Area schools under reported LHSAA investigation react to names being mentioned

A pair of New Orleans-area schools – each among the 12 Louisiana high schools reportedly under investigation for holding training activities prior to the revised June 8 start date – each claimed innocence Friday.

John Curtis Christian and Holy Cross have each been listed in multiple reports as part of the dozen.

Curtis headmaster and head football coach J.T. Curtis is adamant that his program is innocent.

“None of my coaches have participated in any conditioning drills with our kids in any way,” Curtis said. “If there is any video evidence, please present it to me and I will take the appropriate action. I feel certain nothing inappropriate occurred.”

Holy Cross chief school officer Eric DesOrmeaux has also spoken with LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine about the investigation and feels positive about the outcome.

“We turned over everything to them that is possible,” DesOrmeaux said. “We feel confident that what will surface is that nothing has been done wrong here. No high school athletes have been practicing or working out on our campus. We will continue to comply with that.”

Crescent City Sports first reported Tuesday that a half-dozen schools around the state, including four from New Orleans, were being investigated. Wednesday night, citing sources, it reported the number of schools reportedly under investigation had grown to 12.

The LHSAA would normally allow activities to begin with the start of the summer calendar, but with schools closed for the last quarter of the school year because of the coronavirus, it pushed the start date back to June 8, in line with the expected Phase Two of the re-opening of Louisiana.