“We all know football is king, but when did it become God?” said one Red Lion teacher

Red Lion Christian Academy gained national attention in February when a 13-year-old student committed to play football at the University of Southern California in five years.

The news was all the more remarkable considering Red Lion Christian’s relative lack of football history. The school only started playing varsity football in 2004 and middle school football four years later. The Lions won three varsity games in their first four seasons.

But in the last two years, the private school with an enrollment of around 750 students has won 16 of 20 varsity games. Last season, Red Lion earned its first state playoff berth…

In March, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association launched an official investigation into whether Red Lion Christian, a private school, used an ineligible player and improperly recruited players. The DIAA probe was prompted by complaints from within the Red Lion and high school sports communities.

Kevin Charles, executive director of the DIAA for five years, says the allegations are among the most serious he has ever encountered. Charges include: recruiting students for athletic purposes; providing scholarship money and housing for incoming players; practicing out of season; playing too many middle school football games in a season and in a week; and using ineligible players.

Read More: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2010-06-20-red-lion-delaware-investigation_N.htm