When Pattakos asked him whether he planned to cut the coaches out of his life forever, the player said, I mean, I dont plan on rebuilding no relationship we had.. He was offered chicken (nuggets) and (told), You can sit here and eat. His deposition is the first time the public has heard from the player in his own words about the discipline on May 24, 2021, where coaches sat the then-17-year-old player in the middle of an auxiliary gym and ordered his teammates to circle the gym doing exercises with 45-pound weights until the player ate an entire pepperoni pizza. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He said hes asked God for forgiveness for eating the pork residue. Attorney Ed Gilbert, who is representing the 17-year-old football player and his family, said Thursday that he agrees with the school board's decision to dismiss the coaches, but added, There is no joy in seeing this. A federal judge said there was insufficient evidence to support allegations that the player was forced to eat food against his religion. On 10/28, the McKinley varsity football team won their home playoff game against GlenOak (Canton, OH) by a score of 40-22. After the hearings, Canton City Schools spokeswoman Lisa Reicosky said Superintendent Jeff Talbertis expectedto make a recommendation to the Canton City school board regarding their employment outside of their coaching positions. This was about something much bigger.. A native of Canton, Ohio, President McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War and is assassinated in 1901. . Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or [email protected]. newsletter. The others mentioned above stayed in football. The Ohio Department of Educations professional conduct division also is reviewing whether the coaches should retain their educational and coaching licenses. He again declined to provide details of what happened that day and saidthe video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. Theyve run plenty of sprints. They needed to show him what it was like to be the only man eating in a room full of hungry, working men. So I just went with it and went to the contest, the player testified. In a separate vote Thursday, the five-member board unanimously hired Athletic Director Antonio Hall as the districts interim head football coach for the upcoming season. His defense is all over the place. He went on to play at the University of Kentucky and in the Canadian Football League with Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan. ", Reach Steve at [email protected], This article originally appeared on The Repository: Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels stirs reactions in Canton, American football coach and executive (born 1975), 'I know where to go and pour them': Fate of 40-year-old Hudepohl six-packs rides on Bengals winning AFC title, Super Bowl, Canton council approves street name change to honor McDaniels football family, I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver, McKinley won a rematch in the playoffs two weeks later, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels stirs reactions in Canton, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. Four young men in this program have been shot in this last calendar year alone, Pattakos said. Pattakos, who said he,Wattley and McLeod saw the surveillance video for the first time Monday,saidhe isn't giving up on reinstatingWattley and McLeod as McKinley coaches. The Canton City School Board held a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss the incident that occurred . "Josh was a coach on the field. Updated: 1:20 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2021. Poll: Head football coach Marcus Wattley, six others dismissed for misconduct. Example video title will go here for this video, New procedures, clinical trials offer hope for pancreatic cancer patients | Health Yeah. Wattleyallowed the player to pick off the pepperoni butpork residue remained, the attorney said. Its absolutely, totally ridiculous, Gilbert said. 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. ', "His awareness of defenses really struck me. They said the player chose to take off the pepperoni and eat it. "While on administrative leave, you are not to be on school property or to have any form of communication or contact with any Canton City School District student(s), parents, or staff member without expressed permission from this office," Canton City Schools Human Resource Director Deidre K. Stokes Davis wrote to Wattley. What we are most certain of is that this communitys unfortunate loss will be another communitys gain, and that Mr. Wattleys excellent record as a coach, educator, and community servant will continue to speak for itself to anyone interested in the truth.". During this. 2022 Canton McKinley Football (6-6) Coach: Antonio Hall. Attorney Stephen Griffin, who represents Gilbert in the coaches defamation lawsuit, declined to respond to Pattakos online post. It was along those lines, and the kid knew he was being disciplined. He didnt provide a reason why. CANTON, Ohio The Canton City School District has fired head high school football coach Marcus Wattley and six of his assistants following an investigation into misconduct against a player. Canton McKinley High School head football coach Marcus Wattley placed on administrative leave along with seven assistants More Headlines: Canton's history-making fire chief reveals big. Talbert said assistant coach Badre El Bardawil, who also had been suspended on May 26 with the other coaches, remains an assistant coachbecause the evidence did not show that he performed in the same manner as the other coaches.. "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, last offseason engineered his way to Denver (and to a new . Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or [email protected]. Judge John Adams found there was not enough evidence to support allegations made by legal representation of the student-athlete. Many religious traditions, including smaller traditions that are not well-known to a wider Western public,have food prohibitions and it would be a considerable religiousviolation to force someone to eat something that is considered a religious taboo.". CANTONMarcus Wattley broke his silence Monday about the discipline of a player that led to the end of his career as McKinley High Schools head football coach. CANTON, Ohio (WOIO) - The whistleblower who alerted school officials about the alleged actions of Canton McKinley High School coaches said he was unfairly . McLeods disciplinary hearing with school officials over his job as a safety and security liaison was held earlier Monday. ', 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. Disciplinary hearings for assistant coaches Joshua Grimsley and Zachary Sweat, both of whom are school resource assistants, are scheduled over the next week. The Canton McKinley grad could be looking at drafting a new quarterback with the No. ", SUBSCRIBE:Get the day's top headlines sent to your inbox each weekday morning with the free 3News to GO! I don't think that's going to happen now, with Josh there.". Canton McKinley High School head football coach Marcus Wattley placed on administrative leave along with seven assistants Canton City Schools' administrative team received a report of an. ", Attorney Michael J. Kahlenberg, who is representing the player and Walker, said the voluntary dismissal of a civil lawsuit is common, but, "Our pool of potential jurors deserves better. He said thedistricts nearly weeklong investigation found that the coaches on May 24 engaged in actions that were deemed"inappropriate, demeaning and divisive" during a non-mandatory strengthening and conditioning workout in the high schools auxiliary gym. But of course, we don't know they acted as a group. I was hoping David Carr would come to the Browns. All rights reserved. The player, who is now 18 years old,said he never brought up his religion to his McKinley coaches or his teammates. You can get anywhere . They needed to get through to him some other way. … 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.. DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. Anna players and coaches pose with the Division VI state championship trophy following the team's 48-14 win over New Middletown Springfield on Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Attorney Edward Gilbert, who is representing the 17-year-old player at the center of the controversyand his family, on June 14 released the surveillance video that was taken on May 24 when the family says Wattley and his staff forced the player to eat an entire pepperoni pizza against his Hebrew Israelite religious beliefs as punishment for missing a voluntary workout. But it wasnt until roughly five years later when the player, then in eighth grade, started to strictly follow the faiths dietary restrictions. At the next days workout, the player said coach Harris told him that he was going to have to apologize to the team and he agreed to do so. School board president John "J.R." Rinaldi said Hall will continue to serve as the district's athletic director and will work with the district's administrative team to build his football staff. He also said he wasnt missing workouts due to using marijuana as the coaches have suggested. The player testified that he was grounded because his father found a Black & Mild wrapper. Like everyone else in Browns country, Hall tuned into the 2020 head coach search in which the Browns strongly considered McDaniels and Robert Saleh but hired Kevin Stefanski. The player said coach McLeod had been sitting in a chair beside him eating a piece of the pizza. Head coach Joe Mazzulla couldn't hide his . McDaniels, 45, is back in a head coaching seat for the first time since getting fired by the Denver Broncos 12 games into the 2010 season. 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 . 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. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. A football player's family has accused Wattley and his assistant coaches offorcing the player to consume an entire pepperoni pizza against his Hebrew Israelite religious beliefs as punishment for missing a voluntary May 20 strengthening and conditioning workout. Canton Former Canton McKinley football coaches dismissed from federal lawsuit alleging they forced player to eat pizza A federal judge said there was insufficient evidence to support. But, he still faces the possibility of. More on the McDaniels family: Canton council approves street name change to honor McDaniels football family. The player said McLeod didnt react and continued to eat the pizza next to him. Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, Ohio State Fire Marshal: Oakwood factory fire was not the result of a criminal act, Improvements coming to I-480 near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Ohio football coaches allegedly force Hebrew Israelite student to eat pork for missing practice, Canton City Schools fire 7 football coaches accused of forcing a Hebrew Israelite student to eat pork, Whistleblower says he was unfairly fired following Canton McKinley High School pizza-eating incident, Former Canton-McKinley football coaches sue school district leaders, father of athlete at center of pizza scandal, Closed Captioning/Audio Description Problems. . Two days after Grimsley sent the message, the district suspended Grimsley, Wattley and six other assistant coaches while it investigated allegations of misconduct before firing Wattley, Grimsley and five other coaches on June 3. Canton City Schools' administrative team received a report of an incident that took place during its strength and conditioning practice on Monday. CANTON, Ohio (WJW)- The family of a McKinley High School football player is calling for more action after it says the head coach forced the teen to eat a pizza. "As a coach, you can be frustrated watching that. CANTON - The former McKinley High School football player who is suing the Canton City School District and his former coaches over alleged civil rights violations says the coaches likely. Dude I don't coach at McKinley nor have I ever but I think you feel like you was entitled t to his job smh he was qualified to be the head coach . This is an extraordinary tactic that is used to teach an extraordinary lesson to an extraordinary young man under extraordinary circumstances.. If not, then you can leave. Thats the lesson.. Thats the lesson that needed to get through to him.. A federal judge filed an order Thursday to . All rights reserved. Following the vote, Talbert rejected Pattakos statement that the districts investigation was rushed, noting the video gave them enough information to determine that the coaches acted inappropriately. "What is on that video shows that what happened on May 24 is an ill-mannered attempt to instill accountability and discipline in our students," he said when firing the coaches. In an 11-page decision, Judge John Adams wrote there would be no ruling against the coaches "merely because it (the court) may not believe the plaintiff's factual allegations." He always pushes the envelope forward. Add the football angle of Massillon-Hoban and this is a can't miss. Box Score. 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.. Game Summary. Superintendent Jeff Talbert called the actions of the coaches "inappropriate, demeaning, and divisive. He also had exceptional talent that few McKinley coaches have recently enjoyed. as the first-year head coach of the Denver Broncos, McDaniels saw his team go . He always tries to make the people around him better. The lawsuit also names Canton City Schools as a defendant. 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.. A. Mentor (9-4) [I:1] L. 21-34. He also had exceptional talent that few McKinley coaches have recently enjoyed. I learned from a great man how to coach football," Wattley told media members during a Monday interview. And then … they start telling everyone to get around the gym with the 45-pound plates, and then they start saying if I dont eat it, then the team will have to keep doing the punishment until its all gone. A district investigation found the charges against the coaches to be true, and Superintendent Jeff Talbert called their actions "inappropriate, demeaning, and divisive." John Carroll quarterback Nick Caserio ended the third quarter with two completions to receiver Dave Ziegler, then opened the fourth quarter with a 12-yard strike to McDaniels. No Bulldogcoachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. He is McKinley's fifth head coach in 10 seasons. Pattakos said the punishment was not merely for missing a single voluntary workout. Pattakos said attempts to settle the lawsuit failed this week when the defendants offered only a four-figure settlement sum. … Physically harming is a lot different. McDaniels is a significant donor. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - New developments occurred this week in the pizza scandal involving a former Canton McKinley football player and his coaches. Before a playing run in the Canadian Football League, Hall spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, whose head coach was Tony Dungy. On a sunny September Saturday in 1997, secrets of the future whispered like ripples as Josh McDaniels played a college football game on the Ohio River. 40-22 (W) McKinley vs. GlenOak. 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. Pattakos has blamed an assistant coach, whom he believes wanted Wattleys job, for presenting an exaggerated version of the story to school officials and the player's family. His father, during his own separate deposition testimony, said he had found the tobaccowrapperin his son's pants pockets and that he had told one of thecoaches that his son was grounded for smoking. The father acknowledged that he never explicitly said whether the smoking referred to a cigaror marijuana. McKinley's Harold Fannin is the Federal League Player of the Year,. 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