Contact: Samuel Radford – 716-578-3571
Buffalo, NY – A coalition comprising the Urban Think Tank of Buffalo, Bennett High School parents, We The Parents, the District Parent Coordinating Council (DPCC), local clergy, school board members, football coaches, and community groups will convene a press conference on Thursday, December 7. The focus of this gathering is to urge the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), the New York State Education Department (NYSED), and the Board of Regents to address ongoing and historical disparities in high school sports officiating.
When: December 7, 2023, at 11:15 AM
Where: Mount Olive Baptist Church, 701 E. Delavan Ave, Buffalo, NY
Speakers:
– Bishop Michael Badger, Urban Think Tank of Buffalo
– Sharon Cotton, Ferry District Representative, Buffalo Board of Education
– Ed Spiedel, President, District Parent Coordinating Council
– Mr. Lounges, Parent, Bennett High School Football Team
– Mr. Gonzales, Parent, Bennett High School Football Team
– Samuel Radford, We The Parents
The catalyst for this conference is a controversial episode that occurred during the Bennett High School championship football game on November 25th. With 1:57 left in the first half, a sequence of disputed events unfolded, starting with a penalty against Bennett. This led to an unauthorized huddle by the opposing team, CBA Syracuse, followed by Bennett’s staff instructing their players to do the same, resulting in a further penalty against Bennett.
Michael House, Buffalo Schools Athletic Director, in compliance with NYSPHSAA rules, promptly lodged a formal protest against the penalty. The situation then escalated, causing a significant delay in the game, with the involvement of law enforcement, referees, and school administrators. Concerns about perceived biased treatment against the Bennett team were raised by AD House and Coach McDuffie.
In response to these events, our coalition demands:
– A swift, transparent review of the contested play, along with a decisive ruling from NYSPHSAA Director Robert Zayas on the protest filed by Bennett’s Coach and Athletic Director.
– A comprehensive review and investigation into the diversity practices in referee selection for state championship games, highlighting the concern over the lack of diversity among the six referees, all white males, appointed by Director Zayas for this game.
– A pledge from NYSPHSAA, NYSED, and the NY Board of Regents to recognize, confront, and amend the issues highlighted by this incident, and to implement thorough policies that ensure fairness and equity for all student-athletes across New York State.
