Independence investigation: Not Guilty

http://www.charlotte.com/preps/story/706789.html

I know this is a baseball board, but this topic applies to all HS sports. I'm Old School by age & mentality...& am a firm believer in community based high school competition. The pride is diminished when titles are won w/ kids who transfer. And kids at schools who play by the rules are robbed of the opportunity for a moment of glory.

So I was encouraged when Char. Meck Schools launched an investigation of Independence HS...certain that the 'truth would set us free'. But I'm just stunned to read in the Observer that the verdict is 'not guilty'. Either the investigation was a sham or I'm an idiot for believing 'if Indy football ain't guilty of recruiting, ain't nobody guilty'.

I don't need your opinion on the idiot thing (my wife covers that)...but I'm curious if others were surprised/shocked by the verdict.

 

Maybe now people can say "that coach runs a good program" and leave it at that!!

 

I've got to agree with UK7Dook3.....I was glad to see the investigation but was really suprised by the results....I'm not knocking Indy football because I respect their coach and program....

I guess I was hoping for the investigation to finally put a stop to all the "games" that are played in all sports about kids living and playing for the schools they are suppose to be playing for....this is just not happening in football or at one school....it happens in football, baseball, softball, basketball and soccer.

The results of the investigation are what they are....the sad thing is now the "game playing" will continue and probably without little consequence....JMHO.

 

Dbacks, I appreciate how you phrased your post. I certainly mean NO DISRESPECT for Independence's coaching staff. Heck, I couldn't pick any of them out of a lineup. So I apologize to anyone from IHS who might take this personal.

 

We found no concrete evidence,” Gorman said during a news conference. “And we need to move on. Independence needs to move on.”

Wow, what a rousing endorsement for the integrity of the Independence program. Maybe they didn't break any rules. Maybe its the rules of the CMS system that need to be changed. Kids are flying around all over the place looking for the correct "fit".

 

I'm not blaming Independence HS or any other specific HS in Mecklenburg County (even the ones who forfeited games),,,, for the simple reason I never liked the school choice policy when CMS devised it. I'm not tooting my own horn, but I said when they started the school choice policy that you would see talented baseball players all lining up to go to a baseball school, talented football players would all line up to go to the same football school, and so on and so on.

Bottomline, people like to be a part of a winner. And if you have a son who is a talented football player, you would probably like for him to play for the best coach possible in the best program. I accept people transferring as long as they do it legally,,,,, I don't like it because (just like UK7Dook said) I prefer that my neighborhood play yours,,, but I accept transfers as long as the family BUYS ANOTHER HOUSE AND MOVES, as long as its legal. And as long as theres no recruiting being done.

I just believe the CMS school choice plan laid the foundation for all the problems they are now having in Charlotte/Meck.

 

They spent $96,000, more than enough to hire a compliant officer to keep all CMS schools in check. I'm with "for the girls"; people were looking for a different result even though Coach Knott said he has never recruited (nor does he have to).

Folks, as I've said all along. It's politics as usual, the transfer issue was the "flavor of the day". With all of the cuts they have recommended in CMS, I doubt very seriously they are going to add expenses to ensure that schools comply. As far as CMS is concerned, they have put this story to bed and will move on..as will the papers that have covered it.

Until there are consequences to the parents of illegal transfers, nothing will change, transfers will go on as they have for 40 years and we will be bringing this topic up again in 10

 

What neighborhood schools? That concept left CMS in the early 70's?

Just curious...why do you think this?

 

Braves, I understand the small neighborhood yours against mine probably isn't as prominent in a county as large as Char/Meck. Guess you find this neighborhood stuff more in smaller rural counties.

As for the comment on the school choice plan, I admit I don't understand all the ins and outs of school choice, just like many others around the state outside of Meck Co don't understand it either. But what outsiders do think, at least the perception is out there, is that CMS' school choice gives students a choice of 3 schools to attend. And lets face it, kids talk to each other at malls, coaches don't have to recruit, because kids talk, and CMS can have all the rules and say "well they may not get in" all they want to,,, but I'm pretty sure if a topnotch athlete wants to attend a certain school, pretty sure a string can be pulled.

Maybe I'm wrong, but this is what outsiders think about school choice, and many will say that Indy's 7 titles are tainted because (again strictly coming from an outsider) the perception is that CMS has a policy (school choice) which allows kids to transfer wherever they want. Obviously its not wherever, and obviously kids may not get to attend the school they want,,,,, but the perception is that school choice is a tool that can lead to stacking a team.

 

Thanks tj. You know I wasn't trying to be argumentative with you. I really wanted to know what your thought and perception was coming from a person not in this county. I found your perception enlightening because I bet most people have this thought