The Florida High School Athletic Association received an allegation Wednesday against Miami Northwestern Senior High School's football program, stemming from a social media post in which coach Teddy Bridgewater outlined his personal expenses while seeking donor support.
As reported by The Palm Beach Post, Bridgewater, a former NFL quarterback who ended his 10-year career in 2023, stated in a lengthy July 7 Facebook post that he spent considerable personal money on the team in 2024. He specifically noted, "each week I sept [sic] around $700 on uber fees."
According to Jon Santucci of the Post, the Uber rides immediately drew attention because it was one of the many violations The First Academy in Orlando was found guilty of in November. That situation ended with the Academy being fined $36,000, forfeiting eight wins, and receiving a two-year postseason ban.
Northwestern is coming off a 12-2 season in which it won the Class 3A state championship. The Bulls outscored opponents 222-12 in five postseason games, and Bridgewater was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year.
Northwestern is expected to be one of the premier teams in the state – if not the country – this fall, Santucci reported.
Bridgewater also said he spent $14,000 for a four-night preseason training camp, $9,500 for pride sets (Northwestern-branded clothing), $1,300 a week for recovery trucks after games, and $2,200 a week for pregame meals, Santucci reported.
As reported by Andrea Torres of WPLG in Miami, Bridgewater’s public fundraising announcement aimed to raise $30,000 for the Be The Bridge Foundation, benefitting the student-athletes at his high school alma mater.
"The FHSAA has rules related to coaches providing free transportation to students or buying anything for students," Torres reported. "It’s unclear if and how the rules apply to the Be The Bridge Foundation."
“The job will get done one way or another, but to those of you considering donating, I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,” the coach wrote in his post.
As of Thursday, an FHSAA spokesperson could only confirm that the association had received the allegations, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Santucci of the Post reported that earlier in the 2024 season, five players from The First Academy were initially suspended for a calendar year for receiving impermissible benefits, including four players receiving a free lunch at school and one player receiving a free Uber ride. The length of the suspension was later overturned, and the players sat out one game.
The FHSAA received an allegation of Northwestern using an ineligible player in November. After almost two weeks of looking into the matter, the FHSAA took no action against the program, Santucci reported.
