The Glenwood Cougars, an Illinois-based youth football squad, was suspended from playoffs after talented 13-year-old player Tremayne Gandy Jr. was promoted to high school.
According to Atlanta Black Star, the entire varsity pee wee football team was suspended because Gandy Jr. was promoted to 10th grade for his academic talent. The 200-player team was suspended by Southwest Midget Football League after it was determined that the program violated league rules by having a high school student on its varsity roster.
“Not being able to play [is] weird,” Gandy Jr. said. “[Glenwood Cougars], it means a lot to me. They’re pretty much a part of my life. It’s all I’ve ever known.”
His father, Tremayne Gandy Sr., said he received a call from Southwest Midget League’s president, Lenny Rhein, who delivered the bad news.
“I got a call from the Southwest Midget League President, and he asked [if] was my son [was] in high school,” Gandy Sr. told the outlet. “Of course, me being honest, I’m not going to lie, and I’m proud of him for his accomplishments. I said ‘yes,’ and that’s when he went to explain to me [that] high schoolers aren’t allowed in our program.”
The teen’s mother, Sylvia Gandy, added that she nor Gandy Sr. knew that his being promoted to high school would affect his little league career.
“We didn’t know as parents, him being ahead two years, was going to affect him playing football at this little, the little league level,” Gandy said. She added that he was always an advanced student and had skipped two grades.
“He was always a bright child. He started reading at the age of two,” she said.
Gandy Jr. had reportedly played football with the Glenwood Jaguars franchise since he was five years old. However, a statement from Rhein indicated that the league’s insurance policy doesn’t cover registered high school students regardless of their age. As such, he’s required to play with his now-peers.
“He’s built like a 13-year-old. He’s not built like he’s a sophomore in high school,” Gandy Sr. said.
Despite the disappointment, the young boy reportedly plans to continue his academic journey and eventually attend Michigan University. There, he would like to play football and study aerospace, astronomy or meteorology.
