News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Parents and leaders of the Cookeville Youth Football program conducted an emergency meeting to discuss the Middle Tennessee Youth Football Conference banning them from the league.
Kristi Sweat is a former commissioner of the program and is currently an advisory board member. She said several parents were concerned over the future of the program during Thursday’s meeting.
“We had some concerned parents that wanted some answers,” Sweat said, “so we went ahead and held a meeting just for questions and answers last night [on] what we could give them at that time.”
Sweat said members of the conference stated during a meeting that the Cookeville program was missing necessary paperwork with fines totaling $3,800.
“The most anyone has ever paid has been $200,” Sweat said. “We thought that’s what we were going into the meeting was to discuss fines and we were also told it was multiple leagues involved. As soon as the rest of our board got there and walked in, before everyone got seated, a motion was made to remove Cookeville.”
Sweat said the league officially banned the program from the league due to actions detrimental to the conference but added the program is still unsure what they did wrong.
“They did allow our commissioner for Cookeville (Brian Jernigan) to speak for a few minutes,” Sweat said. “They would not really let anyone else speak. I did ask for clarification on the conduct and they couldn’t give us an answer.”
Sweat said the program’s main priority is finding and scheduling games so the kids are still able to play, but also want to keep the parents in mind going forward.
“We did tell our parents we haven’t sought legal action,” Sweat said, “so we told them if that’s something they feel strongly about, please keep in touch with your board members. In the coming weeks, we can discuss that further but right now our priority is finding the kids football and cheer.”
Cookeville’s teams are unlikely to play this weekend, Sweat said, but added they are in talks with other leagues so the children are able to get some playing time.
MTYFC Director Mike Hayes declined to comment on the situation Thursday. He said all public comments on the situation are being directed through the office of Fields and Tollett Association of Attorneys in Crossville. Phone calls left for Attorney Kelly Tollett were not immediately returned.
