BREAKING NEWS: Peeler Reinstated
ASHBURN, VA - The appeal from Broad Run High School with regard to T.J Peeler's ejection from last Friday's game against Potomac Falls has been upheld. Northern Virginia Officials Assocation Commissioner Dennis Hall ruled that the first penalty called on Peeler was not excessive, and overturned what would have been a one game suspension for the star tailback for the Spartans.
Hall went on to say that the first two penalities that were called on Broad Run for excessive celebration were not that excessive, and shouldn't have been called.
Peeler, who leads the area in rushing in Group AA, will now be able to play in the 2nd round of the Group AA Division 4 playoffs. Broad Run will have a bye week, and then receive a 1st round bye as the Region's #1 seed. They will begin their quest for their second straight state championship two weeks from Friday night.
COACH HAYES' ANALYSIS:
Hall and his team should be commended. The video clearly showed his ruling to be right, and it is refreshing to see Hall stand up and overturn what would have been a devasting loss for Broad Run in the most important time of the year. Peeler did go a little too far in his second penalty, but the first one called on him was not just. It's always easy to second guess the officiating, but the one thing that saved the day here was the video evidence. Without being able to watch it, I'm not sure Hall would have had enough evidence to overturn it.
Obviously Peeler's ejection stole the headlines, but my bigger problem with the whole debacle centered around the lack of communication with the Broad Run coaching staff from the officiating crew. If a player is capable of being ejected for two unsportmanlike calls, then the officiating crew must be required to notify the head coach of that team when a player is called for one of these penalties.
Burnett was not told of Peeler's 1st penalty until after the 2nd one had occurred, and he was already ejected. In addition, threatening to toss out 5 to 7 players and an assistant coach for celebrating on the sideline is above and beyond the call of the game. I can see if they were taunting across the field, but celebrating with each other?
Broad Run has won 30 straight regular season games because they play with passion, and excitement. If you take that away with a yellow hanky, then what fun is it to play this game? Kids should be allowed to celebrate together, chest bump, high five, and coaches should be able to as well.
After all, aren't we hear to see them all have fun? To close this out, it was good to see this decision overturned, and despite some of the criticisms that they receive, the top officials got it right in this case and a made a tough call in doing so. That should be applauded.
Maybe someone will give them a chest bump when they see them next on the field....just kidding!
