Cheat play "joking way to end their season"

John Hart, sports director of WJBF-TV (ABC) and WFXG-TV (FOX) in Augusta, Georgia, reported that he talked to a Lakeside player about the infamous "cheat" play they tried to pull against Effingham County on November 4 and the player had an interesting explanation for the play, but he didn't say what that explanation was. I emailed Mr. Hart and asked him to explain what the player said. He wrote back and said: "The player basically said that they had run the play as a prank several times during intra-squad scrimmages and that when it was called they all just sort of thought it was a fun, joking way to end their season (it was their final play of the year). The player view seems to be that this was just a joke gone horribly wrong. And the coach admits that it was horrible judgement and definitely not the right time or place."
Hmmm.

Football team cheats, caught on video

Last Friday, November 2, 2007, our high school, Effingham County of Springfield, Georgia, defeated Lakeside High School of Evans, Georgia by a score of 7-0. On the last play of the game, Lakeside attempted a "Hail Mary" pass, but the game film shows that they also tried to cheat. They had a wide receiver run to the sidelines, and then way down the field they had a player who had been standing on the sidelines run onto the field to try to catch the ball.Effingham County intercepted the ball anyway, and the game was over. This video was posted on You Tube, and the Atlanta and Savannah newspapers wrote stories about it.
Coach Jody Grooms of Lakeside has apologized off camera to a TV station. The principal says that Coach Grooms will be disciplined, but not fired, since it was an "isolated incident." It may be an isolated incident, but it wasn't spontaneous; the coach had to plan a play like that. Grooms was teaching his students, but it was not a good lesson he was teaching. Being caught on video illustrates what the Bible says, that "your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23)
You can watch the video yourself by clicking here.

MORE STORIES:
Augusta newspaper reports that Coach Grooms sent letters of apology to Effingham County and to his own principal.

Editorial by Augusta newspaper says, "Dear Effingham County, we apologize and promise not to cheat again, for at least another 20 years."

Augusta TV station talks to Lakeside coach who apologizes off camera.

Augusta newspaper says coach will be disciplined but not fired.

Augusta TV station says coach will be fined and put on "severe warning status."

UPDATE NOVEMBER 13: Lakeside coach steps down as athletic director, but remains football coach for now.