Olive Branch High School Football Transfer Looks to Legal Help to Play

OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. - A lawsuit could be the next move to get a former Melrose High School football stand-out on the field for Olive Branch. Offensive tackle Devin Mondie has hired a high powered attorney hoping for a chance to play football his senior year.

Mondie was ruled ineligible after transferring from Melrose to Olive Branch and the firestorm of accusations that followed. He said top Division One colleges have come to Olive Branch games to recruit him, just to see him watching from the sidelines.

Mondie said this should be about his future, and not the politics of high school football.

For a few Fridays each fall, the lights of the football field are a high school football player's whole life. But they've been shut off for offensive tackle standout Devin Mondie, who's been forced to sit out now for two games.

"I haven't sat out since I think since 6th grade. I've always been a starter. It's terrible, I almost cry."

Devin attends Olive Brach High School. He and three teammates transferred there from Melrose High School. The Mississippi High School Activities Association has deemed Devin and his friends ineligible to play football for Olive Branch.

High-powered attorney Steve Farese has been hired to get Devin back on the field for his senior year. Farese said they have a good case. "What started as a simple misunderstanding looks like it's going to end up in court."

He said the MHSAA ruled the kids eligible, then reversed the decision. Olive Branch High School didn't appeal. Farese said the reason given was Devin and his father did not show residency within a 60 day period.

"The rule has never been hard and fast. It's been verbal communication between the schools which is what happened in this case," said Farese. "He was cleared to play. They knew the facts. I think they just succumbed to the pressure of the press."

Olive Branch was accused of recruiting the boys. Claims were made that families were sharing addresses in Olive Branch. The anger of the Melrose coaches was caught on tape, which led to their suspension.

Devin's parents said they were never recruited and deny pay to play allegations. "There has been nothing done under the table, behind closed doors," said Devin's mother, Ashley Martin. "We made an informed decision. We approached the coaches."

As for multiple families having the same address, Devin's father, who is not married to his mother, explains. "We're doing it all right. As for the two families and all that, I'm dating [another Olive Branch student's] mother. That's where that whole thing started."

So why did Devin transfer? He's known at Melrose for being a standout on the football field, but he said the football program at Olive Branch is not the reason he transferred.

"I just wanted to go to Olive Branch to get a better education and pass the ACT so I can go to college, and at Melrose it wasn't happening for me," Devin said. "I took the ACT three times. I was lost when I was there. I've been at Olive Branch since school started and I've learned a lot more than at Melrose."

Farese and Devin's parents just want to see him go to college, and see him back on the field Friday when unbeaten Olive Branch plays unbeaten Southaven.

The next step is to file a restraining order against Olive Branch High School sitting Devin out again. According to Farese, "that will throw the ball in Olive Branch's court. Olive Branch will then have to decide if they do the right thing and play Devin, or do they wait to protect their own interests."

In a statement to FOX13, Desoto County Schools reaffirmed its decision to not appeal to the MHSAA. But Devin still has hope that he will play football this year, go to college, and that he will somehow get back in front of those Friday night lights.

"I think people are blowing this way out of proportion. I just want to succeed in life."

The MHSAA did not return FOX13's calls for comment. Farese said his clients have been ignored by the association as well, and it will be the next target of legal action.

Desoto County Schools said it will no longer comment on this case because it's become a legal matter.

When we asked for Memphis City Schools to comment on Devin's claims that the education at Melrose was inferior to Olive Branch, a spokesperson's response was to only said MCS agreed to Devin's release and wished him luck.