A high school in Florida has announced the cancellation of its football season after 21 players exited the program following the firing of the team's former head coach.
According to Yahoo Sports, Booker High School in Sarasota announced the move Wednesday in a social media post.
"As we prepare for the 2026 football season, Booker High School has made the decision to field a junior varsity football team rather than a varsity team this year," a statement read from Booker principal Jamal Crook. "This decision was made after careful consideration of the current needs of our student-athletes and the long-term health of the football program."
The school fired head coach Carlos Woods last month, which results in 21 players leaving the program.
Woods' dismissal was the result of an FHSAA investigation that found the former coach was allowing eighth graders to partake in practices during the spring football season, leading to his suspension for the kickoff classic. The school was also fined $500 and placed on probation until May 25, 2027, because of those actions.
Booker's cancellation of their 2026 season is the second in Florida in 24 hours, as six-time FHSAA champion Jefferson County also announced they'd be scrapping their varsity and junior varsity teams this season due to low participation.
