Southwest puts Dupree and Cummings on leave; Hancock Central forfeits opener

          Southwest will be without head coach Joseph Dupree and assistant coach Robert Cummings indefinitely as they prepare for the season opener next Friday against Howard.

          The Macon-Bibb County Board of Education put both on paid administrative leave is it further investigates the July 26 death of Southwest football player Joshua Ivory Jr. after a Patriots practice.

          The district released a short statement after being contacted by media outlets regarding Dupree’s status: “Joe Dupree was placed on administrative leave with pay, beginning (Wednesday), pending results of our investigation. Due to the ongoing investigation, no further comment is available at this time.”

          The district later released a short text with Cummings’ status.

          Ivory, 15, collapsed on the evening of July 26, and died later that night at a Macon hospital. The district stated a few days later that an early investigation showed “the school followed all GHSA protocols and requirements for practicing outdoors. Our assessment also indicated the school took extra precautions beyond what is required by GHSA standards for outdoor practices.”

          There was no determination that heat played a major role in Ivory’s death, and an official cause has yet to be determined. That process may take a few more months.

          Dupree, who fell victim in March 2020 to COVID-19, is a Southwest grad and is 25-52 in eight seasons. Cummings is part of a football family, and is a Macon coaching staple.

Hancock Central forfeits opener

          In the rare bad news about forfeits not involving COVID-19, Hancock Central had to forfeit its opener against Richmond County.

          The Augusta Chronicle reported the details Thursday.

          Athletics director Sharon Beckom-Brown cited assorted equipment issues.

            "Our reconditioning of helmets did not go forward as we anticipated so we were not able to start practice (on time)," Brown told the Chronicle. "We should have started two weeks ago, but we were unable to do that due to helmets and shoulder pads not being reconditioned.”

            Since the contract could not be fulfilled and COVID wasn’t an issue, and because no other scheduling arrangements could be made, it goes in the books as a forfeit.

            The Bulldogs – who went 7-1 last year and reached the second round of the Class A Public playoffs - are scheduled to visit Washington-Wilkes next week.