Booker High School in Sarasota has made the call to cancel its 2026 varsity football season. Principal Jamal Crook announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the school will field a junior varsity team instead, with a focus on player development and the long-term health of the program. The announcement comes after a summer of change, including the dismissal of head coach Carlos Woods in July and the arrival of new head coach Lance Hoeltke.
The cancellation means no Friday night lights for the Tornadoes this fall. It also means automatic forfeit wins for every team that was scheduled to play Booker, which could shake up playoff point races across the Sunshine State. Players who want to continue playing varsity football can transfer to another public school in Sarasota County under FHSAA rules, but that’s a major decision for any student-athlete. For the alumni and the community, this marks the end of a beloved tradition, at least for this season.
