Middle linebacker of Signal Mountain High School Tim McClendon tracks the offense of Bradley High School during the 7-on-7 Passing Camp at Signal Mountain High School on Saturday, July 16, 2011.Signal Mountain High School administrators filed an intent to appeal with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, but the school had not received a response late Tuesday afternoon.
The TSSAA, the state’s governing body for high school athletics, vacated the school’s six football wins last Friday after ruling that the Eagles had allowed Tim McClendon, an ineligible player, to participate.
That ineligibility ruling is based on districts in which the student lived and that in which he played. The appeal is based on the contention that those districts are set by the Hamilton County Department of Education and the HCDE granted the player a hardship waiver to attend Signal Mountain.
Signal Mountain Principal Tom McCullough reiterated his belief that the school had followed the rules.
“Although we have the greatest respect for the TSSAA, after careful consideration of the issues involving the use of an ineligible football player by Signal Mountain High School, we are exercising our rights and have asked the TSSAA for an immediate hearing,” McCullough said in a prepared statement. “We stand by the information we submitted regarding the student transfer and believe him to be eligible.”