Learning what he learned from his first time, applying all the knowledge he's gained since then, it's just the perfect equation for success.". 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. 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 . They needed to get through to him some other way. When Pattakos asked him if he believed that any of the coaches intended to harm him by violating his religious beliefs, the player responded: I dont know what they were what was going through their heads, so I dont know.. Gilbert has said the player was told that if he didn't eat the pizza, that his teammates would be forced to perform additional drills and that the player's status with the team was in question. Superintendent Jeff Talbert called the actions of the coaches "inappropriate, demeaning, and divisive. He went on to play at the University of Kentucky and in the Canadian Football League with Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan. They are more than coaches, said Powell, who lost hisfather when he was young. "(Former St. Vincent-St. Mary head coach Dan) Boarman showed me a lot, how to take care of kids and everything that comes with the kid not just the football player but the student, the person and the athlete. This was an extraordinary situation we all can learn from, Pattakos said. Grimsleys message advised Humphrey that he had concerns with how the student was treated. 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. ", Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com, 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. Other coaches involved have not responded to requests for comment or have declined comment. Theyve run plenty of sprints. FEB 24 WILSON BOMBSHELL And now we know more about why so many people dislike Russell Wilson. We remain proud to fight for these wrongly maligned coaches and clear their good names in court, Pattakos said. Fletcher played 256 NFL games, third all-time among linebackers behind Junior Seau (268) and Clay Matthews (278). I learned from a great man how to coach football. Attorney Peter Pattakos, the lead attorney representing six of the former McKinley football coaches in two of the lawsuits related to the pizza-eating incident, on Thursday released a 298-page transcript of the players roughlyseven-hour testimony that was taken as part of a court deposition. The Canton City School Board held a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss the incident that occurred . 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 try to incorporate that with my coaches every day.. as the first-year head coach of the Denver Broncos, McDaniels saw his team go . The Rev. McKinley went 14-6 in Wattley's two seasons as head coach, with a couple of second-round playoff losses and an 0-2 record against rival Massillon. I knew about Josh then, and I followed him over the years.". Its unclear from the players testimony whether the other coaches heard the player talking about his religion. Frank McLeod, one of the assistant coaches who was dismissed, on Tuesday said he believes the district's surveillance video clears the coaches. More:Canton McKinley High School football coaches to face further discipline, possible criminal charges. Editors Note: Below is a previous report by 19 News about the lawsuit. CANTON McKinley High School head football coach Antonio Hall has built quite a rapport with the Bowling Green coaching staff. Canton family's faith at the center of McKinley High football coach abuse allegations, Head football coach Marcus Wattley, six others dismissed for misconduct. Its not like they put their hands on me, but they forced me to eat it, he said. A few thousand watched the Marietta Pioneers nurse a lead against the visiting John Carroll Blue Streaks. Canton McKinley pizza scandal: Judge dismisses former football coaches from lawsuit. The coaches, who were dismissed from their coaching and school district jobs last year,have maintained that they did not force the player to eat anything, that they did not know about the players religious faith, they had offered him chicken nuggets as an alternative and it was the players decision to pick off the pepperoni and cheese and eat the pizza. "When Josh was talking in the offensive huddle, you would have thought Coach McD was talking to us. But attorney Peter Pattakos, who was retained by Wattley on Thursday, said Thursday that version of events is exaggerated and parts of it are false. Ben McDaniels (born June 6, 1980) is an American football coach who is the Wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Talbert, a former head football coach, said surveillance video of the high school's auxiliary gym gave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to dismiss the coaches for behavior that fell short of the district's professional and ethical standards. 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. Canton City Schools SuperintendentJeff Talbert reiterated the statements he gave Wednesday when he announced the coaches would face further discipline. He was offered chicken (nuggets) and (told), You can sit here and eat. Beyond the disciplinary hearings, two other investigations remain open: The Canton City police department is investigating whether the coaches conduct rises to the level of a criminal hazing charge. Pattakos also states that hes releasing the transcripts in the interest of correcting the record and mitigating the damage caused by the defamatory accusations that have ruined the reputations of former McKinley head football coach Marcus Wattley and his former assistant coaches Frank McLeod, Zachary Sweat, Romero Harris, Cade Brodie and Tyler Thatcher. I'll buy you a pizza and we can all watch you eat. Box Score. "I'm very excited Josh is getting another opportunity. Dominique Sanders' squad had something to itself and 13th-seeded Canton McKinley. MEDINA, Ohio - Solon and Midview both picked up big wins in the OHSAA Division I regional semifinals at Medina High School on Tuesday night. He was so far ahead ahead of the curve.". He said he began seeing a counselor in June 2021 and has made progress. He always pushes the envelope forward. Canton McKinley head football coach Marcus Wattley and six of his assistants were firedlast weekfollowingallegations thecoaches forced a 17-year-old player to eat an entire pepperoni pizza against his Hebrew Israelite religious beliefs as punishment for missing a voluntary workout. He said the student had stopped regularly communicating with his coaches, had left workouts early, and had been acting disrespectfully to coaches. 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, 2021, by forcing him to eat a pepperoni pizza while knowing that it was against his religious beliefs. 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 . 2022 Canton McKinley Football (6-6) Coach: Antonio Hall. misguided attempt to instill discipline, Canton McKinley High School football coaches to face further discipline, possible criminal charges, suspended on May 26 with the other coaches, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. There's nobody more tenacious. Last offseason, former McKinley star Harold Fannin signed with . 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. Claim your team to manage the roster, schedule, scores, stats and more. A federal judge filed an order Thursday to . 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. The lawsuit also had been filed against Canton City school leaders but they were dismissed from the case in January. 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 . Disciplinary hearings for assistant coaches Joshua Grimsley and Zachary Sweat, both of whom are school resource assistants, are scheduled over the next week. NFL Scouting Combine quick hits:Andrew Berry feels Greg Newsome II is 'going to be a pretty big part' of Browns' future McDaniels, a Canton McKinley High School graduate, was all smiles as he . Wattley, through his attorney Peter Pattakos, saidthe accusations that thecoaches forced a 17-year-old player to eat an entire pepperoni pizza against his Hebrew Israelite religious beliefs for missing a voluntary May 20 strengthening and conditioning workoutarefalse and exaggerated. Canton McKinley Football's "You Can Get There From Here" series. He saidthe video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. "We were ahead, with the ball," recalls Kuberacki, 44. Rose prefers Carr to Baker Mayfield based on pulling out wins in fourth quarters. A federal judge in U.S. District Court dismissed seven former football coaches from a lawsuit filed by a former football player and his family, citing insufficient evidence to support allegations that the player was forced to eat food against his religion. He recalled two specific instances, including one where a pepperoni pizza was offered, where he says he told the coaches that he didnt eat pork and the coaches gave him an alternative, such as chicken. 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. "What I can tell you is that all of our athletes are safe, we are continuing on with our strengthening and conditioning program and we will investigate this according to our district policies. . "It was a situation that deserves to be investigated so we're going to investigate it," Talbert told The Repository. It is a substantial piece of justice for the coaches that they are very grateful for.". Las Vegas is, and he's going to rock it 'til the wheels fall off. Attorney Kathryn Perrico, who is representing the Canton City school leaders, responded to Pattakos' statement by saying, "The district maintains that the rulings issued by the court were sound and well-reasoned, and declines to respond to the self-serving and inaccurate statements presented by Peter Pattakos. He said he missed some workouts because he was getting paid to do yard work for a coachs friend, a woman at his moms church and his grandfather. "Caserio was a standout," said Kuberacki. The school board on Thursday voted to fireWattley and six of his assistant coaches after the districts completed investigation found that the coaches on May 24 acted in a demeaning and divisive manner in what school officials have called a misguided attempt to instill discipline in the student athletes.. "It's not going to get the coaches their jobs back. 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. 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." So do my clients.". Note: This video has been altered to protect kids' identities. Im not going to respond to every allegation that comes up because its like a moving target. Records show the Canton City School District and Superintendent Jeff Talbert were already dismissed from the lawsuit. The Canton Repository has agreed to not name the 17-year-old player, who has received interest from Division I colleges. 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. Wattleyallowed the player to pick off the pepperoni butpork residue remained, the attorney said. Overall, he was a coach for 40-years and was named to the Ohio high school coaches hall of fame. It was along those lines, and the kid knew he was being disciplined. Hall was a star offensive tackle on the Bulldogs' 1997 national championship team and later earned All-SEC honors at Kentucky before stints as an assistant coach at GlenOak, McKinley, and St. Thomas Aquinas. On 10/28, the McKinley varsity football team won their home playoff game against GlenOak (Canton, OH) by a score of 40-22. 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.. This is not something that he made up, Pattakos said. 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 player, who transferred to another school district last school year, said hes still dealing with anxiety and thinks about the May 24 discipline every day. 3. They said previous methods of discipline had failed to reach the player. I learned from a great man how to coach football," Wattley told media members during a Monday interview. "McDaniels was a good possession receiver. "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. Talbert went on to say that video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. It says in the Bible that its unclean if you touch it, said the player who said his family attends the Gathering of Christ Church in Cleveland. 0:36. Repository reporters Kelli Weir, Charita Goshay,Steve Doerschuk and Josh Weir contributed to this story. ", "It's (the dismissal) not going to fix the damage that has been done," said Peter Pattakos, the attorney representing the coaches. 330-438-2712 Fax: 330-580-3507 Jonas Wertin, Principal wertin_j@ccsdistrict.org McKinley Quick Links McKinley Virtual Tour The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. He later called the special board meeting that resulted in the] group of coaches losing their jobs. Talbert said surveillance videogave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board. Updated: 1:20 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2021. CANTON, Ohio The lawyer for a Canton McKinley High School football player has released video that he says contradicts claims that the student was not forced to consume a pepperoni pizza. His statements were supported by five McKinley football players who attended the school board meeting in support of their eight coaches. The incident made international headlines and has spawned three lawsuits. McKinley went 14-6 in Wattleys two seasons as head coach, with a couple of second-round playoff losses and an 0-2 record against rival Massillon. … 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. Video shows McKinley High School player eating pizza during workout. "Looking back," Hall said, "Cleveland wasn't the right time or the right place. The player said in his rush to eat the pizza so his teammates could stop the workout sooner, he believes he left some cheese on the pizza. The player, whom the Repository has agreed to not identify,has been devastated by the situation and continues to undergo psychological counseling, the attorney said. All rights reserved. He had planned to do some exercises with a stretch band due to his shoulder injury. 13 Canton McKinley (11-12) at No. Attorney Michael Kahlenberg, who represents the player and his father in the coaches defamation lawsuit, said he cannot comment on pending litigation. He served as interim during the 2021 season. I think I said, Im sorry for missing practice and I wont let it happen again or something across those lines, the player testified. McLeods disciplinary hearing with school officials over his job as a safety and security liaison was held earlier Monday. By The Associated Press. I'm just glad he has this opportunity. Wattley and seven assistant coaches have been suspended by the Canton City School District after one of the players said. He's only saidthe districts completed internal investigation has found that the coaches "engaged in actions that constituted inappropriate, demeaning and divisive behavior in a misguided attempt to instill discipline in the student-athletes.". The player said coach McLeod had been sitting in a chair beside him eating a piece of the pizza. 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. The sprints werent working,Pattakos said. John "Spider" Miller is an old Canton coach who disagrees with Jack Rose on Mayfield, but agrees on McDaniels. Pattakos wrote the evidence collected during the discovery phase of the lawsuit revealed information that wasn't known when the lawsuit was filed in July 2021, including the admission by the player that didnt explicitly tell the coaches about his Hebrew Israelite beliefs and that a surveillance video the district used as the basis of its internal investigation was missing a two-minute span of time. Earlier this month, Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeff Talbert released a video statement to, "set the record straight" about the recent firing of seven McKinley High School football coaches. 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. We wont stop fighting until we get them back., More about McKinley's new head coach: Interim McKinley Bulldogs football coach Antonio Hall will look to 'put our kids first'. Talbert said it was the surveillance video that gave him the information he needed to make his recommendation to fire Wattley and his assistants. According to Pattakos and the students, the player had the ability to leave at any time and Wattley had offered the player chicken nuggets instead of the pizza after the player said he didnt eat pork. But the player testified that Wattley told him that if he walked out, he couldnt come back. 11, 2021 at 4:07 PM PDT. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. The Canton McKinley grad could be looking at drafting a new quarterback with the No. … 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.. I was hoping David Carr would come to the Browns. Add the football angle of Massillon-Hoban and this is a can't miss. "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. It was probably going to be a touchdown to ice it. 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. The Canton City school board on Thursday voted unanimously to not renew the coaching contracts of Wattley,assistant coaches Cade Brodie and Tyler Thatcher, and assistant baseball coach Romero Harris, who hasrelated weight room duties. They needed to show him what it was like to be the only man eating in a room full of hungry, working men. 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.. Thom McDaniels is a retired Ohio high school football coach.. I love them, they know that. The lawsuit also names Canton City Schools as a defendant. 2022 OHSAA High School Football Playoff Brackets (Ohio) Region 1. A native of Canton, Ohio, President McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War and is assassinated in 1901. . "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. He was one of several football players who attended the disciplinary hearing Monday to show their support for Wattley and McLeod. Example video title will go here for this video. 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.". 2 Canton McKinley football players speak out about teammate's punishment: Why they say it was unfair for 7 coaches to lose their jobs The coach was expected to speak with 19 News at . Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, last offseason engineered his way to Denver (and to a new . Example video title will go here for this video. But of course, we don't know they acted as a group. Gilberts attorney, Stephen P. Griffin, declined comment. 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.. He didnt provide a reason why. . They have said the player chose to pick the pepperoni off the pizza and eat it. … Physically harming is a lot different. More on the McDaniels family: Canton council approves street name change to honor McDaniels football family. Pattakos said attempts to settle the lawsuit failed this week when the defendants offered only a four-figure settlement sum. 1940 Massillon Washington High School. We have a number of careers that have been destroyed here. See below to read the full 10-page ruling from Judge Adams: Copyright 2022 WOIO. He said Wednesday evening that the investigation, which was completed June 1, also includedinterviews with five of the coaches and three players. GlenOak 22. He always tries to make the people around him better. 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. If not, then you can leave. Thats the lesson.. 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. They needed to get through to him some other way. Pattakos said those two minutes of video would have shown the player shaking hands and hugging the coaches after the discipline was over. A federal judge said there was insufficient evidence to support allegations that the player was forced to eat food against his religion. He was one of several football players who attended the disciplinary hearing Monday to show their support for Wattley. Judge John Adams found there was not enough evidence to support allegations made by legal representation of the student-athlete. You did not serve the community.. This community deserves afull and thorough investigation and its obvious that this hasnt happened, said Pattakos, as he pointed to the players. Allegations that the court says "lumped all the former coaches together without distinguishing the allegations against each individual. A roughly two-hour disciplinary hearing was held Monday with Canton City school officials about whether Wattley should retain his job as a district academic and athletic liaison. The coach was trying to teach a lesson.". So then after theyre still not listening to me, the teams still around me doing the punishment, so I just eat the pizza, the player testified. The player testified he knew consequences existed for missing off-season workouts, which he said the coaches called mandatory. 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 . He described various drills, including the Hallway of Hell workout, that players had to complete when they were absent. 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. 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. 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. "This incident does not reflect the Canton City School District's culture of protecting the physical and emotional wellbeing of our students.". No Bulldogs coachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. Example video title will go here for this video, New procedures, clinical trials offer hope for pancreatic cancer patients | Health Yeah. "Josh took after his dad in every aspect," said Kinta Mitchell, a co-captain with McDaniels on the '94 team. The score stayed 12-3. The sprints werent working, Pattakos said. You can read Judge Adams' dismissal ruling below: Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Record: 10-0. Talbert said counselors will be available for the football players Friday. CANTON, Ohio There are new developments in the scandal that once crippled the Canton McKinley football team. "These quarterbacks that get their teams deep in the playoffs all can score in the fourth quarter. Game Summary. With Josh going there now, Carr staying is a done deal.". 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, The story was first reported by The Repository, Deadly motorcycle crash in Canton claims life of 46-year-old man, Breeze Airways: New airline coming to Akron-Canton Airport, flights launch with $39 fares, Stark County man accused of kidnapping, holding teen girl captive at oil well site, threating to kill her and pull out her teeth, Two injured after SUV strikes motorcycle head on in Stark County, Canton woman arrested for seventh lifetime OVI with two children in the car, Mental Health Awareness Week: Stark County schools create 'unity video' to help each other, Massillon City Schools teacher among 10 arrested in Summit County prostitution sting, Stark County man arrested, charged in connection with Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, Keith Wakefield retires after 30 seasons as Perry Panthers football coach. Yet, he admits he didnt notify coaches on May 20, 2021, that he wouldnt be at practice that day because he wanted to rest an injured shoulder. He also said he wasnt missing workouts due to using marijuana as the coaches have suggested.
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