KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Clinton Football has to forfeit games from the 2024 season after they played an academically ineligible player last season.
The number of games is still being determined according to the TSSAA, despite the initial letter they sent to the school saying all 13 games must be forfeited.
The player didn't meet the required credits from the prior school year before the 2024 season. Clinton self-reported this last week following teachers and guidance counselors losing their jobs after they were accused of fixing test grades.
Darell Keith's contract was not renewed, meaning he won't be the head football coach at Clinton next season. A reason was not given by Anderson County Schools. This is amid the ineligible player playing and an accusation of Keith trying to fix grades.
WBIR spoke to multiple Athletic Directors from high schools in our area. on how the process works at their school. The TSSAA also gave information on the process.
All the athletic directors said their office staff works with the guidance office to go through the grades of players on a roster for a specific sport. In that process, it is determined who may be eligible and who may not be eligible to play based on grades from that student-athlete.
For these schools, the Athletic Director's office then inputs the grades into the TSSAA's website for the governing body's approval. The TSSAA will then respond back with approval or disapproval for any incoming freshman, returning students or transfers.
Some of the athletic directors said it's based on an honor system because the TSSA doesn't fact-check the grades.
TSSAA Executive Director Mark Reeves told WBIR that in some schools, the principal or even a head coach can send the grades to the TSSAA. They didn't know the process for Clinton.
WBIR has asked Anderson County Schools and Nate Martin, the Clinton Football Athletic Director, who approved rosters to give to the TSSAA.
They didn't give an answer.
Former football head coach at Clinton Darell Keith told WBIR on Tuesday that it is handled through the athletic directors — not him.
WBIR has obtained an email from April 2023 that shows Martin and Rob Stacy, another athletic director, receiving an email from the TSSAA regarding eligibility.
It did not pertain to the ineligible student-athlete who played last season. It does show that at Clinton in the past, the athletic director's office handled eligibility and not Keith.
This is not to say in Clinton's case it was the athletic directors' fault. There are still a lot of questions to be answered on who submitted the grades to the TSSAA and who oversaw the grades for approval.