Sequoyah-Tahlequah Student Athletes Reinstated, Coach Remains Suspended

A dozen Sequoyah-Tahlequah High School student athletes were reinstated by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Wednesday after a successful appeal by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.

The students had originally been ruled ineligible for participating in summer camps they didn't pay for themselves.

The students will be able to participate in other sports the rest of the school year thanks to the appeal. However, the school made an agreement with OSSAA to allow those athletes in question to play. The conditions are as follows:

• Prohibit spring 2013 football practice and participation in 2013 summer football camps and clinics

• Prohibit interschool football scrimmages before the opening of the regular 2013 football season

• Be placed on a two-year warning

• Conduct an internal operation audit of all school sports to ensure compliance

• Reimburse OSSAA for attorney fees and other investigation costs

• A suspension, for the coach in question, from coaching any OSSAA member school for one year

• Require students in question to reimburse the school for football summer camp tuition

The violations had been going on for several years, and the school could have been removed as a member of OSSAA as punishment, or had its athletic programs banned from the playoffs across the board for several years.