DETROIT – The Detroit Public Schools emergency manager has decided to allow Detroit King High School's football team to compete for the Public School League championship against Detroit Cass Tech High School.
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The Public School League originally forced Detroit King's football team to forfeit to Cass Tech after King's team was involved in an on-field brawl Friday night against Cody High School.
The league brought down the hammer on Cody, too.
Parents and students voiced their concerns at a school board meeting Monday and they wanted the decision overturned. Many of them believe it is unfair and that this penalty is too harsh. They asked the school board to make a motion to the emergency manager to rescind the suspension.
The decision to allow King and Cass Tech play the game was announced Tuesday afternoon.
"A key factor in my decision was the fact that the King High School coaches took full responsibility for the actions of their players and will be rededicating themselves to ensuring that their players understand the important role good sportsmanship plays not just in high school, but in life," said Emergency Manager Darnell Earley in a statement.
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King was ranked No. 1 in the state of Michigan. The team was set for a championship showdown with Cass Tech this coming weekend at Ford Field. The game was called off, and Cass Tech was declared the winner by forfeit, and it was all because of poor conduct on the field by King and Cody players.
"I think it's messed up," said Nelshon Williams, a sophomore at King. "Because it wasn't even our fault. They got mad because they lost and they tried to fight with us."
The Public School League agreed that there is plenty of blame to go around.
Meanwhile, Cody's season is done. The Cody coaching staff has been placed on suspension, too.
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