As a MBA alum, I really do not know what to say honestly. I graduated in 2002, which doesn't feel like too long ago but I am coming up on my 10 year reunion. The things being suggested in this thread are incredibly troubling if true. However, I feel like some of the tangents being developed on this thread, while appearing irrelevant as some of the more colorful members of this site would suggest, are very much germane to what seems to be a confusing and strange situation.
I want to preface this whole thing by stating that I went to public schools in Brentwood my whole life up until high school. I honestly did not know that MBA existed until my 8th grade year. I was not a football star in the making, although I excelled at it and other sports and did well in the classroom. I was not "recruited" for anything at MBA. My parents decided that they wanted me to go there, and honestly I fought it kicking and screaming (I mean, honestly, if you had gone to school with girls your whole life, and in the middle of puberty your parents put an end to it, you would have fought too). So I, albeit begrudgingly, took the ISEE, and scored well enough to be interviewed. I went through three separate interviews just to get in. But get in I did, and it still stands as one of the best things that I have ever been blessed with.
Just to echo what James Kay said, lets keep confidences here. Irrespective of whether any of the named individuals actually are involved, this is not the arena to air those grievances. It's irresponsible, callous, cowardly, and immature to name names and air dirty laundry under the guise of "truth" all while operating under a quasi-blanket of anonymity.
First, lets start out with the basic idea that unless there is proof of something untoward about anything involved here, that mere innuendo and rumor do not suffice as evidence of anything. If anything, innuendo, rumor, and conjecture of the nature being used here (e.g. Declaring Coach McGuigan to be "this" or "that", Declaring Headmaster Gioia to be "this" or "that", MBA to be "this" or "that") does not represent the basis of any indication of truth. I plead with the other members here, please do not paint with a broad brush about MBA or the people connected with it. I may not like "Coach X", and may not like "Y football team", but I don't spit in the face of every "Y football team fan" I meet. If MBA did something wrong, they should be punished. If MBA did not, then they shouldn't. But either way, saying that MBA and those affiliated therein "look down their noses at you" or other similar invective is at best irresponsible, and at worst ignorant. There are, indeed, some elitist type attitudes walking around MBA. But those are a small number compared to those that are humble, grateful, and kind. Just because you, or someone you know, had a "run-in" at some point with someone involved with MBA does not somehow change my attitudes and behaviors towards my fellow man. In short, unless on this board you can present actual evidence beyond your own words to back up anything said about MBA (which you can't), then please stop.
I never knew Mr. McGuigan, as he was after I left, but I was coached by Ricky Bowers, and if McGuigan is anything like Bowers, he is probably not very nice. But honestly, I have never wanted a Coach to be my friend. I wanted my Coaches to ride me until I got it right, and not to let me settle for anything less than my best. If McGuigan rode some students too hard, then he should be reprimanded. I imagine that when Ricky Bowers was at MBA, some of the methods he used to motivate us would be frowned upon today.
I played football with Barton Simmons, and he is a stand up person. In lieu of what he said, I take him at his word. Why? Because he is in the only position to really give any insight into this situation, unlike anonymous posters on here spouting pure opinion. I do not know James Kay, but he seems to exemplify what I hold to be the way MBA students should represent themselves as, so I trust what he says is true. I have no reason to doubt him otherwise. Unless someone comes out with verifiable proof to the contrary of what these two have said, it will remain the truth for me. That is, of course, my decision, but one I feel is at least well reasoned and logical.
Lastly, in regards to whether or not TSSAA rules were broken, this is all I have to say. Rules are written in a way that is up for interpretation. Each potential infractions investigation has its own unique factual circumstances that must be established, without which the rules cannot be applied. If the TSSAA head applies to rules to the established facts of this case and finds no wrongdoing, then he will be torn down by you all who seem to think that MBA should burn or something immature like that. If he hits MBA with sanctions, you will sing his praises to all. But either way, it still leaves you with this: while there are many important things in life, high school football (or even football in general) does not rank even close to the top.
