MIRAMAR, Fla. – Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie spoke Tuesday about the controversial decision to end the football season early at Miramar High School.
Last week, football players and their parents protested the move at school board headquarters. But their chants went unanswered, and the football team is still seething over the abrupt end to its season.
District officials withdrew the team from the playoffs last week amid allegations by former coach Matthew Strout, who claimed he paid some players to make big hits on the field and to others to transfer to the school.
"Our job at this point is ensure that there's a comprehensive and thorough investigation done," Runcie said.
Runcie said the decision to hand down the punishment before confirming the crime was a prudent one, explaining the school and district have an obligation to report credible allegations to the Department of Education.
District officials said more than 20 students have been implicated in wrongdoing, and according to Runcie, the district's decision to penalize the team now was more about damage control than punishment.
"When districts don't take the action they should, the state may come in and the consequences can be even more severe than where we are at this point," Runcie said.
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