[Sports dad]

Aaron Snyder The Independent


WESTWOOD — While Fairview football players are admittedly shocked and confused, their mission is still to make Eagle football as relevant in 2013 as it was in 2012.

Logan Thovson, a junior, was one of a handful of current players who attended Monday’s school board meeting in the jam-packed high school library.

Thovson and fellow junior Isaiah King both talked about how this latest deal of adversity has actually allowed the team to grow closer as a group.

“It’s brought our team together, kinda, and now we’re playing with a chip on our shoulder,” said King, who could return from a broken collarbone during the playoffs.

Addressing the situation regarding a Kentucky High School Athletic Association investigation into the football program was not part of the board’s agenda on Monday. The KHSAA is looking into an issue regarding the eligibility of a student-athlete and is expected to penalize the program or agree to a self-imposed penalty soon.

Superintendent Bill Musick did, however, make a few brief comments about football in the first few moments of the 16-minute meeting.

He said since the KHSAA hadn’t yet ruled on its investigation into the school’s football program as of Monday afternoon, he was optimistic about the Eagles avoiding a postseason ban.

“I was hoping they would make a ruling today (Monday),” Musick said. “I think they’re going to allow our children to play in the playoffs.”

Musick said he could not discuss the matter any further until the KHSAA makes a ruling on the subject.

Over the past week, both Fairview’s football coach Nathan McPeek and principal/athletic director Garry McPeek have submitted their resignations. Nathan remains the head coach through the end of the season. Garry is no longer an assistant coach, either. Both still have teaching positions.

Jeff Fletcher is the acting athletic director, according to Musick. Fletcher is a former coach at Greenup County. He has been Fairview’s assistant athletic director for two years.

Nathan McPeek could not comment about his resignation or the specifics of the investigation, but he, like Musick, is staying hopeful about a potential postseason run. The Eagles (8-1) are slated to host Allen Central on Nov. 8. This Friday, they’ll be at James Gamble Montessori, a school in Cincinnati, to end the regular season.

“Hopefully we get good news that we get to play in the playoffs,” McPeek said. “I hope we can finish with something special.”

Thovson and King, like many in the Westwood community, are still searching for answers as to why the coaches resigned and what exactly led to their resignations.

All of that could surface when the KHSAA comes up with its conclusion.

“I think they should let us play in the playoffs,” King said. “The team didn’t do anything (wrong). I think if they do, we’ll make a run.”

McPeek met with players on Friday morning to inform them of his resignation.

“It was sad and touching, just because I love my coach,” King said. “I know how much he does for my team.”

“He’s been my coach for three years, and now going into my senior year, suddenly he’s not,” said Thovson, adding that he came to the board meeting because “I wanted to support him. He’s my coach regardless of what anyone says.”