UPDATED: CIF declares Antonio “Noodles” Hull ineligible at Diamond Bar until Nov. 9 because of Rule 510 after West Covina disputes transfer …

VBULLDOGS

UPDATE: Upon receiving the form to either sign off on Hull’s transfer or dispute it, West Covina chose to dispute it and provided CIF with a letter/email from Hull’s father that implies the reason for the transfer was because of lack of playing time at quarterback and the opinion that Hull’s talents were not being used properly. The letter/email is what CIF used as proof the transfer was athletically motivated. 

Antonio “Noodles” Hull, who transferred from West Covina to Diamond Bar this offseason, has been ruled ineligible to play varsity football for the Brahmas, according to the CIF-Southern Section’s website.

Hull, a junior-to-be, played quarterback, running back and safety at West Covina last season and was named the Tribune’s Newcomer of the Year. He was in the mix this spring for Diamond Bar’s starting quarterback position.

Exactly how long Hull is ineligible for remains unclear, but reading from a letter he said he received from CIF, Hull says he cannot play until Nov. 9.

The decision on CIF’s website cites bylaw 510 as the reason for Hull’s ineligibility. Rule 510 is the bylaw that includes “undue influence, pre-enrollment contact, failure to disclose pre-enrollment contact and athletically motivated transfers”.

Hull said the athletically motivated portion of the rule is what CIF said applies to him and that he plans to appeal the decision.

“I don’t understand why they’re trying to put a dent in a kid’s career,” Hull said. “We have to appeal and fight it.”

Diamond Bar has gained attention over the past year because of the presence of rapper Snoop Dog’s son Cordell Broadus on the roster. Snoop’s nephew Kanya Bell also plays on the team. Both Broadus and Bell are highly recruited players entering their senior seasons.

Hull made a name for himself during his youth football days while playing for the Compton Vikings in the Snoop Youth Football League.

Although many have speculated about a link between Hull’s transfer to Diamond Bar and Snoop’s influence, Hull is adamant the rapper wasn’t a factor in his decision and that it came out of necessity after his family moved to Pomona.

“Snoop didn’t tell me to come to Diamond Bar or anything,” Hull said. “But I played in his football league and that’s how I met him. He had no involvement in me going.”

Hull said his family has moved from West Covina to Pomona since the end of the season. He petitioned to get out of the Pomona Unified School District and was granted his request. He was then accepted at Diamond Bar.

“It was something that I had to do, we moved,” Hull said. “It was out of my hands. I was still going to West Covina when we moved to Pomona, but my mom just couldn’t it anymore. My grandma works in Diamond Bar.”

West Covina coach Mike Maaggiore and athletic director Brian Murphy have not been returned as of this writing. But keep in mind that’s Mother’s Day.

Aram’s take: Like everyone, I have my own opinion on this matter and at its core this is about rules. I think it’s totally ridiculous. Some will agree, some will disagree. What I do need is more understanding and better clarity of the “athletically motivated” rule, which was almost voted out of the CIF Blue Book last fall. 1. I didn’t think kids could be ineligible past Oct. 1 for football. 2. A valid residential change should trump all, but maybe since Noodles is in a different district, it’s different. 3. I didn’t think schools could “challenge” a transfer, which it appears is what West Covina did. In the end, you have a kid whose main goal in life right now is to play football at the next level, and hopefully beyond, denied his eligibility for most of his all-important junior season. And for what? Even if he came right out and said “I DON’T WANT TO PLAY FOR WEST COVINA ANYMORE” what’s it matter? That’s his choice and his parents’ choice, for whatever reason, they/he made it. On every level of sports, EVERY LEVEL, players come and go, coaches come and go, and yet we continue to have a problem in high school athletics where CERTAIN cases are not okay while others are. If you don’t see hypocrisy in that, then you’re blind. Happy Mother’s Day!