Oakland, Blackman football programs put on probation, fined by TSSAA after postgame fight

The Oakland and Blackman football teams have both been handed two-year probations and fines from the TSSAA after the organization handed down penalties to the two programs for their involvement in a fight that occurred following their Week 5 game on Sept. 20.

The TSSAA notified each school of the punishments Thursday. Rutherford County Schools Chief Communications Officer James Evans confirmed the punishments and supplied The Daily News Journal with information sent from the TSSAA.

The punishments are as follows:

• Probation for both schools' athletic programs for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year, with an addition year of probation (2025-26) for the football programs at each school.
• A $1,000 fine for the athletic programs of both schools during the first year and a $500 fine for the second year.

Both football teams will remain eligible for the 2024 TSSAA state playoffs.

In addition, both schools, in consultation with the school district, have imposed their own discipline against the student-athletes who were involved, Evans told the DNJ.

Following a blocked field goal as time expired to preserve a 13-12 win for the Patriots (now 6-0, 2-0 Region 3-6A), at least one Oakland player ran past the Blackman (3-3, 1-1) sideline and toward the Blaze student section of the stands before the teams could line up for postgame handshakes.

A fight ensued from that point.

Rutherford County Sheriff's Office personnel were on the scene in to attempt to break up the fight. At least one player from both teams and at least one coach from both teams were subjected to pepper spray during attempts to break up the fight.

The official report from RCSO Student Resource Office Beau Kohler was released on Wednesday, a day before the TSSAA's decision was handed down.

Oakland trailed 12-0 late in the third quarter before scoring 13 unanswered points and ultimately blocking a 37-yard field goal as time expired.

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It's the second time in recent years that the Oakland program has been placed on probation. The Patriots had a two-year probation in 2020 that included a reduction in fall scrimmages, among other things, after a recruiting violation spawned from a social media post.

This is a developing story and will be updated as information is provided.

Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Oakland, Blackman football programs put on probation, fined by TSSAA after postgame fight