Sore loser
Former Northern Guilford basketball coach Stan Kowalewski doesn't exit gracefully with remarks quoted by Robert Bell in today's story.
It's more like the sore loser's farewell on the playground: "Let's take our ball and go home."
From our print edition: "Kowalewski said Wednesday night he would not recommend his players ever play basketball within Guilford County as long as (Mo) Green was superintendent ..."
What does that mean, they should "transfer" to wherever he's going to coach next?
Green and attorney Jill Wilson aren't the problems here. They aren't the ones who vacated Northern's state basketball championship. The N.C. High School Athletic Association did, based on information that the team used ineligible players. The rules are meant to put all schools on a level playing field. If Northern gained an unfair advantage by breaking rules, it should forfeit its victories.
It's a bitter lesson, and lots of kids who did nothing wrong are paying a heavy penalty. It will be worse, though, if Northern's returning basketball players take their former coach's advice and quit their athletic careers in Guilford County. They deserve another chance, even if their coach doesn't.
Comments (4)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Doug,
I hope you can answer a question for me.
If the School Board had approved one of these students transferring to Northern from the student's districted school, would that be in violation?
I know of a student athlete at Northern who went through the process of gaining approval from the school board to attend Northern instead of his districted school. He is not one of the students deemed ineligible because his sport was not listed.
Posted on May 14, 2009 10:30 AM
Angie,
GCS has a detailed transfer politicy:
http://www.guilford.k12.nc.us/policies/pdf/JBCC%20-%20School%20Assignment%20adopted%2010%2030%2008%20%20%20.pdf
The board has authority to grant transfer requests that meet the criteria, in its judgment. A student who was granted a transfer to Northern under this policy would be eligible to compete in athletics.
Otherwise, N.C. High School Athletic Association rules govern eligibility:
http://www.nchsaa.org/intranet/downloadManagerControl.php?mode=getFile&elementID=6492&type=5&atomID=8524
The residency requirements are quite detailed. For example:
“Residence” as used for athletic eligibility purposes is defined as the equivalent of the term "domicile" as applied by the courts of North Carolina. Under no circumstances can a student have more than one residence for eligibility purposes. It is the obligation of the school to know the residence status of each athlete and to require compliance with these requirements.
Except as otherwise provided, the residence of any student shall be deemed to be that of his or
her parents or the sole surviving parent.
In the event the parents are separated or divorced, the residence of the student shall be that of the parent to whom custody has been awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction. If no custody order has been entered, the residence shall be deemed to be that of the parent who had actual custody immediately upon the separation.
Any change in residence must be bona fide. Determination of what constitutes a bona fide
change of residence depends upon the facts of each case. In order for a change of residence to be considered bona fide at least the following facts must exist: (1) The original residence must be abandoned as a residence; that is sold, rented or disposed of as a residence, and must not be used as residence by any member of the family; (2) The entire family must make the change and take with them the household goods and furniture appropriate to the circumstances; (3) The change must be made with the intent that it is permanent.
Transfers within the same administrative unit may be governed by local Board of Education policy. A student transferred from one administrative unit to another by mutual agreement is immediately
eligible for athletic participation in the receiving unit.
Posted on May 14, 2009 10:43 AM
Doug,
Thank you VERY much for the detailed response. That clearly answers my question.
I wonder if the board will be less likely to grant these transfers in the future.
Posted on May 14, 2009 1:02 PM
You're welcome.
I don't know if the board will become stricter about transfers, but they are at least talking about some policy changes. For example, not allowing transfer students to participate in athletics for a year. That seems very severe to me, but it would sure cut down on abuses.
Posted on May 14, 2009 1:12 PM