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. "Caserio was a standout," said Kuberacki. It wont be the same without them, said Powell, a rising senior who is considered McKinley's top returning player. It was rushed. 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. More about Hebrew Israelites: Canton family's faith at the center of McKinley High football coach abuse allegations, I miss my boys. Do you support the move? 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." 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. McDaniels kicked in addition to playing quarterback at McKinley when Miller coached the Bulldogs' defensive backs. Deservedly so. I wasnt taking it, so then he just sat it down right beside me again. Gilbert said the family has delayed filing its lawsuit because the district has asked to mediate the dispute out of court. 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 . There was no intent (to cause harm), Pattakos said. The player also pushed back on the coaches statements that they were trying to rescue a troubled player and that he had been grounded by his father for smoking marijuana. 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. Nobody wins in this.. That set up a touchdown. CANTON, Ohio There are new developments in the scandal that once crippled the Canton McKinley football team. Superintendent Jeff Talbert called the actions of the coaches "inappropriate, demeaning, and divisive. 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. Ex-McKinley football player sues, alleges coaches coerced him to eat pizza against beliefs, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. . This is an extraordinary tactic that is used to teach an extraordinary lesson to an extraordinary young man under extraordinary circumstances.. 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. He always tried to do the best he could at anything he did. 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 . "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. Record: 10-0. Invite the coach And he believes they should have stopped the punishment when he said that day that it violated his religion. 3. 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. A native of Canton, Ohio, President McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War and is assassinated in 1901. . 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. Are you hungry? Pattakos, who said the player apologized to the coaches and showed up for the voluntary workout the next day after his punishment, blames anassistant coach for inflaming the situation by reporting an exaggerated version to administrators and the players family. Pattakos said Wattley previously had witnessed the eating-alone lesson work effectively in a different Division I locker room. The Bulldogs went 9-3 in Wattley's first year,. Records show the Canton City School District and Superintendent Jeff Talbert were already dismissed from the lawsuit. 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 . Pattakos said the punishment was not merely for missing a single voluntary workout. Editors Note: Below is a previous report by 19 News about the lawsuit. 13 Canton McKinley (11-12) at No. This is not something that he made up, Pattakos said. We hope that the district can acknowledge that, too, and bring everyone together.. The attorney alsoblamesthe Canton City School District for conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation, an accusation the district denies. "Thom used to tell me, 'You can play him on defense, but if he gets hurt, you're fired.'. Talbert said surveillance videogave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board. His statements were supported by five McKinley football players who attended the school board meeting in support of their eight coaches. I was hoping David Carr would come to the Browns. It was probably going to be a touchdown to ice it. 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. . 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. On 10/28, the McKinley varsity football team won their home playoff game against GlenOak (Canton, OH) by a score of 40-22. 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.". 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 . Athletic Director Antonio Hall was hired as the districts interim head football coach for the upcoming season. 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 . 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. In a letter shared with 3News Investigator Rachel Polansky, Canton City Schools informed Wattley of his placement on administrative leave on Wednesday. He described various drills, including the Hallway of Hell workout, that players had to complete when they were absent. But they should have known that he didnt eat pork, he contends. 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.. I knew it was coming sooner or later.". 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. The former Canton McKinley football coaches who have been waiting for more than a year for a chance to clear their names in court have decided to wait a while longer. Canton McKinley sophomore Dante McClellan looks to make a play at Akron East, Wed., Feb. 15, 2023 "We struggled at the rim," Vlkajkovich said. 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. While we remain eager to present our claims against Mr. Gilbert and his clients to a jury and further clear the coaches good names, it is most important to the coaches to obtain complete justice in this matter, which requires that all responsible parties, including the (Canton City school leaders), be parties to the trial on the claims at issue, Pattakos wrote. Attorney Michael Kahlenberg, who represents the player and his father in the coaches defamation lawsuit, said he cannot comment on pending litigation. Canton McKinley Bulldogs 2022 high school football preview, online post that accompanies the transcripts, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 2022 OHSAA High School Football Playoff Brackets (Ohio) Region 1. Following a due-process hearing with the Canton City School District June 8, the attorney for Canton McKinley Senior High . With Josh going there now, Carr staying is a done deal.". Its not like they put their hands on me, but they forced me to eat it, he said. He has been Canton's AD for less than a year. 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. Pattakos said attempts to settle the lawsuit failed this week when the defendants offered only a four-figure settlement sum. 8/19. Im not going to respond to every allegation that comes up because its like a moving target. ", 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. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. The player said McLeod didnt react and continued to eat the pizza next to him. This is not something that he made up, Pattakos said. Canton McKinley High School football coach Marcus Wattley. Jack Rose, who coached against McDaniels at Massillon in the '90s, is betting on him now. "These quarterbacks that get their teams deep in the playoffs all can score in the fourth quarter. The coach was trying to teach a lesson.". 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.". McKinley's Harold Fannin is the Federal League Player of the Year,. 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. 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. I knew about Josh then, and I followed him over the years.". He went on to play at the University of Kentucky and in the Canadian Football League with Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan. … 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.. From 2004 to 2011, Reardon served as head coach at Youngstown Ursuline. You're the king, you're the prince.' But it wasnt until roughly five years later when the player, then in eighth grade, started to strictly follow the faiths dietary restrictions. 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. 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. Pattakos said those two minutes of video would have shown the player shaking hands and hugging the coaches after the discipline was over. Now Kuberacki was Marietta's QB; McDaniels was a John Carroll receiver. I dont know what they would have thought, but what was going through my mind at the time was if I would have told them, they would have still had me come to the trainer, but I couldnt do nothing with my shoulder at the time. Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeff Talbert hasn't released details of what happened on May 24. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. 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. Assistant coachesCade Brodie and Tyler Thatcher, and assistant baseball coach Romero Harris, who hasrelated weight room duties, also were dismissed from the team, but they do not have separate jobs with the Canton City School District. 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. 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. As for the coaches who had other jobs within the district, there will be upcoming meetings to determine their futures in that capacity. All rights reserved. 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. McDaniels previously served as the wide receivers . 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. 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.. Before a playing run in the Canadian Football League, Hall spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, whose head coach was Tony Dungy. McLeods disciplinary hearing with school officials over his job as a safety and security liaison was held earlier Monday. He always tries to make the people around him better. His defense is all over the place. New England Patriots offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels watches from the sidelines during a game against the Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. On a. Religion historianJames Tinney classified Hebrew Israelites intothree basic groups: According to Gospel Coalition,many if not most Hebrew Israelite groupsreject the Trinity and Christ's divinity, two central tenets of traditional Christianity. And I was cussing at them, and they were saying, Oh, then he was like, when did he get so tough?. We feel the coaches knew what they did and the judge wanted us to be specific. 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. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. 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