McKinley won a rematch in the playoffs two weeks later. 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. Their complex narrative is being analyzed around the country. Wattley and his staff deserved better than this, and more importantly, so did the young men in that locker room and the whole Canton McKinley community. The teammates affidavits also said that Wattley told the player he could leave if he didnt want to participate. 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 . The attorney for that Canton McKinley football player made wild accusations of anti-Semitism that caused these coaches to be terminated, lose their jobs and be smeared in the local,. I think I said, Im sorry for missing practice and I wont let it happen again or something across those lines, the player testified. The player said he felt badabout eating the ribs after seeing news reports in 2021 that the ribs had been pork. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. I knew about Josh then, and I followed him over the years.". June 2, 2021 A high school football coach in Canton, Ohio, and seven assistant coaches have been suspended after punishing a 17-year-old for missing a voluntary practice by forcing him to. I learned from a great man how to coach football," Wattley told media members during a Monday interview. He saidthe video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. We begged Canton City School District officials to slow their rushed and flawed investigation to account for the truth but they wouldnt listen. However, the family in question identifies themselves as Christian. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - New developments occurred this week in the pizza scandal involving a former Canton McKinley football player and his coaches. "The type of behavior was inappropriate, demeaning, and divisive.". I'm just glad he has this opportunity. The decision left the player, the players father, Kenny Walker, attorney Edward Gilbert, and former assistant football coach Josh Grimsley as defendants. 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. Updated: Jun. The player testified he knew consequences existed for missing off-season workouts, which he said the coaches called mandatory. "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. I'll buy you a pizza and we can all watch you eat. He was one of several football players who attended the disciplinary hearing Monday to show their support for Wattley. In 2018, Dungy sharply criticized Josh McDaniels for backing out of a head coaching opportunity with the Colts, which is part of the complex national narrative. Black Israelites, who are most nationalistic and furthest from traditional Judaism. CANTON The former McKinley High School football player who is suing the Canton City School District and his former coaches over alleged civil rights violationssays the coaches likely didnt know about his religious beliefs before the day they forced him to eat a pepperoni pizza as punishment for missing a practice. 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. The lawsuit also had been filed against Canton City school leaders but they were dismissed from the case in January. McKinley started the shortened 2020 COVID season 3-0 before losing three of its final five games. Repository reporters Kelli Weir, Charita Goshay,Steve Doerschuk and Josh Weir contributed to this story. "I'm very excited Josh is getting another opportunity. 40-22 (W) McKinley vs. GlenOak. I wasnt taking it, so then he just sat it down right beside me again. Black Jews, who maintain a Christological perspective and adopt Jewish rituals. 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. I learned from a great man how to coach football. Pattakos said attempts to settle the lawsuit failed this week when the defendants offered only a four-figure settlement sum. Claim this team Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. An attorney representing Marcus Wattley told 3News Investigates that there's more to this story that hasn't been told. 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. No Bulldogs coachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. 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.". "There's nobody in the business who is going to work harder than Josh. The trial was set to begin Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court. Rose views McDaniels as a coach's son who paid attention and absorbed every lesson. Are you hungry? Superintendent Jeff Talbert said surveillance video gave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendation to dismiss the coaches to the school board. He said Wednesday evening that the investigation, which was completed June 1, also includedinterviews with five of the coaches and three players. The player testified that he was grounded because his father found a Black & Mild wrapper. He said he has lost respect for the McKinley coaches he once admired. The player, who is now 18 years old,said he never brought up his religion to his McKinley coaches or his teammates. 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. 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 . Pattakos asked Judge Haupt to reinstate the district leaders as defendants in the lawsuit, but she denied the request Wednesday, in part because the trial was to start Monday. 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. I told them that I was smoking marijuana because I didnt want them to know that I was smoking Black & Milds because I thought Black & Milds was worse than marijuana, the player testified. . Athletic Director Antonio Hall was hired as the districts interim head football coach for the upcoming season. Pattakos, on behalf of Wattley and assistant coach Frank McLeod, on Monday described a situation where the coaches were trying to rescue a troubled player whose off-the-field behavior was negatively influencing his teammates and jeopardizing his future as a Division I college athlete. as the first-year head coach of the Denver Broncos, McDaniels saw his team go . 330-438-2712 Fax: 330-580-3507 Jonas Wertin, Principal [email protected] 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. There's nobody more tenacious. All rights reserved. He said hes asked God for forgiveness for eating the pork residue. A federal judge filed an order Thursday to dismiss the seven former football coaches from a lawsuit claiming they forced the player to eat pork against his religion. Canton McKinley High School Head Football Coach Marcus Wattley and five assistant coaches are suing Canton City school officials and others for spreading "false, malicious and extremely defamatory statements" that cost them their jobs and their reputations. and last updated 6:19 AM, Jun 02, 2021. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. Record: 10-0. Video that shows the events that led to 7 McKinley High School coaches being removed. You can read Judge Adams' dismissal ruling below: Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The sprints werent working, Pattakos said. Other coaches involved have not responded to requests for comment or have declined comment. 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. He did it a few times and I remember saying, 'The kid is calling audibles as a freshman. Pattakos said he believesthe assistant coach, whom he did not name, wanted Wattleys job. Further action may be taken on the employment contracts of the four oustedcoaches Wattley, Grimsley,McLeodand Sweat who hold other positions within the district, Talbert said. HENDERSON, Nev. Growing up in Canton, Josh McDaniels vividly remembers seeing stenciled helmets painted on the double-yellow lines on his way to McKinley High School. One of the state's most successful coaches . 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.. "Josh took after his dad in every aspect," said Kinta Mitchell, a co-captain with McDaniels on the '94 team. Canton McKinley pizza scandal: Judge dismisses former football coaches from lawsuit. The Rev. Pattakos said Wattley previously had witnessed the eating-alone lesson work effectively in a different Division I locker room. McLeod on Tuesday said he believes the surveillance video clears the coaches. "Look at how many times (Mayfield) has had the opportunity and hasn't won those games," Rose said. 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 . 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. Canton family's faith at the center of McKinley High football coach abuse allegations, Head football coach Marcus Wattley, six others dismissed for misconduct. But of course, we don't know they acted as a group. Solon defeated Canton McKinley 61-40 in the opener and then Midview followed suit with a 70-45 win over Archbishop Hoban.. Solon and Midview will meet up at Medina High School on Saturday, March 4th at 7 p.m. in the regional final with a spot in the . 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. We remain proud to fight for these wrongly maligned coaches and clear their good names in court, Pattakos said. All rights reserved. I will defer to Judge Haupt and her able staff to handle. Ziegler is the new general manager in Las Vegas; McDaniels is the Raiders' new head coach. Im in disbelief that Im basically accused of harming a kid when Ive done nothing but take care of kids in this community, said McLeod, a 1996 McKinley graduate who was an all-Ohio linebacker for McKinley. 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. They have said the player chose to pick the pepperoni off the pizza and eat it. McKinley's Harold Fannin Jr. runs after a catch against GlenOak at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. So do my clients.". It doesnt make any sense.. 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.. 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. An investigation found the seven staff members made a player eat pork in violation of his religious beliefs. 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.. His defense is all over the place. Powell said Wattley and all of the assistant coaches have becomefather figures to him and his teammates. 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. The player blames his former coaches for describing him as a troubled kid in the media asthe reason his offers to play Division Ifootball fell through. Calling Wattley a "rising star,"Pattakos said Wattley is heartbroken to be away from his team but he believes he did nothing wrong. "Thom used to tell me, 'You can play him on defense, but if he gets hurt, you're fired.'. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. It wont be the same without them, said Powell, a rising senior who is considered McKinley's top returning player. … 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.. And then they started telling everyone to grab 45-pound plates, but as I reached to go grab one, Coach Watt says, Not you, youre chilling, the player said. 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. So I just went with it and went to the contest, the player testified. "I ran around the corner seeing nothing but open space. My job is in the courtroom, not the press room.. 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. Attorney Stephen Griffin, who represents Gilbert in the coaches defamation lawsuit, declined to respond to Pattakos online post. This is not something that he made up, Pattakos said. ", SUBSCRIBE:Get the day's top headlines sent to your inbox each weekday morning with the free 3News to GO! From 2004 to 2011, Reardon served as head coach at Youngstown Ursuline. 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." Its not like they put their hands on me, but they forced me to eat it, he said. "Black Hebrew Israelites consider themselves Jews; I also consider them to be a Black religionbearing many of the markers of African American spirituality," she said. He blamed the district for conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation, noting that Wattley was interviewed for only 18 minutes and that only three of the 40 players present wereinterviewed. Sure, I would have loved it if he had been head coach of the Browns, but I'm glad he has this opportunity. GlenOak 22. 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. 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. 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