Opinion ID: 3066813
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence Before the MHSAA

Text: ¶53. The MHSAA’s record was placed into evidence at the preliminary-injunction hearings and at the trial. The MHSAA’s final decision at a hearing on November 3, 2011, ruled Tiaria ineligible due to violations of three of MHSAA rules and regulations: (1) Tiaria’s coach on her summer Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) basketball team also coached at HHS, which violated the special-inducement rule; (2) Tiaria’s family had moved to Hattiesburg for 27 athletic purposes within sixty days of the start of the school year, which violated a residency rule that a move for athletic purposes must occur more than sixty days before the beginning of the school year; and (3) Tiaria was not in good standing at LCHS because she had not yet completed her punishment for a failed drug test in spring 2011, which violated the rule that a student must leave a former school in good standing in order to participate in athletics at a new school. ¶54. The MHSAA’s initial decision was memorialized in a “Special Eligibility Form” filled out by a representative of each school and Don Hinton, the executive director of the MHSAA. On August 23, 2011, the HHS representative wrote that Tiaria had changed schools because her parent had relocated to Hattiesburg when her job ended. On August 25, 2011, Daryl Scoggin, the principal of LCHS, wrote that he did not consider Tiaria to be in good standing at LCHS, and that he considered her not eligible at HHS. Scoggin noted “see attached documentation” and that he was waiting for legal advice before releasing the documentation. On August 29, 2011, Hinton wrote that the MHSAA had declared Tiaria ineligible. The form indicated that the completed form was faxed to both schools. ¶55. A fax date indicates that, on August 25, 2011, before the eligibility ruling, Scoggin faxed letters to MHSAA supporting his opinion that Tiaria was ineligible. One letter was from Tiaria’s basketball coach at LCHS, Vicki Rutland, to Scoggin. This letter stated that, on July 26, 2011, Slay said Tiaria was going to transfer to HHS. Slay said that she was moving for a new job, and that Tiaria wanted to move because, due to an incident in April 2011, she would have to sit out the first two weeks of the basketball season if she stayed at LCHS. Rutland expressed concern that Tiaria was moving to HHS because Burnell Wesco, 28 the coach of Tiaria’s AAU team, also coached at HHS. Rutland stated that she thought there was a pattern of recruiting at HHS. ¶56. Scoggin also faxed a letter from himself to Rickey Neaves, the MHSAA’s associate director of athletics, explaining his views on Tiaria’s eligibility. Scoggin stated that Tiaria had practiced with the LCHS team all summer and had attended the LCHS basketball camp. Scoggin stated that he had met with Slay on July 27, 2011, and she had told him about the move. Slay stated she had begun looking for a place to live in Hattiesburg in May 2011 and had put down a deposit on a rental property in early June, but was unable to pay the first month’s rent or to move at that time. Scoggin opined that Tiaria had moved within sixty days of the start of school. Scoggin also expressed concern that Wesco had been actively recruiting Tiaria to play at HHS. ¶57. HHS appealed the MHSAA’s ruling, and a hearing occurred before the MHSAA’s executive board (the Board) on September 7, 2011. The clearest and most concise summation of what occurred at the hearing is the Board’s minutes, which state the following: Mr. Hinton and Mr. Neaves briefed the Board on Tiaria and Steven Griffin, transfer students from [LCHS] to [HHS]. Mr. Hinton stated that Tiaria Griffin is a high profile basketball player at Lawrence County. He also stated that according to documentation, the mother leased a home on June 1, 2011 and only made a deposit, not rent for the month. At that time the mother received one door key, no mailbox key, nor garage remote. Mr. Neaves stated that Tiaria attended the entire summer basketball program at Lawrence County and also went to team camp with Lawrence County. He also stated that Tiaria failed one drug test at Lawrence County, prior to leaving. Also, Tiaria’s AAU coach is Coach Burnell Wesco, who is the ninth grade basketball coach at Hattiesburg. Dr. Daryl Scoggin, Principal, Mike Davis, Athletic Director, and Coach Vicki Rutland from [LCHS] appeared before the Board. Dr. Scoggin stated that on July 27, 2011, he met with [Slay] and stated to her that he had heard 29 rumors of Tiaria moving to Hattiesburg. Ms. Slay stated to him that she had contacted Hattiesburg in April/May concerning a job, as her job in the Lawrence County district was coming to an end. Dr. Scoggin also stated that Tiaria tested positive for marijuana in the spring and according to district policy, she would miss two weeks of a sport season, as this was her first offense. Dr. Scoggin also stated that the family lives in a trailer, which is in front of the grandmother’s house, in the Lawrence County school zone. Dr. Scoggin also stated that Ms. Slay’s job ended in May, but when she withdrew Tiaria in July, she owed $1,000 for fundraisers, which she paid in cash at the time she was without a job. Coach Rutland stated that in her meeting with Ms. Slay, on June 27, 2011, Ms. Slay verified that Tiaria was leaving Lawrence County – stating that Tiaria was being threatened on Facebook. Coach Rutland also stated that Ms. Slay is the team’s statistician. Coach Rutland said that Tiaria attended Lawrence County’s summer program and she coached Tiaria in the All-Star games held July 8-9, 2011. Coach Rutland witnessed Tiaria being friendly with Coach Ernie Watson (boy’s basketball coach at Hattiesburg) during the AllStar games. Coach Rutland also stated that some of the Lawrence County games, in which Tiaria participated, had shown up on Coach Wesco’s website, her AAU coach. Coach Davis stated that Tiaria had shown up for Lawrence County’s first football pep rally of the 2011 school year and she was also seen on a Saturday playing basketball with boys during open gym. Appearing before the Board from Hattiesburg were: Coach Cheyenne Trussell, Athletic Director, Coach Burnell Wesco, Coach Ernie Watson, Coach Debose-Jackson, Tiaria Griffin, and Ms. Slay, mother of Tiaria Griffin. Coach Trussell questioned if the MHSAA did a thorough investigation concerning residency, drug test, and recruiting. He stated that he received a call last spring from Ms. Slay asking what she needed to do to move her children into the Hattiesburg school district. The conversation did not include making her children eligible for athletics. Coach Trussell stated to Ms. Slay that a bona fide move must be made. Ms. Slay stated that her job in the Lawrence County School District was coming to an end in May and her other part-time job in Monticello closed in July, 2011. She stated that she moved to Hattiesburg to take a new job, to be closer to her oldest daughter (attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College), and still be close to her family in Monticello. Ms. Slay stated she received the keys to her rental the end of May and started moving in on June 1st and was completely moved in by June 4th or 5th. She stated that Tiaria did 30 not move until July, in order that she could attend the Lawrence County summer basketball program and play in the All-Star game. Ms. Slay stated that she did not tell Coach Rutland that Tiaria would not return to [LCHS] until after the All-Star games. Ms. Slay stated that she currently works for the Hattiesburg Public Schools, as a teacher assistant. Coach Wescoe [sic] stated that Tiaria started playing AAU basketball when she was in the seventh grade. He stated that it is his job, as an AAU coach, to showcase players, help them develop as players. He stated that four of the five starters for Lawrence County play for his AAU team. He also stated that he had nothing to gain by Tiaria transferring to Hattiesburg, since she is a senior this school year and he coach’s [sic] ninth grade basketball. Coach Debose-Jackson [the varsity basketball coach at HHS] stated that she made no contact with Tiaria at any time. Tiaria stated that she had asked Coach Watson if he had any money so that she and a friend could get something at the concession stand. Coach Watson stated that he joked with Tiaria that he bet she couldn’t score 30 points. Larry Dolan motioned [sic] to grant eligibility to Tiaria and Steven Griffin with Marietta James seconding the motion. Vote 3:6, motion failed. The Board voted to gather additional information to further consider the eligibility of Tiaria and Steven, consisting of proof of the date the electricity was turned on in their rental home, copies of electricity bills, dates of money orders or cashier’s checks used for rent, copies of such money orders or cashier’s checks, and two proofs of residency. ¶58. The Board reconvened on September 15, 2011, to consider the additional evidence that had been submitted on the question of whether Slay’s move had occurred more than sixty days before school started on August 7, 2011. These documents included a lease on a home in Hattiesburg dated June 1, 2011. The electricity bills showed that Slay’s landlord, Shirley Shoemaker, had paid the electricity bills until July 19, 2011, when the electricity was 31 transferred to Slay. The Board found that very little electricity had been used in June and in the first part of July compared to the usage after the bill was transferred to Slay, and that “according to the power bills, the family was not residing in Hattiesburg prior to 60 days of the beginning of school.” The Board recognized that Slay had submitted copies of money orders showing she had paid rent for the months of June and July. Slay explained that she had used little electricity due to travel. But the Board found that, while “the lease cannot be refuted,” because the electricity bill was not transferred to Slay until July 19, 2011, the move occurred within sixty days of the start of school. The Board voted four-six to deny HHS’s appeal. ¶59. On October 11, 2011, Cheyenne Trussell, the executive director of student activities of the Hattiesburg Public School District, requested reconsideration of the decision at the upcoming November 3, 2011, Board meeting. The Board granted the request. According to the November 3, 2011, hearing minutes, Trussell argued that the MHSAA had not adequately investigated Tiaria’s case. He admitted that, while Coach Wesco does not assist the girls’ varsity basketball team, he sometimes sat on the bench during varsity games. The Board again voted to find Tiaria ineligible to participate in athletics at HHS based on the three rules violations. However, the Board voted to grant eligiblity to her brother, Steven, finding that he had not moved for athletic purposes. ¶60. On November 8, 2011, MHSAA provided HHS with a notice of penalty for playing Tiaria in a game on November 5, 2011, against McComb High School. As a penalty for playing an ineligible player, MHSAA placed HHS on probation through the end of the season and ordered it to forfeit the game, remove Tiaria from the team, and pay a $500 fine. On 32 November 14, 2011, MHSAA penalized HHS for playing Tiaria in a game against Harrison Central High School on November 8, 2011, while on probation. The MHSAA ordered HHS to forfeit the game and to remove Tiaria from the team and extended probation to the postseason. On November 21, 2011, MHSAA penalized HHS for playing Tiaria in a November 18, 2011, game against Moss Point High School while on probation. It ordered HHS to forfeit the game and to pay a $1,000 fine and suspended HHS through the end of the school year. Although all three notices of penalty informed HHS of its right to appeal, it is undisputed that HHS did not avail itself of that right.