Northwestern football under FHSAA investigation into alleged use of ineligible player
Miami Northwestern is the latest South Florida football team reportedly under investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association into possible use of an ineligible player.
According to a report by USA Today, it was alleged earlier this week to the FHSAA that the Bulls, coached by recently-retired former NFL quarterback and school alum Teddy Bridgewater, used a fifth-year player this season. The report stated that as of Wednesday, the FHSAA has contacted Miami Northwestern and requested more information.
The player in question initially enrolled at a Miami-Dade County public school in the fall of 2020 and this fall is his ninth semester of high school. Per the FHSAA’s Bylaw 9.5.1: “a student is limited to eight consecutive semesters of eligibility beginning with the semester they begin ninth grade for the first time. After eight consecutive semesters, the student is permanently ineligible.”
Northwestern’s situation is the latest in a wave of violations or potential violations committed by top South Florida football programs.
The Bulls’ longtime rival, Miami Central, had to forfeit all eight of its victories just before the playoffs resulting in it not qualifying for the postseason due to its own use of a fifth-year ineligible player.
Miami Norland and Davie Western also forfeited games late in the regular season for different reasons, which altered each school’s respective playoff seeding.
According to an FHSAA spokesperson, however, should the FHSAA levy any sanctions against Northwestern, it would not occur until after the Bulls’ season is completed.
The Bulls are 8-2 in Bridgewater’s first season as coach and the top seed in Region 4-3A and are set to host Naples Lely on Friday at Traz Powell Stadium.
Bridgewater recently took to social media to express his frustrations with the current climate as he posted on his Facebook account last month:
“I didn’t walk away from millions to be associated with this high school drama. I did it to better the future of the sport in south Florida… I’ve been to the highest level and this level is peanuts to an elephant when you’ve reached the top. So you don’t get caught up in the small stuff when you’ve seen the top. However, this is the highest level for many so that’s why you have the telling and ‘whatever it takes to win’ mentality going on. But that’s the problem, not many people have won at the life God has given them so they live through the kids and make it about them and not their kids. Now we have grown men telling on KIDS!! Jeopardizing their future and their team’s future. As a man, what do you get out of that?? I pray MNW stays in the clear from all that’s going on because like I tell my coaches, I played 10 years in the league and never made any headlines and I’ll be damned if I let MNW have me caught up in some mess. I know it’s people waiting on the day it happens.”
Bridgewater posted again Tuesday on his X account, hinting at perhaps an NFL comeback after this season: “So many QB jobs available for me after we make this state title run. I can’t wait to return back to the NFL.”
