. AD and coach both owned up to it. The big story, they had to forfeit a loss to a conference rival, which ended their league unbeaten streak at 66 games.

I named the kid. Didn't hear a complaint from anyone.

That's not the same, though, as calling the kid a dumbass who can't pass Algebra I.

 

[towser]

Name names. By all means, name names. Unless, of course, it's a female lying or grossly exaggerating about a rape or sexual assault. Then ... oh my God, how could you even think of naming her name!?!?!? You misogynist, sexist ogre!!! How could you even think of it!!! Doesn't matter if she's lying through her teeth, don't you dare!!!

Oh, and make sure to name the name of the alleged perpetrator. No worries about ruining his good name over someone's lie.

(And no, this did not happen to me)

 

[DanOregon]

I had a situation like this once, the kid in question agreed to be interviewed. It made for a pretty good story.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Had this story early this season except the kid was ineligible because he hadn't been cleared by the state.

Kid transferred from a neighboring school, played in the first few soccer games of the season without having the paperwork cleared by the state. AD and coach both owned up to it. The big story, they had to forfeit a loss to a conference rival, which ended their league unbeaten streak at 66 games.

I named the kid. Didn't hear a complaint from anyone.

You bring up a great point... When I read the initial post, I assumed it meant ineligible because of academics. If that's the case, no way do I name names...

If it's because of a transfer issue, that's completely different because the kid (probably) isn't at fault.

 

[slappy4428]

I learned today that one of the high school football teams I cover had to forfeit three of its wins because it used three ineligible players in those games (one of the games actually counts as a double forfeit because the other team had ineligible players as well - good grief!) ... anyways, do you name who the kids are? I have no idea at this point but I've had an editor in the past who demanded names for stories like this ... my inclination is not to name names ... thoughts?

FB

No, you don't name names UNLESS the school reveals who the student is.
Had an instance here in last season's basketball playoffs where one of our area schools beatthe No. 2 team in the state on a Thursday, then forfeited on Friday for a player who was in too many semesters. The coach openly told me who the player was and I used it (he was also over 18).
Have had other circumstances where it was an illegal transfer or grades where I didn't because the school didn't release it and/or he was a minor.