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FHSAA reinstates Rams' Anders
By JAMAL THALJI © St. Petersburg Times, published February 7, 2001 NEW PORT RICHEY -- Ridgewood coach Gary Anders knew he could not appeal the Florida High School Activities Association's decision to punish his son, Joe, for using profanity during a Jan. 26 loss at East Lake. But Anders knew he could ask for leniency, for compassion, for mercy, for anything but the FHSAA's mandated six-week suspension for gross unsportsmanlike conduct. On Tuesday, the coach and his son got their wish: Joe Anders' suspension was commuted. The Rams' star will be eligible to finish his senior season starting Monday. His first game back: The opening round of the Class 5A, District 9 tournament at Gulf on Feb. 14. Ridgewood, seeded fourth, will meet No. 5 River Ridge at 7:30 p.m. Anders' suspension was reduced from a possible six-week ban that would have carried over into track season to a three-week, five-game suspension. "I can't even describe it," Anders said. "I really can't blame the guy for thinking he should suspend me for that length of time. I just wish he knew what kind of person I am. If I screw up, I know I screwed up. But that's no excuse for what I did." Indeed, Anders accepted responsibility for using profanity after fouling out of the loss against East Lake. His father said all they wanted from the state was a break. They got it. "We were just looking for compassion," Gary Anders said. "We based the appeal on his character, his reputation. We knew it was a once in a lifetime thing. "Look, he definitely deserved to be punished, but I didn't think he (deserved) to lose his senior year." FHSAA spokesman Jack Watford said Ron Allen, associate commissioner of athletics, reviewed the case Tuesday and reduced the suspension. "It was an original six-week suspension," Watford said. "It was reduced to two weeks. It stands as a two-week suspension, so if (Anders) served his two-week term I guess he's reinstated." Before his suspension, Anders was one of Pasco County's top players, averaging 13.5 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists a game for the Rams (17-8). If there is a bright side to Anders' suspension, it is that the Rams took their game to another notch in his absence, going 2-1 with district wins over Palm Harbor U. and River Ridge, and taking defending district champion Land O'Lakes to the brink on the road Friday night. Without Anders in the lineup, Ridgewood took a six-point lead at halftime. That lead was at four with four minutes left, after which Land O'Lakes managed to close the gap and escape with a 50-45 victory. "I think the biggest thing is, and I hate to use cliches, but our kids' concentration level and focus was tremendous," Gary Anders said. The other Anders can't wait. "It's a blessing, definitely," he said. "Because it's my dream to play in the district tournament for my dad. To finally have that back is just the best feeling in the world." - Staff writer Steve Lee contributed to this report.
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