Midwood High School Football Team Faces Forfeits Due to Academic Issues
It seems the Midwood High School varsity football team is struggling both on the field and academically. Known for its rich history of success, including several championships and notable NFL alumni, the team recently had to forfeit a couple of games this season because some players were sidelined due to poor academic performance.
Public School Athletic League records indicate that at least 18 players were ineligible when the team faced James Madison High School and John Adams High School on October 25 and November 1, respectively. This has resulted in two retroactively forfeited games.
A representative from the New York City Department of Education emphasized that, “Every student-athlete in New York City’s public schools is first and foremost a student.” They pointed out that many on the football team didn’t meet the eligibility requirements for extracurricular activities.
Currently, more than a dozen seniors and juniors are listed as inactive, and at least six underclassmen, including one freshman, were added to the roster following the forfeits. This has raised some eyebrows, especially since the team experienced a significant transition. The analysis of PSAL records revealed that one underclassman was transferred to a national team after the forfeitures.
As a result of these forfeits—both games that Midwood had actually won—the team’s record took a serious hit, leaving them with a 2-6 after a tough loss against Sheepshead Bay. This marks a disappointing time for the school, known for producing alumni like former Denver Broncos player Tony Cololito and former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Sean Smith, especially considering they hadn’t faced early dismissals in the previous three seasons.
The head coach, Edward Giordano, and assistant coach Jonathan Skelly didn’t immediately respond to inquiries regarding the situation.
In addition, a Department of Education official reiterated the importance of education over athletics, stating that the PSAL eligibility requirements are in place to maintain consistent academic standards for all student-athletes. They mentioned efforts to provide additional support to schools to address these challenges.
Inelegibility can occur for various reasons, such as a GPA below 65 or attendance issues, among others. The public school league’s regulations outline these criteria in detail.
Midwood High School has a storied history, winning the Public School Athletic League Division B championship in 1979 and 1980. The team boasts five Brooklyn regional championships and four city championships overall.
This season, the Hornets find themselves ranked among the lowest in the 3A Conference, trailing behind both Benjamin N. Cardozo High School and Lehman Campus, who currently share the same unfortunate record of 0-8.
