Favila: UIL goes easy on Hidalgo

In the past, I’ve been critical of the University Interscholastic League and some of the decisions it has made.

For instance, I still think the UIL overreacted to the swine flu outbreak this past spring when it postponed the start of the softball and baseball playoffs, and nearly wiped out track and field’s regional tournament.

Nevertheless, when I saw what the organization did to Hidalgo athletics earlier this week, I suddenly realized that while the UIL has its flaws, it apparently has a bit of a heart.

For those that might not be familiar with recent happenings, let me quickly update the situation.

On Monday, the UIL’s state executive committee determined that the Hidalgo athletic department had violated the rule that student-athletes cannot move or change schools for athletic purposes.

As punishment for the violation, Hidalgo’s athletic department was placed on two years probation and issued a public reprimand.

The committee also handed former girls assistant basketball coach Arnold Martinez an indefinite suspension.

Finally, it placed current girls head basketball coach Monica Rodriguez on one years probation and publicly reprimanded her as well.

Talk about a slap on the wrist. The UIL must have a soft spot for Hidalgo athletics.

Frankly, I think such a punishment was rather lenient considering Hidalgo essentially illegally recruited a student to play basketball.

I think the UIL should have handed down a stricter punishment as to send a message to other schools that might be thinking of committing similar infractions.

In an attempt to set a precedent of zero tolerance for such behavior, the UIL should have imposed a sort of death penalty on the Hidalgo girls’ basketball program. For at least one season, the team should be banned from the playoffs. At LEAST one season. Two seasons may be better.

The team can be allowed to play in the regular season, but that’s it. The postseason is off limits.

Too harsh? Well, that’s the point. School officials need to be shown what can happen when rules are broken. And if Hidalgo has to be used as an example, then so be it.

And while such a harsh penalty ultimately punishes innocent athletes who had nothing to do with these violations, I’m afraid there’s just no way around such collateral damage.

School officials need to see how their actions affect others. That way next time a coach, athletic director or even a parent thinks it would be a good idea to selfishly allow a student to attend school for the sole purpose of bettering a team, maybe they’ll think twice.

Dave Favila is senior sportswriter for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at davidf@valleystar.com or at 956-430-6214.