Ohio Governor Concerned About Bishop Sycamore Orders Investigation

(8-31-21) Ohio Governor Mike DeWine tweeted today that he has numerous concerns about the Bishop Sycamore football game incident that took place this past weekend in Canton. The Governor has asked the Ohio Department of Education to investigate the program.

In a nationally televised game on ESPN IMG Academy thumped the Centurions. That game would lead to numerous questions and concerns nationally about the Bishop Sycamore program.

Today the Governor tweeted–

Like many Ohioans, I am concerned by the recent reports and questions raised about Bishop Sycamore. While this weekend’s football game brought concerns about the health and safety of players, it also raised red flags about the school’s operations.

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 31, 2021

I have asked @OHEducation to conduct an investigation into Bishop Sycamore to ensure compliance with Ohio law and to ensure the school is providing the educational opportunities Ohio students deserve.

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 31, 2021

SSN has sent emails twice to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) asking them about concerns with the Bishop Sycamore situation, but to this point no reply.

However; in a SSN Christians of Faith Academy Football Team – A Nightmare Situation For Ohio High School Football story in 2018 former Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass told SSN the following –

OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass replied to SSN’s request on situation with COF Academy:

We have had communication with member schools alerting them to the fact there is a strong possibility no Harbin points will be available by playing them. That may have changed, I have not been updated since that communication due to out of office commitments.

It’s one of the dilemmas often created by our regulations (or lack of them) that permit our schools to play “anyone. Not many states do permit that.

Bishop Sycamore is not a member of the OHSAA, but due to the regulations on playing non-member schools two Ohio schools are on the Centurions schedule…Akron Hoban beat them in week one and they are scheduled to play Lakewood St. Edward on September 24th. That puts the OHSAA in the mix to follow-up and do something about the situation.

Until the OHSAA changes that regulation…situations like this may happen again in the future. The OHSAA got a black eye from this…’guilt by association’.

This past winter in a girls basketball tournament OHSAA member schools played against a Las Vegas club team

• Club Team Playing OHSAA Teams In Ohio Tournament

(from the above SSN story) During the ‘Classic In The Country’ Girls Basketball Tournament the Vegas Bulldogs from Las Vegas competed.

How they describe the type of team they are –

A nonprofit organization established in 1999, we’re one of the longest running girls club basketball programs in the city of Las Vegas.

This past weekend the in high school football Minster played the Columbus Crusaders, not a school or online school. A Christian group that sponsors some high school sports.

Let’s see what happens next….

FALL OUT

Texas state powerhouse Duncanville canceled its match-up with Bishop Sycamore, according to the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday. The two teams were scheduled to play at Duncanville on Sept. 10.

St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) High School was scheduled to play Bishop Sycamore on Sept. 24 and is now looking for other teams to play on that date. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Maryland) Catholic High School canceled its game, which had been scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Maryland.

Johnson Central (Paintsville, Kentucky) High School — which was scheduled to play Bishop Sycamore on Friday — announced that it has cancelled its game and is seeking an alternate opponent.