Politics & Government
Youth Gators Coach Apologizes To City, Asks For Grant Money
Sarasota Gator Youth Football Club President Eddie Austin apologizes to the city for last year's attack on a referee and is asking the city for grant money to pay off jerseys and equipment from last season.
The president of the Sarasota Gator Youth Football Club is apologizing to the City Commission after last year's , and hopes to regain a lost grant.
"No one should have acted the way they did," club president and head coach Eddie Austin told the commissioners Monday night at .
"It was an unfortunate situation for everyone involved," he added later.
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The to coaches Dexter Austin, Timothy Howard, Antonio Bradley and a 14-year-old for attacking referee Jayme Ream of St. Petersburg. The video of the fight had went viral across the nation.
Austin was before the commission during citizens' comments to request that the $25,000 Newtown Community Redevelopment grant that the football club lost out on.
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
That money wouldn't be going into the hands of the club, Austin explained, but rather to Dave Ruth of Ball & Shoe Sports Center, 4219 S. Tamiami Trail, who had ordered the team's jerseys and equipment before he was paid.
Ruth explained that he operates on a "trust then pay" operation.
"When every high school in Sarasota calls, I place the order," Ruth told the commission.
This year, Ruth couldn't do that for the Youth Gator team because the team still owes his business for last year's order. The team has paid some of the balance, but still owes a significant balance, he added.
Ruth explained he had Ruth Fletcher with the city's Neighborhood and Development Services call him to verify that the Gators would receive the money.
The 82 Russell jerseys had came in the week after the attack, he explained.
"[Commissioner Shannon] Snyder came into Ball & Shoe next Monday to tell us that the grant was revoked and no money would go to the gators," Ruth said.
Austin said he's just looking for a way for Ruth not to take the financial loss for a mistake.
that it was unlikely the team would receive the money because they didn't provide audited financial statements and did not show that it has matching funds or in-kind services.
The commissioners did not take action.
This version corrects Ruth Fletcher's position with the City of Sarasota.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
