UPDATE (October 24): The UIL state executive committee met on Thursday and made the following rulings:

-The SEC ruled unanimously that Westwood would not have to forfeit their District 9-3A DI games.
-The SEC ruled unanimously to suspend Palestine Westwood head coach Richard Bishop from football activities for the remainder of the school year, plus a public reprimand and two years probation.
-The SEC ruled unanimously to suspend Westwood ISD technology assistant Donald McCoy from all UIL activities for the remainder of the school year.

Sources tell DCTF that the Bishop family plans to pursue additional legal remedies after today's UIL ruling.

——— Original story from October 21 ———

Palestine Westwood head coach Richard Bishop has been recommended for suspension for the remainder of the season following a District 9-3A Division I District Executive Committee recommendation on Monday regarding allegations that he orchestrated and executed a plan to videotape opponents signals while scouting. 

The DEC laid out severe punishments for Coach Bishop and the Westwood football program, ruling that Westwood and Coach Bishop committed violations that were “intentional, serious and egregious decisions” disregarding the rules of fair play, according to sources with knowledge of the meeting committed.

The DEC also ruled that Westwood must forfeit ALL district games for the rest of the 2024 season, including games that have yet to be played, and has also suspended another Westwood ISD employee for all district athletic event for the remainder of the season. Both suspensions are recommendations from the DEC to the UIL State Executive Committee.

Sources have confirmed to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football that Palestine Westwood intends to appeal all of the DEC’s rulings to the UIL State Executive Committee (SEC). A meeting by the SEC to hear the appeal will likely take place very soon as there are just three weeks remaining in the regular season before the playoffs. 

Palestine Westwood is currently undefeated in 9-3A Division I play, 7-0 on the 2024 season and ranked No. 6 in the most recent DCTF state rankings released today.