BOBBY ARDOIN Editor/Consulting Writer
Opelousas High appears ready to continue its fight to preserve a state football championship.
The school is making plans to enter an arbitration phase that includes hiring a third-party administrator to decide whether there are any rules infractions committed by the football program during the 2023 season, says athletic director and head football coach Jimmy Zachery, Jr.
Opelousas High lost the first round of an appeals process last week as a Louisiana High School Athletic Association Executive Committee decided there is sufficient evidence involving a player-residence issue that places Zachery on probation for 2024 and causes OHS to forfeit 12 wins from last year.
The school has 15 days, Zachery says, to notify all parties whether Opelousas High is seeking arbitration as a means of restoring the victories, the Division II non-select title the program won in December and removing Zachery from probationary status.
Questioning The Process And Decision
Zachery said during a Friday night interview at Kayenne’s Restaurant in Opelousas, that he thinks LHSAA officials issued an unfair ruling after the school presented its evidence in closed session during the Wednesday hearing in Baton Rouge.
The LHSAA ordinarily does not issue public statements in connection with their rulings following a hearing. The organization notified St. Landry School District Attorney Courtney Joiner by text message Thursday night, informing him of the decision.
“With what we presented to them, there is no way that our appeal and our case should have been denied. I came away from the hearing with the idea (that the LHSAA) was looking at only one side,” Zachery said.
Zachery feels the Committee also didn’t consider all of the facts Opelousas High presented in connection with the appeal.
“I feel (the Committee) had their evidence already prepared when we walked in, but we didn’t really know what evidence they had until the start of the hearing. I think we have enough evidence that gives us a good case. That’s why we are considering arbitration,” said Zachery.
The alleged infraction committed by the school involves one player, a freshman that Zachery said lived in Opelousas during the football season in the correct attendance zone and who Zachery maintains should have been considered eligible.
Zachery added that LHSAA officials began investigating the residency matter shortly after Opelousas defeated Cecilia High 26-13 for the state title.
The Probation Matter
One result of the appeal denial, said Zachery, is what he considers the diminishment of his coaching reputation.
“Right now I am being smeared all over the place and through social media. For me that’s something that has been tough to swallow. I’ve coached for 16 years and to work as hard as I have and to have these things said about me is really difficult,” Zachery added.
About Arbitration
Zachery said hiring an arbiter to determine the outcome of the case is the best chance the school has for winning an appeal.
“I think it’s the fairest way, having someone that is going to listen to the facts and understand our position. Right now you have to consider the good that this championship did for the city and the community.
“I also have never had a violation as a coach or broken a rule. I mean why would I risk that reputation and all that I have to do anything wrong?” Zachery asked.
How About The Players?
“I’ve told our veterans and our seniors that they know what they did and what they accomplished on the field. I told them that you earned this (championship) and since they did that, we are going to fight this until the end.
“I know the superintendent would not be getting behind us and maybe going into arbitration over this if all of this wasn’t (wrong). This should be an open and shut case and it should not have gotten this far,” Zachery said.
Phots by Freddie Herpin
