Cannon County football has state's longest losing streak after forfeits over ineligible player

Cannon County's football team ended a 16-game losing streak and broke through with a four-win season in 2018.

But because of using an ineligible player during all 10 games last season, the winless streak is now up to a state-longest 26 games entering the 2019 campaign.

Cannon County self-reported to the TSSAA in April that it used an ineligible player.

Lions second-year coach Matt Daniel said the mistake was a "clerical" one.

"When going back through things we noticed it," Daniel said. "We called TSSAA to make it right."

Under TSSAA guidelines, Cannon County was forced to forfeit the four wins and pay a fine of $250 for the violation.

The ineligible player, who Cannon County did not name, was a transfer from Siegel who didn't meet the TSSAA change of residence criteria.

A TSSAA letter to the school stated: "According to the information submitted, the student was erroneously entered and subsequently determined to be eligible as a student who was required to transfer schools due to rezoning. The student actually transferred from Siegel High School where he was living with his father to Cannon County High School when he moved in with his grandmother. The student has now returned to Siegel High School."

In that letter, sent from TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress to Cannon County athletic director Matt Cagle, the TSSAA "closed the matter" upon three provisions:

• A letter should be written to the schools against which the ineligible athlete participated, notifying them of the playing of an ineligible player. A copy of the letters sent to the schools must be submitted to the TSSAA office.

• Article Ill, Section 14 of the TSSAA Bylaws states that if an ineligible player competes in a contest, the entire contest is forfeited to the opponent.

• Cannon County High School is being fined $250 for playing an ineligible athlete in 10 varsity football contests.

Article Ill, Section 14 of the TSSAA Bylaws states, in part, that the penalty for playing an ineligible contestant shall be $50 per contest at the varsity level and $25 per contest below the varsity level, with a maximum fine of $250, provided it is voluntarily reported by the school which is in violation to the Executive Director.

The victories forfeited included non-region contests vs. Red Boiling Springs, Jackson County and DeKalb County and a Region 4-3A game vs. Grundy County.

"We won the games last year," Daniel said. "On paper it will say we didn't. We've had one conversation with the team to let them know up front. But, we're focused on how we can make 2019 right. We'll focus on the positive things. Adults can make mistakes  too. 

"We'll keep going forward. I can see no impact on what we've been doing this summer or fall."

Cannon County will begin the 2019 season on Aug. 23 at White County, which is currently on a 24-game losing streak, the second longest in the state.

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

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