The football world has been consumed by one of the strangest stories of the sports year after IMG Academy crushed Bishop Sycamore on national television and sparked numerous investigations into how this apparently sketchy prep school managed to con their way onto ESPN’s airwaves.
Getting a national television audience to introduce their fledgling program to seems to have been the worst decision Bishop Sycamore could’ve made, as it has resulted in the unearthing of a number of very shady details about the “school,” from the lack of a real facility or school building to the team playing twice in one weekend with an undermanned roster of under 40 kids. A former player detailed his experience at the predecessor to Bishop Sycamore, COF Academy, where he says they stayed in a hotel they paid for with bounced checks, had to steal food because there was no money to eat, and they never actually did anything related to school (leading to him having to make up all his classes just to transfer back to a regular high school).
All of it is bad and made plenty wonder what they were thinking attracting the scrutiny and attention that comes along with being on a national showcase game. On Tuesday, the fallout continued as coach Ron Johnson was fired by the school.
BREAKING: Roy Johnson is out as head coach at Bishop Sycamore, the school that played two games in three days and ESPN announcers panned on Sunday.
Quick story from about an hour’s worth of interviews with the school director. More to come. https://t.co/3KO97LUBie
— Chris Bumbaca (@BOOMbaca) August 31, 2021
The surprising part of the move for many was the assumption that he was running the program, and as Bishop Sycamore has become the premier example of a prep school grift, plenty of people had ideas for who should be their next head coach.
“Bishop Sycamore is a top, top program and frankly it’s an honor to just be in the mix.” pic.twitter.com/4h1JOZBfSc
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) August 31, 2021
Mike Richards Bishop Sycamore coach
Coulda just stayed off camera
— Jason Kirk, big The Alliance fan (@thejasonkirk) August 31, 2021
“I’m sorry Roy but we’re gonna have to let you go.” https://t.co/59iivYS13P pic.twitter.com/PP4VlbvoXm
— Joe Ali (@JoeAli) August 31, 2021
The Bishop Sycamore coach getting fired pic.twitter.com/8BJDKw24ny
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) August 31, 2021
Director of Admissions – Bishop Sycamore pic.twitter.com/mnhLpOePHd
— Bishop Sycamore c/o ’95 (@Brian904Realtor) August 31, 2021
https://t.co/iZbOSMMvkT pic.twitter.com/fS7zmGRQC9
— Jordan Zirm (@JordanZirm) August 31, 2021
John Cena https://t.co/G24C7hE03z
— Patrick Claybon (@PatrickClaybon) August 31, 2021
Lance Harbor. https://t.co/W992iLfgCq pic.twitter.com/21357BQFFd
— D. Russo (He/Him) (@DRusso97) August 31, 2021
Bold prediction: https://t.co/eTC8jqOLGM pic.twitter.com/7YoNZ0CECP
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) August 31, 2021
Hello https://t.co/eBhhv8KzbQ pic.twitter.com/UpH5xoy3my
— Nothing But Rain (@jordenhill) August 31, 2021
Rush Propst https://t.co/gX0cmfkTWt
— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) August 31, 2021
https://t.co/NcTLklOzmJ pic.twitter.com/0Q4Q5IuRrY
— Mark Kim (@MarkJKim_) August 31, 2021
https://t.co/JzbjJBoB9i pic.twitter.com/EQyYuB2p2a
— Vince LaSalle (@JayUnFazed) August 31, 2021