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October 31, 2013
9:32 p.m. Wednesday
Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer deputy Brennan Matherne told the Tri-Parish Times tonight that three more Destrehan High School football coaches have been given criminal summons tonight for accessing South Lafourche High School’s password-protected HUDL account without authorization.
Wayne Sentilles, 32, of Montz, Daniel Laquet, 30, of Luling and Greg Boyne, 41, of Hahnville admitted to accessing South Lafourche’s HUDL to gain information regarding the Tarpons’ game plan prior to Destrehan’s 49-24 win against South Lafourche last Friday.
The coaches will be charged with offenses against intellectual property and were given a criminal summons.
Matherne said the investigation remains ongoing.
5:59 p.m. Wednesday
Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer deputy Brennan Matherne confirmed to the Tri-Parish Times this evening that a Destrehan assistant football coach and his girlfriend were given criminal summons after Matherne said they admitted to accessing South Lafourche High School’s HUDL account.
Destrehan assistant coach Ryan Fournier, 29, and Emily Guidry, 29, both of 153 James St., Larose, were charged with offenses against intellectual property after being questioned by authorities.
Matherne said the two admitted to accessing password-protected portions of the Tarpons’ HUDL account without the South Lafourche football team having knowledge of the use.
“The school went public with this through their own release and they contacted us to begin an investigation,” Matherne said. “We knew that if their claims were true that this charge would be in place for such an offense. After questioning, both suspects admitted to the use, which led to the summons being issued.”
The sheriff’s spokesman said that detectives learned that Fournier and Guidry obtained the login credentials through a current South Lafourche student, who is a former Tarpons’ football player.
During questioning, Matherne said that Fournier admitted to using information he obtained in creating a game plan for the two team’s game last Friday – a contest that Destrehan won 49-24.
Matherne said the penalty for the first offense of the crime is a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for six months or both.
Matherne also added that the investigation is ongoing and more charges may be filed.
Prior to the summons, Fournier had been suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season by the LHSAA.
He also is suspended indefinitely by the St. Charles Parish School System.
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3:58 p.m. Wednesday
The LHSAA has ordered Destrehan High School’s football team to forfeit this past Friday night’s victory against South Lafourche after the high school governing body determined that the Wildcats’ illegally accessed the Tarpons’ practice film.
South Lafourche head football coach Dennis Skains confirmed to the Tri-Parish Times at about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday the news of the forfeiture.
The school also said that LHSAA’s final ruling deems that four Destrehan assistant coaches will be suspended two games because of the incident and one assistant coach will be suspended for the rest of the season and the entire playoffs.
Those suspensions may be longer than the LHSAA’s penalty, as the St. Charles Parish School Board has indefinitely suspended each coach involved, as well.
The four coaches suspended for two games are Lance Ledet, Daniel Luquet, Wayne Sentilles and Greg Boyne, according to the LHSAA.
Upon return, the four will only be allowed to coach from the press-box, per the LHSAA punishment.
The assistant coach suspended for the entire season is Ryan Fournier, a South Lafourche High School graduate, former player and assistant coach.
Destrehan will be placed on probation following the incident.
“Destrehan is a heck of a football team – one of the best teams that I’ve seen in a long, long time,” Skains said. “All our kids wanted was an opportunity. Would they have won the game without them watching a second of film? We’ll never know. Our kids just wanted the opportunity, and unfortunately, they never got it.”
South Lafourche principal Gaye Cheramie issued a statement Wednesday afternoon applauding the LHSAA’s ruling.
“I believe this is a fair ruling, and I agree with all aspects of the ruling,” Cheramie said. “I appreciate the LHSAA’s quick response, investigation, and ruling. I believe this is a fair ruling for the players involved, both South Lafourche High School and Destrehan High School. I appreciate the help I received from my superintendent, supervisor, coaching staff, and lawyer. I am grateful to the St. Charles Parish School District for their help and quick response to the situation. I have high regards for Destrehan High School’s principal Mr. Weber as he took immediate action to resolve the issue.”
Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews agreed and said she hopes all the parties involve learn from the incident.
“We certainly appreciate the expedience and accept the findings of the LHSAA staff and the professionalism extended to us by the St. Charles Parish School Board staff,” Matthews said. “We intend to use this unfortunate situation as a life-lesson for our student-athletes and hope they will begin to process what has happened to them.”
The entire situation stems from the Wildcats’ unauthorized use of HUDL software to see Tarpons’ practices before this past Friday’s game, which Destrehan won 49-24.
According to South Lafourche administration, several members of the Destrehan coaching staff accessed a password-protected portion of the site and logged more than 10 hours of activity to access the Tarpons’ practice film from the past several weeks.
South Lafourche altered its offense before the showdown with the previously unbeaten foe, and the school alleged Destrehan gained a competitive advantage in viewing the film.
Skains said he had never heard of anything like this during his time as a coach. He added that he feels for players on both teams.
“You hear horror stories from the old days about how coaches would come watch your practices from a distance and everything, but I’ve never heard of anything like this,” Skains said. “It’s a lesson to everyone. It kind of wakes you up as a coach. It makes you tighten up your roster and tighten up who has these passwords and everything like that. It’s an unfortunate situation all around.”
With the ruling, the Tarpons are now 5-3 on the season and 4-1 in district play.
South Lafourche will return to the field tomorrow night and take on Thibodaux – a game that will be televised regionally on FOX Sports New Orleans.
Skains said he applauded the work of the Tarpons’ administration in the case, adding that he couldn’t get overly involved in the investigation because of the team’s short week.
“We trusted our administration – our principal and our athletic director to handle those things as far as this was all concerned,” Skains said. “As far as football, we’ve been busy because we know we can’t get distracted because we have a really good Thibodaux game on Thursday.”
Multiple attempts to reach Destrehan High School were unreturned as of Wednesday afternoon.
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1:45 p.m. Wednesday
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The LHSAA has ordered Destrehan High School’s football team to forfeit this past Friday night’s victory against South Lafourche after the high school governing body determined that the Wildcats’ illegally accessed the Tarpons’ practice film.
Several members of the South Lafourche staff confirmed to the Tri-Parish Times at about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday the news of the forfeiture.
The school said they are now awaiting the final list of penalties that will be levied unto Destrehan.
The entire situation stems from the Wildcats’ unauthorized use of HUDL software to see Tarpons’ practices before this past Friday’s game, which Destrehan won 49-24.
According to South Lafourche administration, several members of the Destrehan coaching staff accessed a password-protected portion of the site and logged more than 10 hours of activity to access the Tarpons’ practice film from the past several weeks.
South Lafourche altered its offense before the showdown with the previously unbeaten foe, and the school alleged Destrehan gained a competitive advantage in viewing the film.
Before the forfeit was announced, multiple media reports out of New Orleans stated this morning that the Wildcats had suspended several assistant coaches in lieu of the allegations.
Stay tuned as more news unfolds.
Former South Lafourche assistant coach Ryan Fournier (pictured) talks to players before an exhibition game. Fournier and his girlfriend were issued criminal summons on Wednesday for their alleged roles in accessing South Lafourche’s HUDL account before last week’s game.
