This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Executive Committee for the Utah High School Activities Association, composed of three principals, deliberated for 30 minutes on Thursday before ruling Orem High School "not guilty" on accusations that Orem High allowed an ineligible football player to participate in multiple varsity contests this year.
Principal Mike Browning, athletic director Robert Steele and first-year coach Jeremy Hill provided evidence that Orem followed the proper procedures and that the player, whose name was withheld for privacy purposes, was not forthcoming in filling out paperwork.
"Had we known about this at the start of the school year, we would have dealt with it," Browning said during the hearing at UHSAA headquarters in Midvale. "This one got through because the paperwork looked appropriate."
The player in question, who plays only on the varsity kick return unit, participated as a ninth-grader for the Timpanogos sophomore football program last season while enrolled at Oak Canyon Junior High. After breaking his collarbone in a game with the Timberwolves, the player did not try out for either program in the offseason, but enrolled at Orem and eventually joined the football team.
However, on "Register My Athlete," which is required by the UHSAA, the player marked "no" to the question: "If while a 9th grader attending a Junior High/Middle School — did you try out for AND make a high school team other than the high school you are currently trying out for?"
Timpanogos now has a freshman program. Last year, because of low participation numbers, freshmen were bumped up to play for the sophomore program, which established the player's eligibility. Browning said: "The only dispute is he believed he was playing as a ninth-grade student."
Both parties took issue with "Register My Athlete" considering he filled out paperwork and registered by name and grade at Timpanogos, but Orem was not alerted to the issue when he subsequent registered for the Tigers.
"Why doesn't it say, 'Wait a minute. You already filled out paperwork.' There was no signal," Browning said. "... He did fill out transfer paperwork, but did not fill out the proper paperwork for 'Register My Athlete.' That became problematic."
Timpanogos principal Joe Jensen did say, however, that "it's something coaches should be aware of. If a player is coming [out of area], you should be super vigilant. The process is in place to create an equal playing field."
Orem, which is tied for fifth place in Region 7, will not have to forfeit any of the five league games the player participated in. Timpanogos added it would have not fought the transfer of the student, and if he would have filed the proper paperwork, he would have been eligible.
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