However, the family in question identifies themselves as Christian. My job is in the courtroom, not the press room.. Superintendent Jeff Talbert said it was surveillance video that gave him the information he needed to make his recommendation. In an online post that accompanies the transcripts, Pattakos writes thatthe players testimony, along with testimony from his father, another former coach and affidavits from his former teammates, prove the coaches never knowingly violated the players religious beliefs, a key contention that elevated the story to an international level and is the basis for the players federal civil rights lawsuit. He emphasized that the player had the ability to leave at any time and had the option of selecting an alternative food that did not contain pork. He didnt provide a reason why. CANTON A shortened fall camp and two abbreviated scrimmages left Mentor football coach Matt Gray a little unsure what he had in his 2021 football team heading into the season opener Aug.. And then we walk out into the auxiliary gym and theres a pizza in the chair, and I think coach I think Coach Brodie handed me the pizza and I set it down. DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. Pattakos said Wattley previously had witnessed the eating-alone lesson work effectively in a different Division I locker room. And then I realize it is pepperoni pizza, so I start saying I dont eat pork and I dont want to eat it at least 10 times.. On May 24, 2021, head football coach Marcus Wattley allegedly forced an unnamed 17-year-old football team member to eat a pizza made with pork, although the student's religious beliefs prohibited him . He was doing his best to teach an extraordinary athlete an important lesson., After the boards vote, Pattakos yelled to the superintendent and the board, This was a bad decision. Following the vote to relieve Wattley of his duties, the board confirmed athletic director Antonio Hall will serve as interim head football coach for the 2021 season. The decision left the player, the players father, Kenny Walker, attorney Edward Gilbert, and former assistant football coach Josh Grimsley as defendants. When Pattakos asked the player why he participated in a rib-eating contest with his teammates in 2019, he recalled that he had asked Wattley whether the ribs were beef or pork but Wattley didnt know. Attorney Ed Gilbert, who is representing the player and his family, called the coaches explanation for their punishment bizarre and a desperate attempt to try to hurt (the players) family. He said no matter what the coaches say, it doesnt excuse them for coercing a player to eat pork against his religious beliefs. Monica A. Coleman, a theologian and professor of Africana studies at the University of Delaware, said someHebrew Israelites do consider themselves to be Jewish. He emphasized that the player had the ability to leave at any time and had the option of selecting an alternative food that did not contain pork. A. Mentor (9-4) [I:1] L. 21-34. Canton McKinley High School Head Football Coach Marcus Wattley and six assistant coaches have been fired after trying to force a player to eat pork against his religious beliefs. All rights reserved. He said he later told some of the coaches over the phone that he would get this straightened out because they said some people had suggested that the coaches had tried to physically harm him, which he said was untrue. He is McKinley's fifth head coach in 10 seasons. 11, 2021 at 4:07 PM PDT. Do you support the move, Interim McKinley Bulldogs football coach Antonio Hall will look to 'put our kids first', Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. School officials told The Repository this week that the school will review its entire athletic program. After I got off the phone call, I thought to myself, like I cant like what they did to me was just too far extreme disrespect, so I just left it there.. After meeting for more than an hour in executive session, the board of education unanimously voted to terminate Wattley's contract, along with the following other coaches: Wattley and the remaining six coaches were originally on administrative leave following an accusation that they forced a student to eat pepperoni pizza after he showed up late to a non-mandatory practice on May 24. The Canton City School Board held a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss the incident that occurred . … I still have visuals of them yelling at me and stuff to eat it, and I felt like my religion didnt matter to them, and they threw it out the window, and I told them I didnt eat it and they made me feel some type of way.. Black Jews, who maintain a Christological perspective and adopt Jewish rituals. Gilbert said the family has delayed filing its lawsuit because the district has asked to mediate the dispute out of court. Wattleyallowed the player to pick off the pepperoni butpork residue remained, the attorney said. He served as interim during the 2021 season. There's nobody more tenacious. Nordonia, 11-13 last year, was looking to also avenge a 58-42 loss last year to McKinley as a 19th seed in the . Talbert said surveillance videogave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board. The player, who is now 18 years old,said he never brought up his religion to his McKinley coaches or his teammates. Meanwhile,there is still pending litigation in the case the coaches filed against the player, his family, and Canton City Schools. Pattakos blamed an assistant coach, whom he did not name, for inflaming the situation by reporting an exaggerated version to administrators and the players family. violated the player's constitutional rights, the districts completed internal investigation, interviews with five of the coaches and three players, Hebrew Israelites do consider themselves to be Jewish, was hired as the districts interim head football coach for the upcoming season, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Canton McKinley Football's "You Can Get There From Here" series. The player said coach McLeod had been sitting in a chair beside him eating a piece of the pizza. See below to read the full 10-page ruling from Judge Adams: Copyright 2022 WOIO. They lose sleep over me and the boys.. Seven high school football coaches in Canton, Ohio, have been let go after they allegedly forced a 17-year-old player, who is a Hebrew Israelite and cannot consume pork, to eat a pepperoni pizza . "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. By The Associated Press. Canton City Schools SuperintendentJeff Talbert reiterated the statements he gave Wednesday when he announced the coaches would face further discipline. . McKinley started the shortened 2020 COVID season 3-0 before losing three of its final five games. … Physically harming is a lot different. The student, now 18, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Akron in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, against the Canton City School District and his former coaches. I knew it was coming sooner or later.". An investigation found the seven staff members made a player eat pork in violation of his religious beliefs. Traffic alert: Crash closes 224 West at Kenmore Leg in Summit County, Fan Expo Cleveland to feature 'The Office' cast, Christina Ricci and more as celebrity guests this March, FORECAST | Another surge in temps with highs topping 60 degrees, 3 skyscraper-sized asteroids making approach to Earth this week, an investigation into misconduct against a player, Bigger than basketball: How a small team, facing huge odds, became champions, Keith Wakefield retires after 30 seasons as Perry Panthers football coach, OHSAA to expand football playoffs to 16 teams, Romero Harris - Weight room coach and baseball assistant. The first NFL game action of the 2022 season will feature the debuts of a couple of head coaches.The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that the Jaguars and Raiders will square off in the Hall of . CANTON, Ohio Eight coaches from the Canton McKinley High School football team have been placed on administrative leave, including head coach Marcus Wattley. He saidthe video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. McDaniels is a significant donor. I learned from a great man how to coach football. John "Spider" Miller is an old Canton coach who disagrees with Jack Rose on Mayfield, but agrees on McDaniels. Former McKinley football coaches dismiss defamation lawsuit, intend to refile Kelli Weir The Repository 0:00 0:57 The former Canton McKinley football coaches who have been waiting for. CNN Seven of eight Ohio high school football coaches who allegedly forced a Hebrew Israelite player to eat a pizza that previously had pork on it, despite knowing his beliefs forbade him. … It was nice seeing him, but like, what was going through my mind at the time was the disrespect that they put me through, he testified. Four young men in this program have been shot in this last calendar year alone, Pattakos said. Canton McKinley head football coach Marcus Wattley and six of his assistants were fired last week following allegations the coaches forced a 17-year-old player to eat an entire pepperoni. I just dont understand why after I said I dont eat pork, they didnt take it (the pepperoni pizza) away. While two of his teammates have signed affidavits that say the coaches offered the player a nonpork option such as McDonalds or chicken, the player testified, I didnt hear nothing about no chicken nuggets.. He was asked to accept this form of a lesson. "This incident does not reflect the Canton City School District's culture of protecting the physical and emotional wellbeing of our students.". Black Israelites, who are most nationalistic and furthest from traditional Judaism. According to the district, the coaches knew the teen was a member of the Hebrew Israelite faith, and that consuming pork was in violation of his religion's practices. Ex-McKinley football player sues, alleges coaches coerced him to eat pizza against beliefs, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 3. Head coach Joe Mazzulla couldn't hide his . I love them, they know that, Wattley said. They have insisted they weretrying to rescue a troubled player whose off-the-field behavior was influencing his teammates and was jeopardizing his future as a Division I college athlete. Following the hearings, the superintendent is expected to make a recommendation to the Canton City school board regarding their employment outside of their coaching positions, according to Canton City Schools spokeswoman Lisa Reicosky. Note: This video has been altered to protect kids' identities. Are you hungry? Pattakos said Wattley previously had witnessed the eating-alone lesson work effectively in a different Division I locker room. Canton family's faith at the center of McKinley High football coach abuse allegations, Head football coach Marcus Wattley, six others dismissed for misconduct. The sprints werent working,Pattakos said. The Canton City Board of Education voted to fire the coaches on June 3, 2021 after surveillance camera video surfaced of the incident. McLeods disciplinary hearing with school officials over his job as a safety and security liaison was held earlier Monday. They are more than coaches, said Powell, who lost hisfather when he was young. Ed Gilbert, the attorney representing the player and his family, told 3News in a statement: "We feel the court made a clear error here. The story was first reported by The Repository on Wednesday as Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Talbert announced that the district had begun investigating a complaint made against the coaches, including McKinley Head Coach Marcus Wattley. Do you support the move? Wattley was hired at McKinley in 2019 and McLeod has been coaching since 2004. In the trial that was to start Monday, Stark County Common Pleas Judge Natalie Haupt had dismissed Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeff Talbert and board members John J.R. Rinaldi, Scott Russ, Kim Brown, David Kaminski and Eric Resnick from the case. Jack Rose, who coached against McDaniels at Massillon in the '90s, is betting on him now. The lawsuit filed by the Hebrew Israelite players family alleged that on May 24, 2021 the coaches forced him to eat a pepperoni pizza after he missed a voluntary practice session. For inexplicable reasons, the board denied this basic request and refused to listen to these young men, reflecting that the district's leadership is not interested in the truth of this matter, and is instead motivated by something else. Canton City Schools' administrative team received a report of an incident that took place during its strength and conditioning practice on Monday. Canton McKinley Bulldogs. Gilbert has said the family has agreed to meet with district officials before pursuing a lawsuit. The coaches had filed the lawsuit in July 2021 after they said their reputations had been damaged by the false accusation that they punished the then-17-year-old football player on May 24,. Seven high school football coaches have been fired from McKinley Senior High School in Canton, Ohio on Thursday following an incident in which a Jewish student-athlete was forced to eat a . He is McKinley's fifth head coach in 10 seasons. The truth about the Canton school board's indefensible decision to fire McKinley football coach Marcus Wattley and his staff over false accusations that they forced a player to eat pork against his religion "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes." The Canton McKinley grad could be looking at drafting a new quarterback with the No. 8/19. Box Score. But the player testified that Wattley told him that if he walked out, he couldnt come back. McKinley's Harold Fannin is the Federal League Player of the Year,. With the same vote, the board also deemed assistant football coaches Frank McLeod, Zachary Sweat and Josh Grimsley as ineligible for future coaching positions. It was just hurting to lift it in the air., When a coach sent him a text message asking him about his absence, the player responded that Ill owe you Monday.. "Thom used to tell me, 'You can play him on defense, but if he gets hurt, you're fired.'. Pattakos intends to refile the lawsuit as soon as is practicable. In a statement, he said the goal of the new lawsuit is to hold the school district leaders accountable for the harm they caused the coaches when they failed to fully investigate the accusations, did not inform the public truthfully and did not treat all involved parties fairly. I will defer to Judge Haupt and her able staff to handle. Repository sports writer Josh Weir contributed to this article. Six former Canton-McKinley High School football coaches have filed a civil lawsuit alleging district leaders and a player's father and attorney defamed them, damaged their reputations and caused . I just always told them whenever they bought food and stuff, I told them I dont eat pork and left it at that, he said. McDaniels kicked in addition to playing quarterback at McKinley when Miller coached the Bulldogs' defensive backs. ', Greece's worst-ever rail crash kills dozens, crushes cars, Dust storm turns skies across Texas orange causing low visibility conditions for drivers, What to know about OHSAA district wrestling: Area wrestlers heading to four sites. Calling Wattley a "rising star,"Pattakos said Wattley is heartbroken to be away from his team but he believes he did nothing wrong. Pattakos said he believesthe assistant coach, whom he did not name, wanted Wattleys job. Grimsleys message advised Humphrey that he had concerns with how the student was treated. Talbert said it was the surveillance video that gave him the information he needed to make his recommendation to fire Wattley and his assistants. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Hall, who is coming up on the one-year anniversary of his hire as McKinleys athletic director, playedon McKinleys 1997 and 1998 state championshipteams. Return for updates. Video showed the moments the player claims the coaches forced him to eat a pork-based pepperoni pizza after showing up later to a non-mandatory practice. Rose prefers Carr to Baker Mayfield based on pulling out wins in fourth quarters. Caserio is general manager of the Houston Texans. We will continue to make every reasonable effort to ensure that justice is served in this case.. ", SUBSCRIBE:Get the day's top headlines sent to your inbox each weekday morning with the free 3News to GO! Following a due-process hearing with the Canton City School District June 8, the attorney for Canton McKinley Senior High . The attorney alsoblamesthe Canton City School District for conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation, an accusation the district denies. CANTON, Ohio The head football coach at an Ohio high school and six other coaches there have been ousted after a football player said he was . You can read Judge Adams' dismissal ruling below: Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Hall is one of the drivers behind the Marion Motley statue planned for a spot near the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McDaniels had a 26-year head coaching career that included head coaching stops at Warren G. Harding High School, Canton McKinley High School and Massillon Jackson High School. A high school football coach and six assistant coaches McKinley Senior High School in Canton, Ohio, have been fired after they allegedly forced a player to eat pork against his religious beliefs . Hall, who also serves as McKinley's athletic director,. He went on to play at the University of Kentucky and in the Canadian Football League with Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan. The district has declined to provide details of what happened on May 24. CANTON, Ohio (WOIO) - The whistleblower who alerted school officials about the alleged actions of Canton McKinley High School coaches said he was unfairly . Video that shows the events that led to 7 McKinley High School coaches being removed. In an email to 3News, Canton City Schools says its administrative team received a report of an incident that took place on Monday, May 24, during McKinley footballs strength and conditioning practice. When head coaches like Bob Rupert, Dave Cady and Mike Riley were routinely taking Bulldog teams to the Final Four, they benefitted with better talent, better support, and players with better attitudes, which definitely contributed to their success at Canton McKinley. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. Thursdays board action only affects thecoaching contracts. It was rushed. CANTON, Ohio (WJW) The Canton City School District Board of Education held a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss further discipline for a group of football coaches. to me "dogging" Wattley because you couldn't stand the fact I said McK football is in a much better place now than two years ago and then had to make your 2nd profile of the day yesterday to pose . She ruled the alleged defamatory statements attributed to district officials either contained no false statements of facts, were opinions and judgment calls or had not been published. "McDaniels was a good possession receiver. Theyve run plenty of sprints. 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