[charlie22]

Deal this one. My sophomore year. Kid came from Ohio cause he was too old to play in that state. Only his senior year. Parents stayed in Ohio. He had an appartment. And no one else lived there. How do I know. I was in the damn thing several times. I have more aces too. Don't under estimate what I know. Grudge? You're right. Mr Short Man shouldn't have pissed me off.

Bo, and I have more aces that you do my friend. And you know it. So you don't want to piss ME off.

Your sophomore year would have been about 1965 or so correct? Since the kid was too old to play in Ohio, I assume he was at least 18 and was legally able to rent an apartment and live on his own. What were the KHSAA rules in 1966? Did they even prevent the situation you describe (assuming for discussion purposes your limited observation based facts are correct)?

If you want to continue your vendetta against "Mr. Short Man", at least talk relatively recent current history in your accusations. If you have facts about kids illegally playing at Highlands during Brian's tenure as the HC, let's hear them. Otherwise, you are throwing stones at Homer, Owen, Murph, Dale etc. I'm sure they'll be real happy to learn that's what you are doing. I'll give you some more ancient history since you evidently enjoy it. I played on the 75 state championship team coached by Roger. Not one kid on our state championship team was from outside the City. And no, none of them move to the City their senior year. Oh, and BFritz, we beat CovCath 55-6 that year without the benefit of non resident students playing for Highlands.

As for Mitchell, I know the facts well. Really well.

Mitchell's family moved to Ft. Thomas the summer before his senior year (rented an apartment). The KHSAA never disputed that. Evidence proved that the entire family moved. Evidence indicated that other than one or two trips back to their former home to pick up furniture, the family did not step foot in the former home. All physical evidence and oral testimony indicated that the Mitchells were living full time in their Ft. Thomas apartment. KHSAA offered zero evidence to support any theory that the apartment lease was a sham or the family was still living in Florence.

Nor did the KHSAA ever assert or offer any evidence that the transfer was for athletic reasons. Neither Lynn Ray nor the CovCath administration ever assert that the transfer was for athletic reasons. At least there is nothing in the record to support such.

THE reason the KHSAA ruled Mitchell ineligible was because the Mitchells didn't sell their former home in Florence, but rather leased it to their son and the son's friend. That was the sole factor relied upon by the KHSAA. The KHSAA felt that the change of residence wasn't bona fide or permanent. Interestingly enough the word permanent was not in the transfer rule at the time.....KHSAA added the word subsequent to the Mitchell case. There was not (and to the best of my knowledge, there still isn't) anything in the transfer rule stating that in order for there to be a bona fide change of residence, the former home must be sold. If such a factor is so important for the KHSAA to determine a kid ineligible when all the oral and written evidence indicates a bona fide change of residence, one would think the transfer rule would explicitly state that the former home must be sold.

interesting is the fact that the KHSAA, both prior and subsequent to the Mitchell case, has allowed kids to be eligible when parents didn't sell their former homes. Again, there is nothing in By Law 6 stating that in order for there to be a valid change of residence the former home must be sold. You know why? Because the KHSAA back then wanted to pick and choose when they could rule a kid ineligible.

So are the words "arbitrary" and "capricious" coming the anyone's mind?

Which is why the injunction was issued by the court.

The KHSAA ultimately overturned it's own sanctions against Highlands and the forfeited wins restored and the fine returned.

Lest someone want to question my knowledge of the Mitchell situation and the KHSAA, I attended the court hearings. While I wasn't the Mitchells' attorney, as an attorney and a Highlands fan, I wanted to hear the testimony. I read the court briefs (as public record they were accessible by everyone). AFTER Mitchell's senior year and AFTER the sanctions were imposed by the KHSAA, I was appointed by the Ky State Board of Education to the KHSAA Board of Control and I served on it for two terms. I've been off the board for about 4 years now. So I am well aware of the actions engaged in by the Board of Control and the former Commissioner back then. Perhaps my greatest contribution the improving the KHSAA was convincing the State Board of Education that the Board of Control had to be removed from the eligibility process. Things may not be perfect today, but they are one heck of a lot better for the kids then they were just 5 years ago.