‘We will play the game anytime, anywhere’: Glenville willing to sit 10 players in question

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The battle over the Glenville football team’s eligibility in the high school playoffs continues to be battled on multiple levels in court.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has said in multiple court filings a number of players are ineligible, disqualifying Glenville from the playoffs because the school and the district have, “not successfully proven that many of those student-athletes should have been participating at Glenville.”

This morning attorney’s representing two Glenville football players told 19 News that Glenville is willing to sit the 10 players still in question and, “We will play the game anytime, anywhere” said James Hardiman.

Hardiman is referring to rescheduling the game that was supposed to be played last Saturday against University School as ordered by a judge.

University School did not show up Saturday, deciding to wait for the courts to make decisions on OSHAA’s court filings.

The problem is, according to Glenville attorneys, OSHAA has not offered sitting the 10 players as a solution, only arguing in court the whole team should be deemed ineligible based on insufficient information on where students who have played for Glenville actually live.

From OSHAA’s stand point, Glenville as a team is ineligible for any playoff game since players have already participated that were not verified.

“Since the middle of last week, Glenville and Cleveland Metro has submitted conflicting residential documentation of numerous student-athletes on the Glenville football team,” according a news release from OSHAA sent out Tuesday.

Wrapped up in all of this is the Salem Quakers.

They expected to line up this Friday to play the winner of Glenville and University School.

“We’re just patiently waiting to hear whatever OSHAA decides to do at this point,” said Salem Athletic Director Matt Freeman this morning.