The head football coach and athletic director at Gainesville (Texas) High School has been suspended for the season for practice rules violations.
As reported by CBS affiliate KXII in Sherman, the University Interscholastic League's State Executive Committee met Thursday and handed Neil Searcy a season-long suspension from football with three-year’s probation, a public reprimand and additional training.
The measures stemmed from six, one-hour-long morning practices in May at which players wore helmets, pads and shorts. Searcy stated it was a voluntary practice for the athletes during the meeting with the committee, and he said that he made a mistake, KXII reported.
No replacement for Searcy had been named as of KXII's report Thursday afternoon.
UIL rules state that players are not allowed to wear contact equipment, such as helmets and pads, at that time of year.
In addition to Searcy's sanctions, the football team was given a four-practice suspension during its preseason workouts and lost a scrimmage.
