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Barron Collier High School admitted to football recruiting violations after another Collier County school filed a complaint to the FHSAA showing text messages between Cougars head coach Brannon Tidwell and players enrolled at another school.
In response to the allegations, Barron Collier self-reported a violation of improper contact to the FHSAA, according to records obtained by the Naples Daily News.
“On Tuesday June 2 we presented the information to Mr. Tidwell and interviewed him and questions him regarding the allegations,” was written in a letter sent by Barron Collier Principal Sean Kinsley, Activities Coordinator Michael Sartorio, and Collier County Activities Coordinator Mark Rosenbalm dated June 4 to the FHSAA.
“The principal and I have agreed that FHSAA Policy 36 has not been followed by Mr. Tidwell. Barron Collier High School does not condone or support these violations and will wait for your response and guidance to move forward.”
FHSAA Policy 36.3.2.1 prohibits school employees, athletic staff, and representatives from sending written or electronic communication to a student or their family to entice them to transfer schools for athletics.
"We will make sure we continue to educate and hold our staff accountable at Barron Collier High School," the June 4 letter stated.
An FHSAA spokesperson said the organization is reviewing the case before issuing any penalties. According to FHSAA guidelines, penalties include a potential $5,000 fine and suspension for the offending coach, and forfeiture of games for the team, which should not happen in this case due to the offense occurring in the offseason.
The allegation was filed by Lely High School on May 28, citing four of its students were improperly contacted by Tidewell via text, and a former Lely student, who transferred to Barron Collier in January, helped the coach contact players.
Text messages showed instances of Tidwell communicating with the players, directing them to Collier County transfer instructions, encouraging them to join the Barron football team, and inviting them to the sideline of a practice.
In a June 3 letter, Tidwell accepted responsibility for these communications, including the spring practice invitation, and noted, "I know that the students need to be directed to guidance/district for open enrollment if they have any questions. I accept responsibility for this action.
“Spring practices are open to the public,” he wrote. “Some of the students in question came over and watched practice but should not have been on our sideline. I understand the students should not have been on the field and if they were just watching the open practice, they should have been in the stands. I should not have asked them or permitted them to be there at practice or on the field. I accept responsibility for this incident.”
Numerous text strings were included in the documents as evidence. In one exchange, Tidwell texted a student, "Hello (redacted), I hope you're enjoying the weekend. Do you play at Lely currently?
"The open zone opens up in January"
To which the student responded, "Yessir I do"
In another text exchange, Tidwell asked a student if he had been accepted to Barron Collier yet, which he had not. Tidwell replied, "I'll text our principal", with the student replying with a heart emoji and wrote, "please do i need to leave this school immediately"
Tidwell replied: "I just hit him up. Can you send me tomorrow what you have filled out CCPS wise (transfer)? Our principal is going to check"
The student replied with three photos of documents, followed by Tidwell responding, "Perfect! Our principal is on it.. you will be a Cougar. Would love to meet one day soon if you can"
In another exchange, a student asked if he could watch a spring practice, and Tidwell sent him Barron Collier's practice schedule and wrote, "Would love to have you come watch", later adding, "Just don't send anything out social media wise that you were here"
Tidwell also asked a player for game film that he could share and inquired about a player posting a transfer graphic and then shared the graphic on his private Instagram account.
In his letter, Tidwell took responsibility for these actions as well, writing, "I understand the graphics should not be done in BC uniform or encouraged. I should not have reposted this image and it will not happen again." Later adding, "I should not have in my communication asked for highlight reels or to contact other players."
Barron Collier hired Tidwell, an alumnus who graduated in 1996, last February. Tidwell replaced Mark Jackson, who stepped down after 10 years leading the program, and went 4-6 in his first season.
"As a general practice, we do not comment on open investigations," CCPS Chief Communication Officer Chad Oliver said in an email. "Collier County Public Schools continues to cooperate with the Florida High School Athletic Association."
Sartorio did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Barron Collier admits recruiting violations by football coach Brannon Tidwell
Continue reading...
In response to the allegations, Barron Collier self-reported a violation of improper contact to the FHSAA, according to records obtained by the Naples Daily News.
“On Tuesday June 2 we presented the information to Mr. Tidwell and interviewed him and questions him regarding the allegations,” was written in a letter sent by Barron Collier Principal Sean Kinsley, Activities Coordinator Michael Sartorio, and Collier County Activities Coordinator Mark Rosenbalm dated June 4 to the FHSAA.
“The principal and I have agreed that FHSAA Policy 36 has not been followed by Mr. Tidwell. Barron Collier High School does not condone or support these violations and will wait for your response and guidance to move forward.”
FHSAA Policy 36.3.2.1 prohibits school employees, athletic staff, and representatives from sending written or electronic communication to a student or their family to entice them to transfer schools for athletics.
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"We will make sure we continue to educate and hold our staff accountable at Barron Collier High School," the June 4 letter stated.
An FHSAA spokesperson said the organization is reviewing the case before issuing any penalties. According to FHSAA guidelines, penalties include a potential $5,000 fine and suspension for the offending coach, and forfeiture of games for the team, which should not happen in this case due to the offense occurring in the offseason.
The allegation was filed by Lely High School on May 28, citing four of its students were improperly contacted by Tidewell via text, and a former Lely student, who transferred to Barron Collier in January, helped the coach contact players.
Text messages showed instances of Tidwell communicating with the players, directing them to Collier County transfer instructions, encouraging them to join the Barron football team, and inviting them to the sideline of a practice.
In a June 3 letter, Tidwell accepted responsibility for these communications, including the spring practice invitation, and noted, "I know that the students need to be directed to guidance/district for open enrollment if they have any questions. I accept responsibility for this action.
You must be registered for see images attach
“Spring practices are open to the public,” he wrote. “Some of the students in question came over and watched practice but should not have been on our sideline. I understand the students should not have been on the field and if they were just watching the open practice, they should have been in the stands. I should not have asked them or permitted them to be there at practice or on the field. I accept responsibility for this incident.”
Numerous text strings were included in the documents as evidence. In one exchange, Tidwell texted a student, "Hello (redacted), I hope you're enjoying the weekend. Do you play at Lely currently?
"The open zone opens up in January"
To which the student responded, "Yessir I do"
In another text exchange, Tidwell asked a student if he had been accepted to Barron Collier yet, which he had not. Tidwell replied, "I'll text our principal", with the student replying with a heart emoji and wrote, "please do i need to leave this school immediately"
Tidwell replied: "I just hit him up. Can you send me tomorrow what you have filled out CCPS wise (transfer)? Our principal is going to check"
The student replied with three photos of documents, followed by Tidwell responding, "Perfect! Our principal is on it.. you will be a Cougar. Would love to meet one day soon if you can"
You must be registered for see images attach
In another exchange, a student asked if he could watch a spring practice, and Tidwell sent him Barron Collier's practice schedule and wrote, "Would love to have you come watch", later adding, "Just don't send anything out social media wise that you were here"
Tidwell also asked a player for game film that he could share and inquired about a player posting a transfer graphic and then shared the graphic on his private Instagram account.
In his letter, Tidwell took responsibility for these actions as well, writing, "I understand the graphics should not be done in BC uniform or encouraged. I should not have reposted this image and it will not happen again." Later adding, "I should not have in my communication asked for highlight reels or to contact other players."
Barron Collier hired Tidwell, an alumnus who graduated in 1996, last February. Tidwell replaced Mark Jackson, who stepped down after 10 years leading the program, and went 4-6 in his first season.
"As a general practice, we do not comment on open investigations," CCPS Chief Communication Officer Chad Oliver said in an email. "Collier County Public Schools continues to cooperate with the Florida High School Athletic Association."
Sartorio did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Barron Collier admits recruiting violations by football coach Brannon Tidwell
Continue reading...
