Hornets Players Speak Out About Missing the Playoffs

Originally Published: Nov 6, 2009 4:29 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – After beating Bixby, singing the school fight song and alma mater, and praying with teammates and coaches, senior lineman Calvin Barnett looked out over his high school field for the last time as a Booker T. Washington Hornet.

“I’m going to remember my brothers on this team,” said the Oklahoma State commit. “All these guys here are my family.”

The Hornets will not get a chance to defend their 5A state title, the first for the school since 1984. Booker T. Washington was forced to forfeit three district games for using 16 ineligible players in games against Hale, Pryor and Miami. After the win in Thursday’s season finale, players felt as if the postseason had been stolen from them.

“Yes, it’s (unfair),” said BTW defensive back Dante Barnett. “For the seniors, everybody worked really, really hard.”

Booker T. Washington finishes 2009 with a 3-4 mark in district play. Had they not forfeited three games, the only team the Hornets would have lost to was the top-seeded Bishop Kelley Comets. Barnett would have played one more game in a Hornet uniform in next Friday’s first round playoff game.

“We know in our hearts that we are the best team in 5A,” Calvin Barnett said after the game. “We tried to prove tonight that we’re the best team in the state.”