spiveyrat
10-15-2005, 11:49 AM
Late complications force Jasper transfer to miss Diboll's game
By GARY WILLMON/Lufkin Daily News
Saturday, October 15, 2005
DIBOLL — Barring any other unexpected roadblocks, the Diboll Lumberjacks should have another player added to their varsity football roster as of next week's home game against Rusk — former Jasper QB Gilbert Moye, who led the 'Dogs to the state final last year.
In extensive and lengthy telephone conference calls that spanned the better part of two days, Diboll ISD officials produced adequate documentation proving that Moye, who was transplanted to Diboll three weeks ago by Hurricane Rita, has legal residence in the district.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) had originally ruled all transplanted athletes could join their new teams of legal residence after a 15-day eligibility waiting period, which Moye satisfied Friday. On top of that, DISD officials produced by fax, documentation of Moye's legal residence inside the district.
Diboll ISD athletic director Finis Vanover said that following a conference call with the UIL on Thursday afternoon, everything was set for Moye to play in Friday's game at Palestine for the 'Jacks. However, the UIL made an 11th hour ruling, disallowing Moye's participation on Friday afternoon, sending DISD administrators scrambling to produce the adequate documents.
"It was absurd," Vanover said of the extended roadblocks placed in Moye's path by the UIL and member schools — Rusk, Palestine and Jasper. "We had everything that the UIL said we had to have documented. We had it. They had it. We had everything that was necessary."
But then the UIL faxed a denial on Friday afternoon, citing questions with his place of residence being a "choice, rather than involuntary."
"The UIL said two things had to take place — that he had no control over the situation and that his moving was involuntary," Vanover said. "He met those criteria, and he also met the residential requirements."
The UIL's contention in its Friday denial was that Diboll had not yet received the formal signed waiver from Jasper ISD, although UIL administrators ruled transplanted athletes were eligible at their new schools. The Jasper waiver signature was just a formality, UIL officials said, but one that was necessary.
That ruling came so late on Friday that Jasper ISD officials had gone home for the day, leaving Diboll coaches with no choice but to hold Moye out of Friday's contest, which the Lumberjacks lost 45-14 to Palestine.
Vanover said that the paperwork should be completed early next week, and if there were more roadblocks, he and Diboll ISD superintendent Bobby Baker were prepared to travel to Austin in person and present the documentation to the UIL.
By GARY WILLMON/Lufkin Daily News
Saturday, October 15, 2005
DIBOLL — Barring any other unexpected roadblocks, the Diboll Lumberjacks should have another player added to their varsity football roster as of next week's home game against Rusk — former Jasper QB Gilbert Moye, who led the 'Dogs to the state final last year.
In extensive and lengthy telephone conference calls that spanned the better part of two days, Diboll ISD officials produced adequate documentation proving that Moye, who was transplanted to Diboll three weeks ago by Hurricane Rita, has legal residence in the district.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) had originally ruled all transplanted athletes could join their new teams of legal residence after a 15-day eligibility waiting period, which Moye satisfied Friday. On top of that, DISD officials produced by fax, documentation of Moye's legal residence inside the district.
Diboll ISD athletic director Finis Vanover said that following a conference call with the UIL on Thursday afternoon, everything was set for Moye to play in Friday's game at Palestine for the 'Jacks. However, the UIL made an 11th hour ruling, disallowing Moye's participation on Friday afternoon, sending DISD administrators scrambling to produce the adequate documents.
"It was absurd," Vanover said of the extended roadblocks placed in Moye's path by the UIL and member schools — Rusk, Palestine and Jasper. "We had everything that the UIL said we had to have documented. We had it. They had it. We had everything that was necessary."
But then the UIL faxed a denial on Friday afternoon, citing questions with his place of residence being a "choice, rather than involuntary."
"The UIL said two things had to take place — that he had no control over the situation and that his moving was involuntary," Vanover said. "He met those criteria, and he also met the residential requirements."
The UIL's contention in its Friday denial was that Diboll had not yet received the formal signed waiver from Jasper ISD, although UIL administrators ruled transplanted athletes were eligible at their new schools. The Jasper waiver signature was just a formality, UIL officials said, but one that was necessary.
That ruling came so late on Friday that Jasper ISD officials had gone home for the day, leaving Diboll coaches with no choice but to hold Moye out of Friday's contest, which the Lumberjacks lost 45-14 to Palestine.
Vanover said that the paperwork should be completed early next week, and if there were more roadblocks, he and Diboll ISD superintendent Bobby Baker were prepared to travel to Austin in person and present the documentation to the UIL.