Booker High School announced it will not have a varsity football team and will only field JV on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in a Facebook post written by Principal Jamal Crook. And while Booker is being affected the most, how are the teams on the Tornadoes schedule, especially their fellow District 3A-12 schools, impacted?
Bayshore, Braden River, Cardinal Mooney and Southeast — who are in the same district — are all searching for new matchups after their 10-game schedule turned into nine just over a week before the regular season begins on Friday, Aug. 21. Venice, Palmetto and out-of-state opponent St. John's in Washington D.C. cancelled their regular-season games, which were the first three of the season, and Manatee also cancelled its fall classic
game against the Tornadoes before Booker announced its decision.
Southeast Athletic Director Matthew Kitchie said there had been hints over the last week. And according to some ADs, there have been hints that this would be the outcome all summer. In July, former head coach Carlos Woods was dismissed after one season. Then, the Sarasota Police Department confirmed Woods was under criminal investigation on July 30. Since Woods' exit, more than 21 players have left the program following three straight state semifinal appearances.
On July 29, Booker announced Lance Hoeltke would replace Woods. And on Tuesday, Aug. 11, an official letter from the FHSAA was sent to Booker with a $500 fine for allowing eighth graders to participate in spring football practices with already enrolled high school players, which is against policy.
So, as Booker works to steady its football program, area schools are dealing with the aftershocks.
Cardinal Mooney AD Rafael Fernandez said he found out Booker's varsity season was cancelled a "few days ago," which is also when Bayshore AD Daryl Mackey heard the news. Kitchie was notified on Wednesday.
Kitchie received a call from Sarasota County AD Tony Miller on Wednesday. According to Kitchie, Miller said Booker's football numbers were so low that playing as a varsity squad would be a safety issue.
Southeast's game against Booker was scheduled for Sept. 25, and he described the impact of its cancellation as "massive." In the past 24 hours, he's worked to "get ahead" of some of the impacts, cancelling referees and security. Kitchie also has to think about who is working the gates and when to order items for concessions, details he figures out after the schedule is finalized in January.
But there's only so much a program can get ahead.
"The real challenge right now is trying to reschedule a game this late," Kitchie said. "And even if we find a game, we may have to travel, we may have to go across the state just to make sure our kids are getting a great experience, but then also, we want to go into the playoffs. We got to get as many points as possible."
Member schools can post on the FHSAA classified advertisements page detailing schedule needs and asking for potential opponents. Since Wednesday, Southeast and Wellen Park have posted, offering their bye week and the new opening dates to increase schedule chances. But it's hard to find a solid match.
Wellen Park, which opened its doors on Monday, Aug. 10, is mostly underclassmen as a brand-new school, which AD Phu Nguyen notes in his post. He wrote that with only a few upperclassmen, the Eagles "are looking for a matchup that makes sense for both programs."
Bayshore has faced similar challenges.
"Within 24 hours, we're all scrambling around trying to find an additional game because we don't want this to impact us as it gets close to us trying to make a run," Mackey said, later adding, "We just don't want this to come back to bite us. We don't think we should have to suffer any consequences because of that situation."
Mackey said he was close to rescheduling a school for Oct. 16, when Bayshore was originally supposed to play Booker at home. But the potential school's principal was concerned about players traveling hours to Bayshore and returning as late as 4 a.m.
"You do take a hit," Mackey said. "Luckily, it's in enough time that I can cancel the deputies, the SROs that would be at the game. But even from a standpoint of the gate, yes, it does hurt us. Luckily, I'm not looking to travel to go somewhere else to play a game because you're gonna end up spending more money. But it's been tough the last 40 to 48 hours."
Fernandez said Cardinal Mooney — which has won two titles in the last three years and is ranked No. 8 in the state heading into the season — isn't affected that much, and is in talks with schools to fill the Week 10 availability away or at home. With a strong schedule and a stronger likelihood that Mooney will return to the playoffs, Fernandez is more worried about Booker's situation and the unfairness of it.
Cardinal Mooney's JV will travel to Booker twice to play, according to Fernandez.
As far as the FHSAA is concerned, Booker will face no penalties for not fielding a team.
"The contractual agreements between Booker and their opponents needs to be worked out and agreed upon between the parties," FHSAA spokesperson Jessica Eley wrote in an email. "If any of the games become forfeits, then Booker can potentially be penalized for the 2027-28 season per policy 4. But not if those schools agree to cancel the games."
Several rival athletic directors echoed the same sentiment. As hard as it is on them, Booker students are impacted the most.
"The biggest challenge is now replacing that game on our schedule, and putting these kids into a good position to try and compete to win and maybe get a chance to go to the playoffs, and this hurts a little bit," Kitchie said. "A lot of kids that were Manatee County kids came back to Manatee County, so that's nice. There are benefits and negatives to all of it. Unfortunately, I feel bad for the kids that are at Booker and are in a bad spot, maybe where they can't play football."
2026 Booker High School Varsity Football Schedule
Aug. 14 at Manatee (preseason)
Aug. 21 vs. Venice
Aug. 28 at Palmetto
Sept. 10 at Braden River
Sept. 19 at St. John's College (Washington D.C.)
Sept. 25 at Southeast
Oct. 2 at Valdosta, Ga.
Oct. 9 at Wellen Park
Oct. 16 at Bayshore
Oct. 23 vs. Cardinal Mooney
Oct. 30 vs. Riverview
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Booker's varsity football season canceled: How its rivals are affected
