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The Cowboys used an ineligible player in wins against Sickles, Alonso and Leto this season.
By MIKE READLING, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 16, 2002
TAMPA -- Gaither suffered another blow this week when the Cowboys were forced to forfeit three wins from last season.
Athletic directors at Sickles, Alonso and Leto received letters informing them the Cowboys used an illegal player in wins against their schools and would be forced to give up those victories.
"It was something we discovered and reported ourselves," Gaither athletic director Henry Strapp said. "Basically, the problem was an ineligible player who slipped through the cracks. He had previously played in Hawaii and his grades were slow in coming. In fact, I didn't even get them until about a month ago."
The player, whom officials did not identify, participated in the final eight games, but the Cowboys won only three of those. Their 5-5 record now drops to 2-8. The forfeit gives Alonso the first victory in school history, erasing a 42-0 loss.
"My AD informed me they had used an ineligible player and we had actually won one game. It's no big deal to me," Alonso coach John Fontes said. "I mean, we didn't go out and win. We didn't beat anybody. We don't deserve it."
The forfeits are the latest in a series of incidents to cast a shadow over the Gaither program, which resurrected itself three years ago only to fall back into controversy last season.
Gaither recorded five wins in three seasons from 1996-1998 before Mike Hobbie took over for the 1999 season and led the Cowboys to a 7-5 record and a region semifinal appearance.
Hobbie left for Sarasota High after one season and Gaither brought in Howie DeCristofaro in 2000. The Cowboys finished 11-2, losing in the region final and top running back Lydell Ross signed with Ohio State, capping the best season in school history.
DeCristofaro left before last season for Bradenton Manatee and was replaced by former Tampa Bay Storm owner and local businessman Bob Gries. Gries resigned following the final game in November, alleging racism at the school and ineffectiveness in the program's administration.
That came on the heels of athletic director Jim Pullin's resignation in mid September to take a job in the county's Human Resources Department.
Strapp, an assistant principal at the school, replaced Pullin five days after the season ended. He began interviews to replace Gries this week and hopes to have the field narrowed down by the end of the month.