Lipscomb Academy (Nashville), winners of back-to-back state football titles in Tennessee, will close out its season Friday after the state's athletic association handed down a two-year postseason ban, according to media reports.
The 4-5 Mustangs began the season ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 and have had high-profile coaches in Trent Dilfer and first-year coach Kevin Mawae this season. Dilfer left after last year's championship season to become head coach at UAB paving the way for Mawae, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, to take over the program.
The program has won the past two titles in Tennessee's largest private school division but ends the season Friday after its game vs. McCallie.
Under first-year coach Kevin Mawae, Lipscomb Academy was hit with a postseason ban Friday for "recruiting violations" as well as playing ineligible players, according to media reports. (Photo: Gary Fain)
The Tennessean
reported letters were sent to football families with news of the punishment for "what the TSSAA deems a recruiting violation."
"We are extremely disappointed to be in this situation," the Lipscomb letter read. "There are many emotions tied to this consequence as the implications are multi-faceted. Bear with us as we work through the appeals process. The outcome will be shared with you on Monday."
The paper reported the school plans to appeal.
The postseason ban stems from two findings: The first in which two players ruled ineligible played in one game against Briarcrest and second involving a recruiting violation "based on a brief text conversation between a football assistant and a former parent."
Friday's ruling comes eight months after the TSSAA put all Lipscomb athletic programs on probation through the 2023-24 school year following a social media post touting the school's Endeavor program. This latest violation extended the probation for next school year. The paper reported all other sports are postseason eligible minus football.
