“But if this person shows up to your practice only and no one (other teams are) there, you can’t do that.”

In a letter from ROPSSAA regarding Suzuki’s win being overturned, the rationale for the decision was that the coach in question, Gord Gallimore, appears on all of David Suzuki’s game sheets as a coach.

The letter also states he was present at two of St. Roch’s practices while still coaching at Suzuki, and Suzuki violated Section 7(e)(i) of the playing regulations.

While at the practices, St. Roch indicated Gallimore identified himself as a University of Toronto scout and was there to scout the practice.

Messages left with St. Roch coaches were not returned.

Gallimore was listed as U of T’s academic support co-ordinator and defensive backs assistant, but The Guardian has learned he has since been fired from that role. He also taught at Suzuki earlier this year as part of a long-term occasional assignment with the Peel District School Board.

He declined to comment on the accusations against him, but did say his appearance at the St. Roch practices was strictly as a U of T coach and recruiter. He is now teaching at Glenforest Secondary School.

An article from canadafootballchat.com on Oct. 5 listed Gallimore as a defensive coach with Suzuki.

However, Crabbe says Gallimore’s involvement with the team was “almost nothing.” Anyone who wants to watch a ROPSSAA football game on the sidelines has to be on a game sheet for liability purposes, which is why Gallimore is listed, even though Crabbe claims his role was minimal.

“He hasn’t been to a practice, game, team event, anything like that in well over a month,” said Crabbe, adding the team had no knowledge of him going to the St. Roch practices.

“At the very most, he attended maybe three practices in September to check up on guys and talk to players.”

Suzuki won the ROPSSAA senior tier II championship last year and stepped up to play in the tier I division this year.

The win against St. Roch would have given them a 3-2-1 record to set up a playoff game against top-ranked St. Marcellinus on Thursday, Nov. 9. St. Roch (5-1) had clinched a playoff spot before their game against Suzuki and has a semi final scheduled against visiting Lorne Park on Thursday.

Since Monday, there have been many players, faculty and parents from Suzuki who have expressed their outrage through Twitter, most of them saying they weren’t properly involved in the appeal process.

ROPSSAA responded on Twitter, saying it has “Reviewed football concerns raised, in accordance with its policies/regulations. We have connected with staff involved at both schools to explain our position. The matter has been addressed.”