TAMPA BAY, Fla. — There’s one Schiano making headlines in Tampa Bay this week – and it’s not the Buccaneers’ head coach.
Greg Schiano’s son, Joe – a 6-1, 170-pound sophomore tight end and linebacker for Berkeley Prep in Tampa – learned Tuesday that he will miss the rest of the regular season after an appeal of a six-week suspension was denied by the Florida High School Athletic Association, the Tampa Tribune reports.
Schiano was ejected during a 31-19 victory over Lennard on Sept. 28 for using profane language with a game official which carries with it an automatic six-week, “Level 2” suspension (which covers anything from use of foul language, hitting or making threats to an official, or excessive physical contact against an opponent deemed to exceed normal competitive bounds).
While Schiano has already missed one game, he would be ineligible to return until after Nov. 9, Berkeley's final game of the regular season. If Berkeley (6-0, 1-0 in district) makes the postseason, Schiano would be eligible to play on Nov. 16.
Berkeley Prep athletic director Bobby Reinhart could not be reached for comment.
The incident was documented by the West Coast Officials Association, noting that it occurred with 2:48 to play in the game when a Berkeley Prep player was called for a late hit on a ball carrier for Lennard. The report, published by the Tampa Bay Times, contained this account from the game official:
"As the play was blown dead there was action to my right that I did not see the entire play where a Berkeley player went down. At that time he returned to his feet saying something about did you see that hit? I was still occupied with gathering the info of the late hit out of bounds. At that time he look at me & said 'What kind of (expletive) call was that?' At that time the next flag was thrown for his ejection."
Joe Schiano has notched 11 tackles with a fumble recovery this season.
