September 15, 2009
Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Executive Director Marty Hickman announced on Tuesday, September 15 that the North Chicago football program has been reinstated from suspension at all levels and will be allowed to participate in competition when week four of the season unfolds this weekend. The football program will remain on probation through the end of the 2010 football season.
All levels of the school's football program were suspended on September 10 following a fight that occurred during the varsity squad's contest against Simeon High School on September 4.
IHSA Assistant Executive Director and football administrator Dave Gannaway met with the North Chicago administration and coaches at the school on Monday to discuss the incident and a plan of action moving forward.
"After the meeting with the North Chicago administration and coaches, we felt confident in letting their football teams return to competition this weekend," said Hickman. "North Chicago outlined a detailed plan of action to prevent an incident like this from happening again. They took responsibility for the actions of their team, fans and school and should be commended for the way they handled a bad incident."
North Chicago forfeited the contest against Simeon after the game was called by officials with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter. The team also forfeited its scheduled varsity contest against Vernon Hills as a result of the suspension. Seven North Chicago players will continue to serve suspensions of varying lengths for their roles in the incident. Eight Simeon players were also suspended as a result of the altercation. North Chicago was allowed to practice during the suspension.
"As I said when this suspension was first handed down, I hoped that everyone involved in this incident would take advantage of this teachable moment," added Hickman. "I believe that has already begun to occur with the way the school handled this situation. They did not try to make any excuses or pass the blame. The players understand the severity of their actions and the poor judgment they used. It is time for them to return to the field so they can begin to rebuild their program's reputation of practicing good sportsmanship and begin putting this incident behind them."
Gannaway commented on North Chicago's status as a host in the future, "The IHSA places a great deal of responsibility on our host schools in all sports and activities. I left North Chicago on Monday with no reservations about the school hosting future football games or any other IHSA events."