One day after coach Buzz Busby said he was told by principal Ernest Dupree he was ``terminated,'' Busby emerged from a meeting with Bulloch County Board of Education officials Thursday afternoon with his job intact.
As a result, Busby will be on the sideline when Statesboro plays Tucker at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Georgia Dome.
``I'm happy to report that coach Busby will continue his role as athletic director, coach and teacher at Statesboro High,'' Busby's attorney, Laura Marsh, told the Statesboro Herald Thursday.
Busby was back on the practice field minutes after leaving the board office. He said his ``initial demands were met and I was reinstated by the superintendent today.''
Bulloch County Superintendent Jesse Strickland said Busby ``was never let go, never fired, never terminated'' because Dupree does not have the authority to make that decision.
According to Busby, the dispute followed Dupree's order for the coach to reverse disciplinary action on a player who had been kicked off the team.
Busby said he disciplined the player following two incidents, including one in which the player ``used profanity to a coach.'' The coach said the player also was involved in an altercation following the team's playoff win over Ware County High School.
According to Busby, Dupree instructed the coach to reinstate the player and to grant the player a varsity letter an honor based in part on playing time during a season.
Busby said he agreed to reinstate the player but would not reward the varsity letter. The coach said he then was told by Dupree ``Well, you are terminated.''
However, Strickland said Thursday that Dupree believed he was only discussing the ``hypothetical question'' of what would happen if Busby refused to reinstate the player.
Strickland said Dupree does not have the authority to fire Busby, only to make a recommendation to the school board.
Busby is 54-10-1 at Statesboro High. He guided the Blue Devils to back-to-back state title game appearances in 2000 and 2001, winning the championship in 2001. Busby also led Kendrick High of Columbus to a tie for the 1991 Class AAA state title.
The Statesboro-Tucker winner will advance to next week's Class AAAA championship game against the winner of Friday night's game between Thomas County Central and Marist.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/12/167555