Section to Consider Player’s Move to Mater Dei

Southern Section officials have scheduled a hearing today to determine whether Fountain Valley senior Kelvin Millhouse can transfer to Mater Dei and remain eligible to play football. A three-person committee will make the decision.

Fountain Valley Principal Gary Ernst would not sign the transfer papers, saying he believed Millhouse is trying to transfer solely for athletic reasons, which is against Southern Section rules.

“His parents said he was going to transfer for academic reasons,” Ernst said, “but we’re one of the top 100 academic high schools in the U.S.”

On the transfer form, there is a Southern Section stipulation that if the principal of the school from which the student is transferring believes the transfer is strictly for athletic reasons, the principal does not have to sign the form.

Mater Dei Principal Pat Murphy said there was nothing wrong with the transfer.

“I believe Mater Dei did everything by the book,” Murphy said. “Everything was done exactly as it is for every other student who applies for admission here.

“We did conduct an investigation after we got a complaint from Fountain Valley via [the section office]. The investigation showed we had done everything properly.”

If the committee rules in Fountain Valley’s favor, Crowley said Millhouse will lose varsity eligibility in football or any other varsity sport he played in 1997-98 at Fountain Valley.