Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011: Green resigns in last-ditch bid to save season

   Leading off today: Embattled Skaneateles varsity football coach Tim Green resigned Tuesday afternoon in the aftermath of his team being banished from the Section 3 semifinals, The Post-Standard reported.

   Green submitted his resignation to the school district hours after a State Supreme Court justice in Syracuse denied Skaneateles' bid to continue playing following a season-ending penalty imposed by the Section 3 Athletic Council on Friday.

   It's not clear if Green quit (the resignation can't take effect until the next school board meeting) in a desperate bid to reinstate his team's appearance in the Section 3 Class C final, but it appears the school district might not be ready to give up its effort to have the football team keep playing.

   "It is my hope that Section III will regard my resignation as a resolution of this entire matter," Green's letter of resignation said, the paper reported, "and will allow the 40 players who, indisputably, had no role in this matter whatsoever and who have unquestionably earned their right to be on the playing field this Saturday to participate in this weekend's game."

   After the district obtained a temporary reprieve in court in Friday, the Lakers defeated Utica Notre Dame Saturday in the semifinals. The bid to continue their season ended -- for the moment, anyway -- Tuesday in a Syracuse courtroom when Justice Brian DeJoseph ruled it was unlikely Skaneateles could win a full-fledged challenge to the Section 3 penalty and denied a request for a preliminary injunction. DeJoseph made a point of indicating that he was not swayed by arguments that innocent players were being punished, noting that other players whose schools were in compliance with Section 3 rules could be victimized.

   DeJoseph said delaying the Section 3 penalty to let the team finish its season would render the sanctions meaningless.

   Unless Skaneateles wins an appeal to either Section 3 or in State Appellate Court, Notre Dame will play Herkimer on Saturday at the Carrier Dome for the right to advance to the NYSPHSAA playoffs. There was an indication late Tuesday afternoon that the school district would attempt an appeal in court on Thursday; Superintendent Philip D’Angelo said he would recommend appealing, the paper reported.

   Tuesday's developments were a rare setback for Green, who's had a record of success and accomplishments both in and out of football, beginning with his career as a scholastic sports standout, a Syracuse University All-

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American and a pro player.

   Green, a Rhodes Scholarship finalist has written more than a dozen books, worked as a TV analyst and earned his law degree. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and named a 2011 winner of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, given annually to six former NCAA student-athletes for distinguished achievement on the 25th anniversary of their graduation.

   He was in his second season as coach of Skaneateles before Section 3 pulled the plug after the school district self-reported recruiting violations, Neither Green nor any other coaches were named in the five-page report (PDF link) Skaneateles submitted after a five-month investigation by its lawyers.

   The Skaneateles school board hired Green over lacrosse coach Ron Doctor (a former football coach) by a 4-3 vote after the 2009 team went 1-7. Green coached the Lakers to a 3-5 record a year ago. Quarterbacked by the coach's son this fall, Skaneateles was 9-0 and ranked third in the state before the court setback.

[ EARLIER STORY FROM COURT RULING ]