Sunday, July 22, 2012: Summer drama for two N.Y. football programs

   Leading off today: Turmoil is the word of the day in two New York communities with the start of football season now less than six weeks away.

   In Chappaqua, veteran assistant Tim Sullivan has been elevated to interim head coach while players, parents and boosters await word on the fate of Horace Greeley coach Bill Tribou. Sullivan, a former Horace Greeley QB, has been on Tribou's staff since 1995.

   The Journal News reported Saturday that AD Steve Young, would not comment on Tribou’s situation. Tribou, a physical education teacher, has not been fired but has been under suspension since the spring. Administrators and school board members have refused to comment on the situation, but it appears Tribou will not coach this fall.

   “Tim knows the system. He’s familiar with everything,” Young told the paper. “He knows the kids. He knows the system. He was the natural guy to keep everything intact. He has the respect of the parents as well.”

   Sullivan said he talked to Tribou but would not comment on whether he received the coach’s blessing.

   Tribou has confirmed the suspension, but the paper reported the school district has told Tribou not to discuss it publicly.

   The situation at Cicero-North Syracuse is even messier, with coach Steve Ellis digging in against a player insurrection and opposition in the community according to The Post-Standard.

   Ellis, 36-50 in a decade as head coach but coming off consecutive seasons of 2-6 and 1-7, is dealing with the departure of six assistant coaches after last season and a petition signed by 38 returning players asking the board of education to replace him. North Syracuse Central School District superintendent Kim Dyce Faucette said the board discussed a change but that Ellis will coach again this fall.

   Ellis declined to comment beyond saying he has the support of his superintendent, AD and school board. Further complicating his situation is a neck injury suffered in a gym class accident in the spring. New AD Tim Bednarski said Ellis must get medical clearance before he can return to coaching.

   How man players will show up for te start of practice next month remains a mystery. Last season's roster had 51 players, but the Northstars may have to make do with barely more than half that number if the majority of players signing the petition also boycott football this fall.

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   On the move: Fulton appointed assistant Jeff Rothrock to replace Mike Conners as football coach. Conners departed to become the coach and AD at Oswego. Rothrock was co-interim coach in 2010 while Conners took a leave of absence.

   Also in Section 3, Holland Patent named Richard Zecak to replace Dale Sexton, who was arrested June 28 and accused of stealing money from his cancer-stricken father-in-law.

   Problem for Wisc. teens: Ten Wisconsin high school football players will be suspended to start the upcoming season after consuming an over-the-counter energy drink bought at a nutrition store.

   The drink, C4 Extreme, contained Synephrine HCL -- a performance enhancer banned by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

   The players, who will miss three games apiece, said they were unaware the substance was banned and they did not attempt to conceal it from coaches. They were caught after discussing it on Twitter.