Signal Mountain High School football field.The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's Board of Control voted Friday morning to deny Signal Mountain High School's appeal of an earlier ruling that forced the football team to vacate six wins.
The majority decision verdict upheld the TSSAA's Oct. 7 ruling that Eagles senior linebacker and running back Tim McClendon was ineligible. It was determined by a TSSAA investigation that Signal Mountain did not properly fill out the paper work to allow McClendon to be eligible. McClendon, who transferred from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, does not live in Signal Mountain's school zone.
Signal Mountain's appeal lasted nearly three hours Thursday, led by attorney Clancy Covert who interviewed McClendon, McClendon's mother, Signal head coach Bill Price, athletic director Patty Lane, Hamilton County school board member Chip Baker and assistant coach Shane Roberson - who has been McClendon's mentor since middle school. Principal Dr. Tom McCullough also spoke on behalf of the school.
The board then held a closed-door meeting to discuss the issue for nearly five hours before deciding to delay its vote until Friday morning.