QB Smith leaves Judge for George Washington

A new quarterback is now delivering the football to George Washington High's two Temple-bound receivers, Brandon Chudnoff and Daquan Cooper.

Not just any quarterback, either.

Tony Smith, who, in two seasons as Father Judge's starter, passed for 2,838 yards and 26 touchdowns, yesterday was cleared to play for Washington by the District 12 committee.

Smith, last Saturday, represented Washington in a scrimmage vs. Cardinal O'Hara, and that could have been a problem since Judge had not yet signed off on the transfer.

"If we had not deemed him eligible in this hearing," said Robert Coleman, the D-12 chairman, "there could have been penalties. That's no longer an issue."

Smith's neighborhood public high school is Abraham Lincoln. Coleman said Smith was free to enroll at Washington as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act because Lincoln is considered "persistently dangerous."

Coleman said Smith's approval was delayed "because of issues" between his family and Judge's administration. Those issues indirectly affected Washington's handling of the situation, he said.

"We've asked everyone to close things out," Coleman added. "Everyone needs to go forward."

- Ted Silary