NationalHSFootball.com
In a twist straight out of A Few Good Men, Greg Toal — the iconic coach of Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) — admitted to ordering the high school football version of a Code Red.
“Every kid that comes here is recruited,” Toal told The Record. “Do we recruit eighth-graders? We sure do, same for Bergen Catholic, same for St. Joe’s.”
A tense handshake was exchanged by Toal and Partridge. Read more on NorthJersey.com.
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association executive director Steven Timko declined a request for an interview by NationalHSFootball.com but association attorney Steve Goodell told NorthJersey.com that the comments did not go unnoticed.
“What was said and reported in the newspapers has piqued our interest,” he said. “We’ve asked Don Bosco to explain the coach’s statements.”
In Article V, Section 4, Subsection D of the NJSIAA constitution, recruiting is defined as follows:
Athletic recruitment is defined as any effort to proselytize, pressure, urge or entice a student to enroll in or transfer to a school for athletic purposes. It is a violation for a member school to engage in athletic recruitment or for a student-athlete to enroll in or transfer to a school as a result of athletic recruitment. Athletic recruitment includes, but is not limited to:
a. Using mail, letters, brochures, or news media to compare high schools and to point out the athletic assets of the sender;
b. Engaging in proselytizing interviews, initiated by school personnel or associates;
c. Offering athletic scholarships, free tuition or other monetary assistance, either from the school directly or indirectly through some affiliated body or individual, to induce a student to attend the school for athletic reasons.
The debate moved from a private ire that Toal had for Paramus Catholic (Paramus, NJ) head coach Chris Partridge to public knowledge when Toal accused Partridge of recruiting players last week in advance of a game between the two.
“I don’t think we could be in the same room together,” Toal told the USAToday. “You talk about two different worlds. He stole a bunch of my players and has a history of recruiting.”
From the outside looking in it appears to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black but Toal’s accusations were of targeting players already enrolled in high school where as his admission was recruiting players still in the eighth-grade.
The NJSIAA may be preparing to call a sin a sin.
“The rules are what they say,” Goodell said. “People are not supposed to recruit. I don’t want to say anything beyond what the rules say right now.”
Interpretation of the state association rules as well as how Don Bosco defines — or admits — to its level of ‘recruiting’ could be what tips the scales of justice.
Prior to entering high school, students are permitted to attend open houses, read mailings, and make contact with non-public schools before choosing a private or its district-bound public school.
NJSIAA rules dictate that schools are not permitted to target student-athletes with the promise of playing time, exposure, or tuition assistance.
Former Don Bosco — and then Paramus Catholic — athlete Jabrill Peppers weighed into the debate in a text message to Darren Cooper (read all of Cooper’s work).
“You guys want the real story, here it is,” Peppers texted. “Eighth-grade year, when I was playing Pop Warner, coach Toal and his staff back then would call me and my mom repeatedly, show up at my Pop Warner games, take my Mom out to dinner and other things that I will not mention.”
If found to have violated recruiting bylaws the Don Bosco football program could be placed on probation for as long as two years, which would include a postseason ban.
If the probe into the school finds there to be a history of such recruiting it could force the team to forfeit past games or championships as well as suspend coaches that have been involved in the incidents.
Toal was not made available for comment to NationalHSFootball.com but Athletic Director Brian McAleer released a statement in support of Toal:
“For almost 100 years, DBP has a tradition of excellence and integrity concerning the education of young men. Greg Toal’s character is unquestionable, and his contribution to the lives of thousands of young men, not only at Don Bosco Prep but his prior endeavors, speaks for itself,” it read. “Greg prides himself on surrounding himself with not only excellent coaches, but people of high character. It’s disappointing to hear these untrue allegations by a former student who while at DB distinguished himself in the classroom and on the playing field.”
The NJSIAA is expecting a clarification from Don Bosco this week on Toal’s comments and may begin a deeper investigation depending on that report.
Don Bosco is currently ranked No. 8 in the HSFB100.
Paramus Catholic is No. 4 in the national rankings.
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