By Associated Press, and staff
COLUMBUS — After a shellacking in a game televised on ESPN revealed a Columbus-based high school football team wasn’t the top-tier talent it purported to be, the legitimacy of the school itself is in question.
Gov. Mike DeWine says he’s asked Ohio’s Department of Education to investigate whether Bishop Sycamore complies with minimum standards under Ohio law.
“Schools like Bishop Sycamore have an obligation under Ohio law to meet certain minimum standards. Whether Bishop Sycamore meets these standards is not clear. I have asked the Ohio Department of Education to conduct an investigation into Bishop Sycamore to ensure compliance with Ohio law and to ensure the school is providing the educational opportunities Ohio students deserve.” -Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH)
He says its 58-0 loss to Florida powerhouse IMG Academy on Sunday in Canton raised concerns about player safety as well as school operations.
Observers wondered how it ended up in the game in the first place.
The marketing group that scheduled the matchup says it was “misled” and should’ve had more thorough vetting.
Bishop Sycamore claims to be a charter school in the Columbus City Schools but WBNS 10-TV reports the school is not listed on the Ohio Department of Education website.