Coosa Christian's attempt to get into Alabama high school football AHSAA playoffs with a temporary restraining order was denied Tuesday.
With the AHSAA playoffs already starting, there was not much the order could've done but Judge James Anderson still ruled. He found that Coosa Christian and their lawyers "failed to meet their burden of proof."
Anderson also used the precedent that "the law in Alabama is that courts generally should not interfere with the internal operations of the AHSAA unless there is clear and convincing evidence of fraud, collusion or arbitrariness," in his order to deny the TRO.
Coosa Christian's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publish.
The lawsuit, filed Monday, Nov. 4, was also looking for the Circuit Court of Montgomery County to restrain the AHSAA's penalties against Coosa Christian's football program.
Those penalties resulted from an AHSAA investigation that found the school played an ineligible player in five games. The penalties include the forfeiture of those five games and placing the program on restrictive probation that will also keep Coosa Christian out of the playoffs in 2025. The school can regain eligibility for the 2025 postseason if it meets conditions spelled out by the AHSAA.
The Conquerors would have hosted a first-round playoff game this week if not for the sanctions.
The lawsuit alleged that AHSAA executive director Heath Harmon communicated to the school that it might have its 2025 penalties reversed if head coach Mark O'Bryant is not associated with the school in a coaching capacity next year. Harmon wrote to Coosa Christian that "if Coach Mark O'Bryant is not associated with coaching CCS's football program in any level including but not limited to player development," the school could apply for reinstatement.
The penalties stem from the AHSAA's belief that the school misrepresented how many games the ineligible student actually played in: Coosa Christian originally reported to the AHSAA that he played in one game and dressed for five others, but did not play in those. An AHSAA investigation found the ineligible student played in five games.
LAWSUIT FILED: Coosa Christian sues AHSAA to overturn forfeits, get back in football playoffs
COOSA RESPONDS: Alabama high school football: Coosa Christian responds to two-year AHSAA football playoff ban
OUT OF PLAYOFFS: Coosa Christian football out of AHSAA playoffs through 2025 season for rules violation
Along with the probation and forfeits, the school was fined $500 for "lack of administrative control and omitting vital information" on top of a $300 fine for playing an ineligible player. Coosa Christian appealed to both the District 6 Board on Nov. 1 and the AHSAA's Central Board on Nov. 2, and both appeals were denied.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Michael Kidd, who recently represented an action against the Alabama High School Athletic Association challenging its bona fide transfer policy. That lawsuit was dismissed late last month.
The Conquerors wrapped up their 2024 season on Oct. 25 with a 35-21 win over Tuscaloosa Academy and were celebrating the school's first AHSAA region title after a 9-1 regular season. After the forfeits, they finished in a tie for last place in Class 2A, Region 6 went 4-6.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Coosa Christian football injunction vs AHSAA denied in court