Report: South Oak Cliff must forfeit basketball title

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Coach responds to South Oak Cliff grade-changing probe

02:01 AM CST on Thursday, November 22, 2007

By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA-TV

[email protected]

WFAA-TV

South Oak Cliff Golden Bears players hold up their 2005-2006 basketball championship trophy. DALLAS – James Mays II, South Oak Cliff's head basketball coach, said Dallas Independent School District officials have already cleared him of allegations that he allowed an ineligible athlete to play on his state championship team.

Coach Mays's statement was in response to a News 8 investigation into alleged cheating by the South Oak Cliff head coach and then school principal, Donald Moten.

The News 8 investigation raised questions about the eligibility of South Oak Cliff basketball player Kendrake Johnigan, who helped lead his team to two straight state championships.

School records, legally obtained by News 8, showed that just days before winning the 2006 state title, Johnigan was allowed to drop an English class in which he was failing.

Frank Hammond, a former school counselor, said Johnigan's English teacher was forced to change that grade by Moten.

Hammond said he raised concerns as soon as he found out.

"He got a 50 and that would have made him ineligible for participation on the state championship basketball team, but that fifty was changed to a 73," he said.

Hammond also said he was involved in a meeting to discuss Johnigan’s situation with Moten and Coach Mays. He said when he took his concerns to his counseling department supervisor, he quickly found himself suspended and later fired for allegedly altering another student's grades. Hammond said it was a clear cut case of retaliation.

Mays admitted he signed off on the failing student's transfer, but said the issue was investigated and he was cleared.

DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said no one has been cleared of anything involving the alleged grade changing at South Oak Cliff High School.

"I'm not satisfied that the matter has been fully vetted, so obviously, we are going to reinitiate the investigation and look at the matters that have been brought to our attention," Hinojosa said.

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SOC will be forced to forfeit the state title for violating the University Interscholastic League's "No Pass, No Play" rule.

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Report: South Oak Cliff must forfeit basketball title

DISD finds ineligible player used during 2006 run to state

04:33 AM CST on Wednesday, January 23, 2008

By DAMON L. SAYLES / The Dallas Morning News

[email protected]

The South Oak Cliff boys basketball team will have to forfeit its 2006 state championship, according to a WFAA-TV (Channel 8) report late Tuesday.

Two months ago, WFAA reported SOC player Kendrake Johnigan was academically ineligible during the team's run to the Class 4A state championship in the 2005-06 season. WFAA reported Tuesday that the Dallas ISD's office of professional responsibility has concluded its investigation and found the original story to be accurate.

Calls to DISD athletic director Jeff Johnson and DISD spokesperson Jon Dahlander were not returned.

South Oak Cliff coach James Mays II said he got word of the story Tuesday night following his team's district game against A. Maceo Smith.

Mays said he is declining to comment until he has met with representatives from the DISD administration.

SOC will be forced to forfeit the state title for violating the University Interscholastic League's "No Pass, No Play" rule.

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Dunbar will be 06 Champs!

[Guest DickVitale]

I know my man Bob Hughes Jr. would love that, but it doesn't quite work that way.... ;D..It will remain in the books, but they will just asterik* it. Sad situation, but rules are rules. :'(

[BLUEDOVE3]

If I was a Dunbar player, I still would not be happy because SOC beat them in the game. Keep the darn title.

[bullets13]

This sucks for both teams... Dunbar got cheated, but it's too late to do anything about it now.  you can't replay them, and you don't want to get the trophy for a game you lost.  The cheating school ought to be able to keep the title, but be ineligible for playoffs for a couple of years.  what's an asterik going to do? 

[24 over par]

the cheating team should not keep the title that would be stupid cheat but keep the title the championship trophy must be taken and a couple of years of no playoffs to the school and the coach just in case he leaves he should carry his punishment with him

[Guest DickVitale]

It has happened two other times recently. Once in 1986 when Houston Wheatley had to forfeit their 5A region III title for an ineligible player, and also Houston Waltrip had to forfeit their 1998 4A state championship for playing Antonio Falu from Puerto Rico, who at the time was older than the coach! (kidding)  Both trophies are at HISD headquarters, (why, I don't know) and the champioship banner for Waltrip was removed from Delmar stadium....That's about it....crazy, huh?