Groves forfeits playoffs because of incorrectly interpreted eligibility rule.

Written Wednesday November 11th at 10:00 AM

Updated Wednesday November 11th at 1:10 PM

Groves had to forfeit their season on Tuesday afternoon due to the athletic department incorrectly interpreted eligibility rule according to Hometown Life's Colin Gay and MIPrepZone and State Champs sports writer Scott Burnstein.

It means the Falcons district final game with Warren Mott won't happen on Friday night.

Birmingham Public Schools sent out a statement addressing the situation.

"Today following conversations with the MHSAA it was determined that the Birmingham Groves Athletic Department incorrectly interpreted an eligibility rule. With this knowledge and subsequent conversations with the MHSAA our governing body with high school sports Groves Varsity Football will be forfeiting it's next contest with Warren Mott and the Groves football season will come to an end. We are extremely sadden that this had occurred but we thank our senior leadership and dedicated coaching staff for all they have done this season. This is not an ideal way to end the season but we do hope our players can be proud of the work they put in and all of the accomplishments they achieved this year" the statement said.

The move according to Burnstein surrounds three players that transferred to Groves in September in quarterback Kaleb Garner and defensive backs Myles Mooyoung, and Diego Oliver. Garner and Mooyoung are seniors while Oliver is a junior. All three transferred from Chicago Kentwood after Illinois decided to move football to the spring because of the coronavirus. They were living at a house that was owned by Mooyoung's father. The MHSAA prohibits all athletically motivated transfers that are not "full family moves."

There was no comment to Groves Athletic Director Tom Flynn or Coach Brenden Flaherty.

Birmingham Public Schools couldn't go deeper into the eligibility issues based on the "Families Educated Rights and Privacy Act."

The Falcons beat Avondale and Seaholm in the district rounds to get to the district finals before this all came out. It is unknown if they will have to forfeit regular season games.

Thoughts

This is really bad for the Athletic Department. They should have caught this at beginning of the season. I feel really bad for the players and coaches who put in all the work in this season.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Burnstein's article.

https://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/miprepzone/groves-forced-to-forfeit-playoff-game-with-warren-mott-due-to-ineligible-players/article_9e2f39cc-2443-11eb-94e9-a72b124791c0.html

Here is Hometown Life's Colin Gay story.

https://www.hometownlife.com/story/sports/high-school/birmingham/2020/11/11/groves-football-forfeits-postseason-after-ineligibility-issues/6247626002/