Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018: Ousted Newburgh basketball coach re-applies for job

   Frank Dinnocenzio, ousted after four seasons as Newburgh Free Academy boys basketball coach in the aftermath of a class-cutting scandal, will interview for a return to the job, the Times Herald-Record reported.

   Dinnocenzio's competition includes Matt Brown, who has led the Goldbacks to the Section 9 Class AA playoffs in six of his seven seasons since taking over from Dinnocenzio.

   Dinnocenzio reportedly requested letters of reference to be forwarded to Superintendent Roberto Padilla, AD Edgar Glascott and school board member Phil Howard.

   The paper reported in 2011 that the core of Newburgh's 2009 NYSPHSAA championship team skipped more than 1,000 classes but remained eligible to play during Dinnocenzio's tenure as coach. Dinnocenzio has denied knowledge of players cutting school.

   Brown's teams have met attendance and grade requirements set by the school board, and he established a tutoring program for players.

   Dinnocenzio has been an assistant coach at NFA in girls basketball, football and boys lacrosse since the scandal.

   Wilbur Aldridge, regional director of the NAACP, issued scathing criticism of Dinnocenzio.

   "Unless Newburgh as a school district has a void that is extremely desperate and there are no other qualified candidates to be found in the entire United States, I don't why they would consider someone that had done such a despicable act to those people," Aldridge said.

   Sage observations: "A new high school sports season is upon us. Players, coaches, officials and administrators are doing their part to prepare.

   "Are we?"

   That's what Daily Messenger sports editor Bob Chavez asked fans in a weekend column.

   Chavez notes that bad fan behavior is hardly new. But the video "record" button on smartphones is just one click away, so cameras capture the blowback after (alleged) missed calls or botched assignments.

ADVERTISEMENT

   "It's maddening when the opponent scores and it's aggravating to watch mistakes unfold," he writes.

   "But do you know what's even worse?

   "Overbearing parents and/or obnoxious fans."

   Further, he notes, "There is nothing sadder in the world of high school sports than seeing an athlete check the stands after a rough moment. It happens more than you think, and

RoadToSyracuse.com football site

there is no place for them to hide when they're on the center stage that is an athletic field."

   Gridders on the move: Quarterback Maurice Robertson has left Sweet Home and begun practicing with West Seneca West, WNY Athletics reported Monday.

   Robertson threw for 776 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior last fall while splitting time behind center with June graduate Joe Torrillo. He was the presumed starting QB for the Panthers this fall.

   Robertson will be ineligible to play in the Indians' scrimmage this Saturday and in their season opener -- against Sweet Home -- on Aug. 31.

    • Rising sophomore Seven McGee, who has already committed to the University of Oregon, has left his California school after one year and returned to Rochester to join the football squad at East High.

   McGee rushed for 1,151 and 12 touchdowns with 42 tackles while helping Grace Brethren reach the CIF State 2-A championship game last fall. He was taking most of his reps as a wide receiver in early practices at East, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

   Teams on the move: Aquinas, the NYSPHSAA co-champion in girls Class B soccer, has been moved up to Class A -- where Spencerport, another state co-champion, resides -- by the Section 5 classification committee.

   In boys cross country, defending NYSPHSAA Class C champ Mount Academy moves up a notch to Class B.

   This won't happen: A Florida reporter is pitching the rather radical idea of moving Florida's high school football season to the winter months, citing the state's all-too-frequent thunderstorms in September and early October.