The Canton Repository has agreed to not name the 17-year-old player, who has received interest from Division I colleges. The player said he felt badabout eating the ribs after seeing news reports in 2021 that the ribs had been pork. 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 . But it wasnt until roughly five years later when the player, then in eighth grade, started to strictly follow the faiths dietary restrictions. You can read Judge Adams' dismissal ruling below: Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The player said McLeod didnt react and continued to eat the pizza next to him. Gilberts attorney, Stephen P. Griffin, declined comment. Superintendent Jeff Talbert said surveillance video gave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendation to dismiss the coaches to the school board. The Canton McKinley vs. Massillon Washington rivalry is the 13th most played rivalry in the nation, with 129 meetings between the schools. "I'm very excited Josh is getting another opportunity. "The Raiders have a lot of the pieces they need to be a great team, starting with the quarterback. Canton McKinley football coach's attorney disputes claims by player. 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. I was hoping David Carr would come to the Browns. Pattakos said Wattley previously had witnessed the eating-alone lesson work effectively in a different Division I locker room. As for the coaches who had other jobs within the district, there will be upcoming meetings to determine their futures in that capacity. "The idea was, 'Okay young man, you're so special? Pattakos said he believesthe assistant coach wanted Wattleys job. . 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 . "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. "It was a situation that deserves to be investigated so we're going to investigate it," Talbert told The Repository. 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." Team Statistics. Return for updates. He disputed Pattakos' statement that Wattley had offered the player chicken nuggets or any alternative food. Editors Note: Below is a previous report by 19 News about the lawsuit. Canton McKinley High School football coach Marcus Wattley. 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. 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. The sprints werent working,Pattakos said. He later called the special board meeting that resulted in the] group of coaches losing their jobs. 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. CANTON, Ohio Eight coaches from the Canton McKinley High School football team have been placed on administrative leave, including head coach Marcus Wattley. "Looking back," Hall said, "Cleveland wasn't the right time or the right place. More on Canton McKinley football: Canton McKinley Bulldogs 2022 high school football preview. This wasnt about that (a single missed workout). McLeod on Tuesday said he believes the surveillance video clears the coaches. 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. 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.. John "Spider" Miller is an old Canton coach who disagrees with Jack Rose on Mayfield, but agrees on McDaniels. 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. 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. He has beenan assistant coach at McKinley, GlenOak and St. Thomas Aquinas. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - New developments occurred this week in the pizza scandal involving a former Canton McKinley football player and his coaches. Box Score. He said he has lost respect for the McKinley coaches he once admired. Monica A. Coleman, a theologian and professor of Africana studies at the University of Delaware, said someHebrew Israelites do consider themselves to be Jewish. "Josh knew how to play defensive back," Miller said. Head coach: Paul Brown. He said he would have eaten the chicken nuggets. They needed to show him what it was like to be the only man eating in a room full of hungry, working men. "We are confident that under Coach Hall's leadership, our football program will be in very capable and experienced hands and our student-athletes will have a rewarding experience," Rinaldi said. June 5, 2021, 1:55 PM PDT. 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. 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. Sure, I would have loved it if he had been head coach of the Browns, but I'm glad he has this opportunity. McDaniels kicked in addition to playing quarterback at McKinley when Miller coached the Bulldogs' defensive backs. ", 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 has been Canton's AD for less than a year. More on the McDaniels family: Canton council approves street name change to honor McDaniels football family. "Look at how many times (Mayfield) has had the opportunity and hasn't won those games," Rose said. 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. Several years earlier, Lee Kuberacki had explored transferring to McKinley High School, but he stayed at Canton South partly because the Bulldogs already had a quarterback McDaniels. He was so far ahead ahead of the curve.". 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. The lawsuit also had been filed against Canton City school leaders but they were dismissed from the case in January. Deservedly so. 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 . Assistant coach Badre ElBardawil, who also had beensuspended on May 26 with the other coaches, remains an assistant coach with McKinley because district officials said the evidence did not show that he performed in the same manner as the other coaches.. Attorney Peter Pattakos, who is representing former McKinley head coach Marcus Wattley and former assistant coaches Frank McLeod, Zachary Sweat, Romero Harris, Cade Brodie and Tyler Thatcher, notified the Stark County judge Wednesday that he was voluntarily dismissing the defamation lawsuit the coaches filed against Canton City School District leaders, a former assistant coach, a former McKinley player and the players father and attorney. 13 Canton McKinley (11-12) at No. 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. Allegations that the court says "lumped all the former coaches together without distinguishing the allegations against each individual. McDaniels is a significant donor. No. From 2004 to 2011, Reardon served as head coach at Youngstown Ursuline. Hall, who is coming up on the one-year anniversary of his hire as McKinleys athletic director, playedon McKinleys 1997 and 1998 state championshipteams. 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.". 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 . Black Hebrews, who are more traditional in their practice of Judaism. and last updated 6:19 AM, Jun 02, 2021. CANTON McKinley High School head football coach Antonio Hall has built quite a rapport with the Bowling Green coaching staff. Tournament Game. Before a playing run in the Canadian Football League, Hall spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, whose head coach was Tony Dungy. ", In June of last year, former McKinley head coach Marcus Wattley and six of his assistant coaches were fired by Canton City Schools following an investigation into misconduct. I knew about Josh then, and I followed him over the years.". The weekly sessions are now monthly check-ins. The deposition, where the player testified under oath, was conducted as part of the defamation lawsuit that the coaches filed a year ago against the player, the players father, Kenny Walker, their attorney Edward Gilbert and former assistant coach Josh Grimsley. He is McKinley's fifth head coach in 10 seasons. 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 McKinley Football's "You Can Get There From Here" series. 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. 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. His defense is all over the place. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. If he refused to eat the pizza,the playerwas told that his teammates would be forced to perform additional drills and "there was a question of whether he would be able to stay on the team," Gilbert said. I will defer to Judge Haupt and her able staff to handle. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. 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. 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. "We were ahead, with the ball," recalls Kuberacki, 44. I knew it was coming sooner or later.". The trial was set to begin Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court. 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. "(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. Its absolutely, totally ridiculous, Gilbert said. 0:36. Note: This video has been altered to protect kids' identities. Pattakos said attempts to settle the lawsuit failed this week when the defendants offered only a four-figure settlement sum. Head coach Joe Mazzulla couldn't hide his . Canton City Schools' administrative team received a report of an incident that took place during its strength and conditioning practice on Monday. … Physically harming is a lot different. 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. McKinley started the shortened 2020 COVID season 3-0 before losing three of its final five games. He also said he wasnt missing workouts due to using marijuana as the coaches have suggested. They needed to get through to him some other way. ", SUBSCRIBE:Get the day's top headlines sent to your inbox each weekday morning with the free 3News to GO! The others mentioned above stayed in football. Other football players who were at the May 24 workout have saidthe coaches never forced the playerto eat the pizza and they gave the player the choice of eating chicken nuggets instead. Theyve run plenty of sprints. The students said the playerhas since apologized to them and to the coaches. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - New developments occurred this week in the pizza scandal involving a former Canton McKinley football player and his coaches. Ziegler is the new general manager in Las Vegas; McDaniels is the Raiders' new head coach. Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, last offseason engineered his way to Denver (and to a new . "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. More:Canton McKinley High School football coaches to face further discipline, possible criminal charges. Nobody wins in this.. 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. Now Kuberacki was Marietta's QB; McDaniels was a John Carroll receiver. I learned from a great man how to coach football. "As a coach, you can be frustrated watching that. 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. 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. Grimsleys message advised Humphrey that he had concerns with how the student was treated. And I was cussing at them, and they were saying, Oh, then he was like, when did he get so tough?. Wattley was hired at McKinley in 2019 and McLeod has been coaching since 2004. GlenOak 22. Attorney Michael Kahlenberg, who represents the player and his father in the coaches defamation lawsuit, said he cannot comment on pending litigation. Talbert said counselors will be available for the football players Friday. There was no intent (to cause harm), Pattakos said. 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. 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. June 4, 2021 A high school football coach in Canton, Ohio, and six assistant coaches will not have their athletic contracts renewed, officials said, after an allegation was made that a. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. Wattley and seven assistant coaches have been suspended by the Canton City School District after one of the players said. "There's nobody in the business who is going to work harder than Josh. Las Vegas is, and he's going to rock it 'til the wheels fall off. 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.. I wasnt taking it, so then he just sat it down right beside me again. Pattakos said those two minutes of video would have shown the player shaking hands and hugging the coaches after the discipline was over. 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.. Game Summary. They said previous methods of discipline had failed to reach the player. 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. newsletter. This young man wasnt forced to eat anything, Pattakos said. It was rushed. "It's not going to get the coaches their jobs back. 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. Superintendent Jeff Talbert said surveillance video clears the coaches who had other jobs within the district, there will upcoming. Face further discipline, possible criminal charges those two minutes of video would have shown player! 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