CLINTON, Tennessee — Anderson County High School self-imposed punishments for minor recruiting violations last winter with the football team according to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association and the school's athletic department.
Around Christmas time last year, a picture was posted on social media of a group of the school's students who had met to play some football with former Anderson County players as well as student-athletes currently playing for other schools.
The Mavericks then used that tweet to wish a Merry Christmas to former, current and future Mavs. However, under the laws of the TSSAA, because student-athletes from other schools were in the photo it gave the appearance that Anderson County was recruiting those players as future Mavericks.
This was reported by someone to the TSSAA who then informed Anderson County. The school then took its own disciplinary action.
The school forfeited two spring practices in May. They will have to forfeit a preseason game against Dobyns-Bennett on Aug. 6.
In May, the TSSAA sent a letter to the school accepting these punishments. The TSSAA required the school to refrain from addressing students that don’t go to the school and all coaches must be trained in that protocol.
The TSSAA did acknowledge the school took the post down promptly and commended the school for the way they cooperated in the investigation.