A Connecticut high school football coach has received a one-game suspension for using an opposing quarterback’s missing armband to assist his defense, The Hartford Courant reported Tuesday.
Southington High School coach D.J. Hernandez reportedly used the coded armband with the other team’s offensive plays written on it in an effort to give his defensive side a boost against Manchester High.
A Manchester player reportedly misplaced the armband late during the first half of the Oct. 22 game. Hernandez, according to his own administration, used the miniature playbook for four plays during the third quarter of Southington’s 28-14 victory.
Manchester High reportedly has filed a formal protest with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), but Southington administrators handed down their own punishment Tuesday after Hernandez admitted to the incident.
“Coach Hernandez holds himself accountable for his actions and accepts his consequence,” a statement from Southington officials read.
CIAC will reportedly conduct its own investigation and submit its findings ahead of the CIAC Board of Control meeting on Nov. 18 when a ruling is expected to be formally announced.
