Siegel football practice rule violation to cost it five spring sessions

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

The Siegel football team violated the new TSSAA rule on fall practice last week and self-reported it to the state's governing body.

Siegel self-imposed a penalty of taking away five spring practices in 2020. The TSSAA informed Siegel Principal Larry Creasy in a letter that it had accepted Siegel's actions and was closing the case.

According to information submitted by Creasy to the TSSAA, Siegel practiced twice on July 22 – once in helmets and once in helmets and shoulder pads – and three times on July 23 – once in helmets and twice in helmets and shoulder pads.

That violated the new TSSAA rule that teams must practice two days in helmets only, followed by three days of helmets and shoulder pads before practicing with full pads. Teams were eligible to begin practice in full pads on Monday if they fulfilled their required practice time in both helmets and helmets with shoulder pads.

"It was totally a mistake," Siegel coach Michael Copley said. "One thing we talk about here is compete, courage and character. As the head coach here, I misinterpreted and messed up. It was an honest mistake, but when I realized it, I contacted (Creasy) about the mistake and we got it corrected.

"I hate that I made the mistake, but obviously now I'll make sure I get that correct in the future."

Previously, teams needed to practice three days in shoulder pads over a five-day span before players could put on full pads.  

"I have spoken to (Copley) and explained how he broke this rule and what is expected of him and our football program going forward," Creasy stated in the letter to TSSAA.

The practice infractions occurred while the team was out of town at camp at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, Mississippi.

The Stars practiced Monday morning in just helmets and shoulder pads while other teams were going in full pads.

"That was to make sure we adhered to the (TSSAA) policy," Copley said.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

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