WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Douglas Byrd To Forfeit Five Football Wins

By Dane Huffman

Nov 1, 2007

Fayetteville, N.C. — Douglas Byrd High School will have to forfeit its five football victories – and will not make the playoffs – for using an ineligible player, according to Fred McDaniel, the Cumberland County director of student activities.

The move is an enormous blow for Byrd, located in an area that takes an intense interest in high school football.

The Eagles are 5-5 overall this season and 3-3 in the Mid-Southeastern 4-A Conference.

McDaniel said he was told Byrd might be using an ineligible player on Oct. 20, while he was attending the N.C. State at East Carolina football game.

“When I came back [to the office] on Monday, I had several people call me from the surrounding area, saying I needed to look into it,” McDaniel said. “We did find there was an ineligible player.”

McDaniel withheld specifics, but The Fayetteville Observer has reported the player came to Byrd from Harrells Christian Academy. McDaniel said the player did not participate in Byrd’s most recent game.

Byrd plays at home Friday against Fayetteville Westover in the final game of the regular season.

McDaniel said the N.C. High School Athletic Association has been notified.

He said this is only the second time in his nine years on the job that he can remember a situation of this magnitude, where a school had to forfeit games.

“Any time that you have a situation like this, for whatever reason, you feel bad for the kid involved, No. 1, and the student-athletes on that team,” McDaniel said. “It’s tough – it’s difficult. But you have to maintain your integrity and tell the truth and come forward if you’ve got a problem.”