Gainesville City Schools has been granted an injunction by a Hall County judge against the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) that will lift suspensions that had been levied against 34 high school football players after an altercation in a state playoff game last week.
“Overjoyed with excited for our kids,” Gainesville High School Athletic Director Adam Lindsey told AccessWDUN. “At the end of the day, this was about our kids. We felt like our kids were put in a very difficult situation, we were proud of how they handled it. GHSA didn’t see it that way.”
Gainesville defeated Brunswick 42-0 in the second-round playoff game last Friday, with an altercation breaking out between the two teams late in the third quarter. The game was ultimately called, and the GHSA later ruled the following Monday that 39 players from Gainesville’s team would be suspended from their upcoming Class 5A state quarterfinal matchup at Langston Hughes on Friday, Nov. 28.
Gainesville appealed that decision to the GHSA’s Executive Committee on Tuesday, with the committee voting to uphold 35 of the 39 suspensions. Gainesville responded by filing a request for an injunction against the GHSA in Hall County Superior Court Wednesday morning, with a hearing being held that afternoon.
“We appreciate the courts today taking the time to hear this in such a quick manner,” Gainesville City Schools Superintendent Jeremy Williams told AccessWDUN. “We just wanted a fair opportunity … we’re excited that we’ll be a mostly full team come Friday against Langston Hughes.”
Williams added GHSA was also in a tough spot.
“In one respect, we as school administrators we’re used to reviewing video evidence and determining who went to a fight to fight, who went to a fight to help,” Williams said. “They don’t have that capability … but it is something that has to be addressed, because self-defense is a reality.”
Judge Clint Bearden ruled in favor of Gainesville, meaning most of the suspended players will be allowed to compete this coming Friday.
AccessWDUN reached out to the GHSA for a comment on Wednesday afternoon. They declined to comment.
AccessWDUN’s William Daughtry contributed to this story
The post Gainesville wins injunction against GHSA, suspensions lifted appeared first on AccessWdun.
