Oak Park football players may be suspended for alcohol incident
By Debbie Sporich
Acorn Staff Writer

According to Sgt. Mark Liddi of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, just after midnight on Sat., July 8, seven football players from Oak Park High School (OPHS) varsity team were cited for drinking alcohol along with four football players from the Santa Ynez area while at a school-sanctioned overnight trip to Santa Ynez to participate in the Passing League Tournament.

Liddi said that seven of eight OPHS players and all four Santa Ynez football players tested positive for alcohol but because the incident involves juveniles, no names could be released.

According to police reports, the OPHS football players were invited to stay with football players from the Santa Ynez area to avoid hotel costs. Liddi said that apparently there was a barbecue at one location, and then students returned to the residence where they were to stay the night.

OPHS head football coach and co-athletic coordinator Dick Billingsley said that Oak Park Unified School District has a zero