Hawkins High School parents, players and supporters gathered outside the Los Angeles Unified School District’s athletics office on Tuesday in protest of a hearing that threatened the football team’s participation in the City Section Division II playoffs. The City Section’s Board of Managers called the hearing to review possible sanctions against the high school following an investigation led by LAUSD and City Section that had allegedly found improprieties in the football program.
However, following a nearly three-hour closed hearing, section officials made the announcement that the Hawkins High football team would be allowed to continue its participation in the City Section Division II playoffs, kicking off this Friday with a semifinal game against Grant.
PSBR attorney Robert Glassman, who represents some of the Hawkins players, addressed the three-member panel briefly on behalf of his clients and is pleased with the outcome of the hearing.
“The Hawkins players and their families are happy the CIF made the right decision,” Mr. Glassman told the Los Angeles Times. “These hardworking young men deserve to play the sport they love. We have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.”
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP and Mr. Glassman have been retained by some of the Hawkins players’ parents as a result of their past experience in dealing with CIF issues. The firm previously represented Santa Ana Mater Dei linebacker Todd Hunt in a transfer dispute and basketball player Marvin Bagley III of Sierra Canyon after he was ruled ineligible following a transfer from Arizona.
Read the Los Angeles Times article here