Mary G. Montgomery quarterback Conner Tillman delivers a pass during last week’s season opener against Saraland. MGM has decided to appeal its probation and playoff ban to the AHSAA on Aug. 31. (Scott Donaldson/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
Mary G. Montgomery will undertake a final appeal to the Alabama High School Athletic Association to overturn its playoff ban this year.
The AHSAA has scheduled a special meeting of its Central Board on Aug. 31, according to Communications Director Scott Griffin. Mobile County Public School System Communications Director Rena Philips confirmed MGM would appeal its sanctions.
“We are not asking the AHSAA to overlook our violation or to minimize our responsibility,” MGM Principal David Diaz said in a statement released by Philips. “We are respectfully asking the Central Board to consider the specific circumstances of our situation and the significant corrective measures we have implemented to ensure future compliance.”
In her statement, Philips added: “MGM remains committed to accountability, compliance and the integrity of high school athletics. School officials look forward to presenting their appeal this week on behalf of the student-athletes who have continued to work hard and have remained focused on their goals for the season.”
The AHSAA imposed a one-year restrictive probation and one-year playoff ban on Mary Montgomery in May after the association ruled the Vikings’ football program had committed recruiting violations. Coach Zach Golson lost his job as a result.
The Central Board will hear Diaz’s presentation in a closed executive session but vote in public.
Diaz announced last week his school would not exercise its right to a final appeal, perhaps incurring considerable backlash in Semmes given the fact that Pell City won its appeal last week on identical violations.
“I’m happy to hear they’re appealing it,” Semmes Mayor Brandon Van Hook said Monday. “I was baffled they hadn’t already appealed it. At the end of the day, it’s about the kids and their dedication. Hopefully, it will help ease their minds.”
Diaz said last week MGM would accept its punishment.
“I’m glad we’re putting this behind us and moving forward,” Diaz said. “For the sanctions to stay in place is very disappointing but we are members of the AHSAA and we are required to follow the bylaws whether we agree with them or not. It’s unfortunate in this case we lost our head coach but we’re going to put all this behind us and keep moving forward and put all of the attention on all the hard work our kids have been displaying all summer long.”
The Central Board voted 9-3 to overturn Pell City’s playoff ban and its restrictive probation, although coach Jake Ganus remained suspended for a year. The Central Board also extended the school’s regular probation for a year.
In May, the AHSAA suspended Golson for a year, penalized MGM with a one-year restrictive probation and playoff ban and declared about 20 players dating back to 2023 permanently ineligible for athletics at the school, according to Golson. But the Mobile County Public School System had Golson escorted off campus two weeks before the AHSAA’s ruling.
Golson said in a statement approved by his AEA attorney that Baker High School turned in MGM because two Causey Middle School eight graders zoned for Baker had chosen to enroll at MGM and attended an annual freshman welcoming ceremony there. Golson said any contact with those players was unintentional and that they came to the ceremony on their own.
