Council Members Ask Chancellor to Retract Players’ Suspension
By • November 22, 2017 0 833
The annual Turkey Bowl game, which decides the city football championship, is mired in heated controversy.
Woodson High School is slated to play Ballou High School on Thanksgiving day. But 18 Woodson players have been suspended for one game due to an on-field fight on Nov. 11, when Woodson played Eastern High School. Seven Eastern players were also suspended.
Many of the suspended Woodson players are seniors. As of Wednesday morning, they will be deprived of playing in this all-important game. One of the suspended players parents has retained a lawyer to contest the suspension made by the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association.
There is a hearing today, Wednesday. Attorney Stanley Foshee told me that he is prepared to take “all legal avenues” to allow the Woodson players to play in the big game. Foshee said he wants to secure a “win-win” situation for all the parties.
Once the next move has been made, I will update this story.
One final note: Ward 7 Council member Vince Gray wrote a very strong and eloquent letter to Public Schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson asking him to retract the decision. Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans asked Wilson to do the same.
The Turkey Bowl will be played at Eastern High School’s field, 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 23.
