One of the nation's top football recruits is pulling a power play of the highest order, threatening to transfer from his high school for his senior season because of the contentious recent firing of his program's head coach.
As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Michael Carvell, Rueben Foster, the number two overall recruit in the class of 2013's Rivals100, claims he will transfer from LaGrange (Ga.) Troup High for his senior season because of the Tuesday firing of Troup head football coach Charles Flowers. Foster, who committed to Alabama in July, also claimed that anywhere between eight and 10 of his teammates were also considering leaving the school in the immediate aftermath of Flowers' firing.
"I'm definitely gone, I'm leaving, I'm out of here," Foster told the Journal Constitution. "Coach Flowers has changed my life. He's like a father figure. It's just not right with what happened."
While exact details have still not been confirmed, it is believed Flowers' dismissal was connected with the improper transfer of at least one player into the LaGrange school district. However, there are odd circumstances surrounding that contention.
Usually, if allegations are made about an improper transfer the state scholastic athletic governing body would launch an investigation into the transfer, yet in this case the Georgia High School Association said it had no plans to investigate Troup for any potential illegalities.
The departure of a player as prominent as Foster would be a major blow to one of Georgia's strongest programs, but there remains the possibility that Foster might not leave at all. When asked what could keep the junior at the school for his final season, Foster was pretty unequivocal.
"We all want Coach Flowers back. That's it. We want Coach Flowers back here."
If that isn't a prominent teenager pulling a power play, Prep Rally doesn't know what is. In a twist of fate, Foster's goal of getting his head coach reinstated might be blocked by his position coach; Foster is the nation's top outside linebacker prospect, and Troup linebackers coach Lynn Kendall has already been named the program's new head coach.
Would that stop Troup officials from reversing their prior decision and reinstating each coach's original roles? That remains to be seen, though it appears to be the only way of ensuring that Foster remains a part of the program.
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