Liberty Christian High School’s football program, the Warriors, was stripped of its No. 1 seed in the TAPPS state playoffs after the organization ruled that a senior receiver violated the league’s “follow the coach” bylaw. The decision, announced by the TAPPS state executive committee on Tuesday, forced the Warriors to forfeit the games in which the player participated and drop out of the postseason.
Community response
Local parents, former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten’s wife Michelle Witten, and several 7‑on‑7 football coaches have taken to social media to demand that TAPPS reconsider the ruling. Undra Hendrix II, a well‑known 7‑on‑7 coach, argued that the bylaw is being misapplied as a recruiting restriction rather than a genuine coaching violation.
“The bylaw states that a student who transfers to a TAPPS member school shall not be eligible for varsity competition in a sport for a period of one year if a coach in that sport at the new school coached or trained the student during the previous 12 months,” TAPPS said in its statement. The organization claims that assistant coach Antonio Griffin coached senior receiver Jace Johnson while Griffin owned the LionHearted 7‑on‑7 team.
Disputed facts
Hendrix countered that he coached Johnson on the West Texas Elite 7‑on‑7 team, not on LionHearted, and that the two programs are separate. He posted videos showing Johnson wearing West Texas Elite gear and emphasized that the alleged coaching occurred before Johnson transferred to Liberty Christian for his senior year.
Quan Jones, who identifies as the head coach of LionHearted’s 18U team, clarified that while Griffin owns the club, Jones has been the head coach responsible for on‑field instruction. “Antonio Griffin is the owner of LionHearted, but I have always been the head coach overseeing the 18U team,” Jones wrote.
Family perspectives
Chris Olson, a retired high‑school coach and father of a senior offensive lineman on the Warriors, expressed deep concern for his son’s final high‑school football season. “My son has grinded, put in the grueling hours and worked tirelessly to earn his spot as a starter,” Olson said. “If a violation of the rules is proven, then proper sanctions are warranted. However, it must be stated firmly that in this specific instance, while the coach in question does own the 7‑on‑7 team, it has not been proven that he ever actually coached the athlete in question.”
School’s legal stance
Liberty Christian issued a statement rejecting the TAPPS ruling, asserting that the school provided “clear and unambiguous evidence” to demonstrate its innocence. The school indicated it is exploring legal options to challenge the decision, describing the ruling as “unfair” and “unjust.”
The Warriors were slated to face St. Michael’s in the first round of the playoffs on Friday. With Liberty Christian removed, Parish Episcopal will take the spot, and Trinity Christian Academy has been added to the bracket to fill the vacancy.
Next steps
TAPPS has delayed the first round of the playoffs to re‑arrange the bracket but has not confirmed whether Liberty Christian may file an appeal. The organization’s bylaws allow for an appeal process, though details have not been released.
Parents and supporters continue to voice their hope that the Warriors will be reinstated, emphasizing the importance of allowing the senior players to finish the season they earned on the field. “My sincere hope is that the Liberty Christian football team will be given the chance to finish the season they earned between the white lines,” Olson said.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions in Texas high‑school athletics over transfer rules and the interpretation of coaching relationships in club football. As the debate unfolds, the community remains united in its call for fairness and transparency from TAPPS.
Original reporting: Cross Timbers Gazette — read the source article.
