The Braden River High School coaching staff in Bradenton, Fla., has been exposed of using Hudl to improperly view opponents' game and practice film, according to a report from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
The investigation started in the spring, when the Sarasota, Fla., school district received a tip about improper use of Hudl by the Braden River staff, and in investigation found that Braden River coaches used a college staff's account to access game and practice film from four Sarasota high schools. (The college staff account used by the Braden River staff was not named.)
"If a team had access to our Hudl and they were able to see our practices, when you get to the game it would be a huge advantage," Venice High School head coach John Peacock told the paper. "It's common knowledge throughout the state of Florida that we script our first 20 plays.
"I've spoken at multiple coaching clinics the past two or three years on our offense, and it's pretty common knowledge we run our first 20 plays on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If a team had access to our Hudl account, where we made the mistake of putting our practice film under the game file, and they are able to see our practice, it would be a huge advantage."
Sarasota officials contacted Manatee County School District officials, who have since handed down disciplinary action against the Braden River staff, though the district declined to discuss specifics.
Braden River will also self-report the violations to the governing body of Florida's high school sports system.
If these names sound familiar, they should. Braden River and Venice were in the news earlier this year when Peacock was fired from his Venice job after liking an allegedly racist tweet about Braden River head coach Curt Bradley. (Peacock's firing has since been amended to a 3-game suspension.)
Bradley blasted Peacock in a lengthy, public letter, and Peacock responded with a letter of his own, and this paragraph seems much more relevant today given what we now know:
I’m appalled at Coach Bradley desperate attempt to exploit today’s racial tension to distract from the disgrace he has brought to his program. This has happened because I was the coach that finally stood up and exposed Coach Bradley for cheating in order to protect the integrity of high school football. I knew this could be an outcome of that decision, and I was willing to accept that. As sad and unfortunate as it is, it was the right thing to do and I would do it again.
Venice also turned in Braden River in April for holding illegal practices.
Venice and Braden River are scheduled to meet on Sept. 28 in Venice.