Carver forfeits remaining 2023 football games

G.W. Carver’s football program will not be allowed to play the rest of the season as a result of LHSAA sanctions levied against the football program with the remainder of the games becoming forfeits.

This week’s football game between Carver and John F. Kennedy, scheduled for Friday night, will not be played with Kennedy receiving the forfeit victory.

Carver has had different coaches serve as the head coach over the past few weeks after Byron Addison opened the season as head coach but was suspended.

Nate Roche, who served in brilliant fashion as the head basketball coach at Carver, now serves as director of athletics for the five Collegiate Academies schools in south Louisiana. Roche stepped in to coach the football team a week ago to help the program.

Those five schools include Abramson, Cohen, Collegiate (Baton Rouge), Livingston Collegiate and Carver.

Roche led the Rams to consecutive basketball state championships in 2022 and 2023. Devin Andrew has taken over as basketball coach at Carver.

RELEASE: CARVER HIGH SCHOOL

ATHLETIC UPDATE

Finally, we want to update you on the status of the Carver football program. We were recently notified by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) that the remainder of our 2023 football season will be canceled. We know the impact will be felt throughout the school and the city. We are committed to ensuring all scholars still have the opportunity to perform and to be recognized.

The suspension of the football season is the result of an eligibility violation during our first football game (against St. Amant). At the time, Carver was on probation for infractions accrued during the 22-23 school year. The consequence, a canceled season and 12-month suspensions for several coaches, is limited to football. This penalty had the potential to impact all teams. It will not. All other Carver sports teams that were scheduled to compete this year will still compete and will be eligible to earn postseason honors.

In response to the canceled season, we are adjusting our plans for celebrating and honoring football players, co-curricular performers and our Homecoming Court. We fully intend to give them the spotlight they deserve despite the canceled football season. Homecoming and Senior Night will look different, but they will happen. We plan to release an updated schedule of events by Monday, September 25th.

Football scholars interested in playing another sport will have the opportunity to try out. We will also continue supporting players with strength training and conditioning in preparation for spring football. Study hall and ACT tutoring after school will still be heavily promoted.

For football scholars interested in transferring to another school, LHSAA has indicated waivers will be granted for individual player eligibility during an immediate window. New Orleans Public Schools (NOLAPS) manages all school enrollment. Once they let us know how they will run the transfer process, we will notify all football families. It’s important to note that, in accordance with NOLAPS rules, once a scholar transfers out of Carver they will not be able to come back this school year without a hardship transfer that is approved by NOLAPS.

Again, we share your disappointment. Please know that we will build this program back, and we look forward to proudly competing in 2024. If you are the parent or legal guardian of a football player and would like an individual meeting to discuss your next steps, please contact Cierra Sutton (csutton@collegiateacademies.org) to schedule an appointment.