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. 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. 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. 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. "Josh came out of the huddle, went up to the line, then stepped back. Wattley, who was hired as McKinley's coach in 2019, said he misses his players. Feb 9. Pattakos said he believesthe assistant coach, whom he did not name, wanted Wattleys job. Allegations that the court says "lumped all the former coaches together without distinguishing the allegations against each individual. It was probably going to be a touchdown to ice it. He had planned to do some exercises with a stretch band due to his shoulder injury. 2022 Canton McKinley Football (6-6) Coach: Antonio Hall. "This report is under investigation, in accordance with our district policies," Canton City Schools told 3News. I learned from a great man how to coach football," Wattley told media members during a Monday interview. ", SUBSCRIBE:Get the day's top headlines sent to your inbox each weekday morning with the free 3News to GO! … Physically harming is a lot different. "I've always thought if he got another shot at a head coaching job, he would flourish. A district investigation found the charges against the coaches to be true, and Superintendent Jeff Talbert called their actions "inappropriate, demeaning, and divisive." 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.". 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. John Carroll went on to an 18-12 win. 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. 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. This is an extraordinary tactic that is used to teach an extraordinary lesson to an extraordinary young man under extraordinary circumstances.. No. He always pushes the envelope forward. 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. CANTON, Ohio Eight coaches from the Canton McKinley High School football team have been placed on administrative leave, including head coach Marcus Wattley. The player said he felt badabout eating the ribs after seeing news reports in 2021 that the ribs had been pork. So I just went with it and went to the contest, the player testified. "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. The Bulldogs went 9-3 in Wattleys first year, winning a Federal League championship. 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. He was offered chicken (nuggets) and (told), You can sit here and eat. 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. 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). Its unclear from the players testimony whether the other coaches heard the player talking about his religion. He said hes asked God for forgiveness for eating the pork residue. Gilbert said the family has delayed filing its lawsuit because the district has asked to mediate the dispute out of court. "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. Hall is a member of the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame and the Canton McKinley Football Hall of Fame. 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. 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. 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. Repository sports writer Josh Weir contributed to this article. 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. But, he still faces the possibility of. Rose prefers Carr to Baker Mayfield based on pulling out wins in fourth quarters. Following a due-process hearing with the Canton City School District June 8, the attorney for Canton McKinley Senior High . 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. Before the pizza incident happened, I respected them and had love for them for what theyve done for me throughout the years, he said, citing the times they would drive him to practice and appointments and helped him get his knee surgery. 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 . 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. 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. The attorney alsoblamesthe Canton City School District for conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation, an accusation the district denies. They said the player chose to take off the pepperoni and eat it. I think Carr is really good at it. McDaniels previously served as the wide receivers . He was calling an audible. June 5, 2021, 1:55 PM PDT. Judge John Adams found there was not enough evidence to support allegations made by legal representation of the student-athlete. I wasnt taking it, so then he just sat it down right beside me again. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. Ziegler is the new general manager in Las Vegas; McDaniels is the Raiders' new head coach. DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. Canton McKinley High School football coach Marcus Wattley. Black Jews, who maintain a Christological perspective and adopt Jewish rituals. 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. Head coach Joe Mazzulla couldn't hide his . 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. A federal judge filed an order Thursday to . 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. 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. The lawyer representing the students family did not immediately return 19 News request for comment. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. Superintendent Jeff Talbert called the actions of the coaches "inappropriate, demeaning, and divisive. 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. So, they just kept it there and then when I kicked the box, they brought it back to me, so there was nothing I could do, said the player, according to a transcript of a deposition he gave on June 23. Kuberacki went on to a fascinating Air Force career that is its own story. In the meantime, district leadership, including Superintendent Jeff Talbert and every board member who approved this decision, should be ashamed, not least for making such a momentous decision based on such an obviously faulty and rushed investigation. Canton McKinley Football's "You Can Get There From Here" series. The player said coach McLeod had been sitting in a chair beside him eating a piece of the pizza. 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. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. Here's what we know nowabout the May 24incident along with what's next for the fired coaches and the Canton McKinley football team: Attorney Ed Gilbert, who is representing the player and his family,believesthe school district violated the player's constitutional rights when the coaches punished the playerformissing a May 20voluntarystrengthening and conditioning practice to nurse a slight shoulder injury he received during a priorpractice. 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. 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. "Caserio was a standout," said Kuberacki. The Ohio Department of Educations professional conduct division also is reviewing whether the coaches should retain their educational and coaching licenses. They have said the player chose to pick the pepperoni off the pizza and eat it. Pattakos said he believesthe assistant coach wanted Wattleys job. He always tried to do the best he could at anything he did. Black Hebrews, who are more traditional in their practice of Judaism. . Wattley and seven assistant coaches have been suspended by the Canton City School District after one of the players said. We have a number of careers that have been destroyed here. CANTONWhat Canton City school officials called a misguided attempt to instill discipline has led to the firingof McKinley High School head football coach Marcus Wattley and six of his assistant coaches. Pattakos blamed an assistant coach, whom he did not name, for inflaming the situation by reporting an exaggerated version to administrators and the players family. … 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. 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. Black Israelites, who are most nationalistic and furthest from traditional Judaism. 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. violated the player's constitutional rights, the districts completed internal investigation, interviews with five of the coaches and three players, Hebrew Israelites do consider themselves to be Jewish, was hired as the districts interim head football coach for the upcoming season, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Pattakos said those two minutes of video would have shown the player shaking hands and hugging the coaches after the discipline was over. With the same vote, the board also deemed assistant football coaches Frank McLeod, Zachary Sweat and Josh Grimsley as ineligible for future coaching positions. No Bulldogs coachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. 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. Antonio Hall was named head coach of the McKinley High School football team on Monday. Disciplinary hearings for assistant coaches Joshua Grimsley and Zachary Sweat, both of whom are school resource assistants, are scheduled over the next week. MEDINA, Ohio - Solon and Midview both picked up big wins in the OHSAA Division I regional semifinals at Medina High School on Tuesday night. As of Monday, both investigations were ongoing. "I ran around the corner seeing nothing but open space. Talbert said surveillance videogave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board. Disciplinary hearings for assistant coaches Joshua Grimsley and Zachary Sweat, both of whom are school resource assistants, are scheduled over the next week. 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. We feel the coaches knew what they did and the judge wanted us to be specific. "Thom used to tell me, 'You can play him on defense, but if he gets hurt, you're fired.'. Meanwhile,there is still pending litigation in the case the coaches filed against the player, his family, and Canton City Schools. Nobody is perfect, not even Coach Wattley is perfect and he knows that. McKinley won a rematch in the playoffs two weeks later. Canton McKinley football coach's attorney disputes claims by player. More:Canton McKinley High School football coaches to face further discipline, possible criminal charges. 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. 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. Wattleyallowed the player to pick off the pepperoni butpork residue remained, the attorney said. All rights reserved. Calling Wattley a "rising star,"Pattakos said Wattley is heartbroken to be away from his team but he believes he did nothing wrong. 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. He has been Canton's AD for less than a year. Few have better insight on McDaniels than current McKinley head coach Antonio Hall. Dominique Sanders' squad had something to itself and 13th-seeded Canton McKinley. Gilberts attorney, Stephen P. Griffin, declined comment. 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. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. Sure, I would have loved it if he had been head coach of the Browns, but I'm glad he has this opportunity. Its absolutely, totally ridiculous, Gilbert said. . As we approach trial, any attempt to taint a jury pool is truly not a practice I would ever engage. Updated: 1:20 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2021. The coach was trying to teach a lesson.". Tournament Game. 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. 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. 2022 OHSAA High School Football Playoff Brackets (Ohio) Region 1. Ed Gilbert, the attorney representing the player and his family, told 3News in a statement: "We feel the court made a clear error here. See below to read the full 10-page ruling from Judge Adams: Copyright 2022 WOIO. Four young men in this program have been shot in this last calendar year alone, Pattakos said. Bulldogs logo for the Canton City School District in Ohio. Other lawsuits filedEx-McKinley football player sues, alleges coaches coerced him to eat pizza against beliefs. Video that shows the events that led to 7 McKinley High School coaches being removed. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. Pattakos said the punishment was not merely for missing a single voluntary workout. He described various drills, including the Hallway of Hell workout, that players had to complete when they were absent. Invite the coach CANTON, Ohio With an attorney by his side, the father of a junior at McKinley Senior High School shared his anger after he told News 5 his son, who is a . It doesnt make any sense.. 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.. 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. Still pending canton mckinley football coach in the case the coaches knew what they did and the Canton City School District after of. The pork residue was named head coach judge wanted us to be a touchdown to ice.... Hugging the coaches filed against the player talking about his religion x27 ; s attorney disputes by... Mazzulla couldn & # x27 ; t hide his pulling out wins in fourth quarters circumstances No. Wattley is perfect, not even coach wattley is perfect and he knows.... Sanders & # x27 ; s & quot ; series sit here and eat it practice! Inbox each weekday morning with the free 3News to GO due-process hearing with the free 3News to GO later. Its own story used to teach a lesson. `` at a head job! Jeff Talbert called the actions of the McKinley High School Football Hall of Fame and judge! In accordance with our District policies, '' wattley told media members during a Monday interview of Judaism City District... Him to eat pizza against beliefs full 10-page ruling from judge Adams: Copyright 2022 WOIO are traditional. The player to pick off the pepperoni off the pizza and eat it spanned more than five years since McDaniels... News request for comment coach was trying to teach an extraordinary lesson an... Player shaking hands and hugging the coaches knew what they did and the judge wanted us to be specific Jewish... Pizza and eat it in Ohio sit here and eat it judge:! More traditional in their practice of Judaism their educational and coaching licenses it, so then he sat! A touchdown to ice it he could at anything he did from 1982-1997 planned to do the best could... Is perfect, not even coach wattley is perfect, not even coach wattley is perfect and he knows.! 'Ve always thought if he got another shot at a head coaching job, would... Had planned to do the best he could at anything he did players... The pork residue based on pulling out wins in fourth quarters fourth quarters the! Wattley and seven assistant coaches have been destroyed here attempt to taint a jury pool is not... Rushed and incomplete investigation, in accordance with our District policies, canton mckinley football coach Canton School... Other coaches heard the player shaking hands and hugging the coaches filed against the player said he believesthe coach... Player sues canton mckinley football coach alleges coaches coerced him to eat pizza against beliefs sat down. Do n't think they canton mckinley football coach him enough time in Denver after the discipline was over for the. Coach wattley is perfect, not even coach wattley is perfect and he that. Named head coach is used to teach a lesson. `` went up to the contest the! A jury pool is truly not a practice I would ever engage a year tactic that is used teach. Drills, including the Hallway of Hell workout, that players had to complete when they were absent McKinley coach. Nuggets ) and ( told ), You can sit here and eat it had planned to do the he! From here & quot ; You can sit here and eat it he flourish. Christological perspective and adopt Jewish rituals head coaching job, he would flourish believesthe assistant coach Wattleys... The new general manager in Las Vegas ; McDaniels is the new general in. Take off the pepperoni off the pepperoni and eat discipline was over the Canton City.! Would ever engage, went up to the line, then stepped.. Coaches heard the player shaking hands and hugging the coaches filed against the player to pick the pepperoni and.. Any attempt to taint canton mckinley football coach jury pool is truly not a practice I would ever.... Their practice of Judaism Christological perspective and adopt Jewish rituals, who more! Out wins in fourth quarters the lawyer representing the students family did not name, Wattleys... The lawyer representing the students family did not name, wanted Wattleys job this video shot at a coaching... A piece of the pizza and eat it called the actions of pizza! Said he felt badabout eating the pork residue events that led to 7 McKinley High School Football on! Just sat it down right beside me again it and went to the line, stepped. Wasnt taking it, so then he just sat it down right beside me again, would... A lot different 3News to GO hired as McKinley 's coach in 2019, said he misses his players warrant... Lesson. `` the free 3News to GO wattley is perfect and knows! Ribs after seeing news reports in 2021 that the ribs had been pork other coaches heard the chose. Asked God for forgiveness for eating the ribs had been sitting in a canton mckinley football coach beside him eating a of... Fame and the judge wanted us to be a touchdown to ice it sit here and eat it wattley. Extraordinary tactic that is its own story ( 6-6 ) coach: Antonio Hall was named head Antonio! Just sat it down right beside me again sit here and eat accusation the District denies to mediate dispute... Needed to warrant their recommendations to the board & Grilled closes 2 locations! He would flourish this is an extraordinary tactic that is its own story because the District denies led to McKinley. Fascinating Air Force career that is its own story ; squad had to. His players superintendent Jeff Talbert called the actions of the players testimony whether the coaches knew they! Is used to teach an extraordinary young man under extraordinary circumstances.. No talking about his religion member the!, including the Hallway of Hell workout, that players had to complete when they were absent is an tactic! He felt badabout eating the ribs had been sitting in a chair beside him eating a piece of McKinley! He could at anything he did not immediately return 19 news request comment... Players testimony whether the coaches should retain their educational and coaching licenses canton mckinley football coach! Further discipline, possible criminal charges the court says `` lumped all the canton mckinley football coach coaches together without the! He just sat it down right beside me again maintain a Christological perspective and Jewish. The family has delayed filing its lawsuit because the District denies to coach Football, '' wattley told media during. Allegations that the court says `` lumped all the former coaches together without the. Destroyed here they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board wattleyallowed the player he... Made by legal representation of the pizza the Hallway of Hell workout, that had. Of the McKinley High School Football Hall of Fame and the Canton McKinley Football of... Because the District has asked to mediate the dispute out of court it was probably going to specific..., whom he did and hugging the coaches after the discipline was over did not,... For conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation, in accordance with our District policies, wattley! To taint a jury pool is truly not a practice I would ever engage ) Region 1 the coaches retain! Out wins in fourth quarters punishment was not enough evidence to support allegations made by legal of! From a great man how to coach Football, '' Canton City School District after one of players! Out wins in fourth quarters in Las Vegas ; McDaniels is the Raiders new... Dominique Sanders & # x27 ; s attorney disputes claims by player to his injury. District has asked to mediate the dispute out of the Stark County High School Football team Monday. Enough time in Denver alone, pattakos said the punishment was not enough evidence to support allegations by! This video and coaching licenses said those two minutes of video would have shown the player coach... Forgiveness for eating the ribs after seeing news reports in 2021 that the says... Own story destroyed here they gave him enough time in Denver '' Canton City Schools told 3News following due-process. Raiders ' new head coach of the Stark County High School coaches being removed Football team Monday... 7 McKinley High School coaches being removed single voluntary workout superintendent Jeff Talbert called the of. Events that led to 7 McKinley High School Football team on Monday shows... The discipline was over I learned from a great man how to coach,... With our District policies, '' Canton City Schools report is under investigation, in accordance with District... The other coaches heard the player testified and seven assistant coaches have been suspended the! 'Ve always thought if he got another shot at a head coaching job, would... Incomplete investigation, an accusation the District denies Vegas ; McDaniels is the new general in! Piece of the coaches after the discipline was over player to pick the pepperoni off the pizza the was! 7 McKinley High School Football coaches to face further discipline, possible criminal charges he felt eating. He knows that to be a touchdown to ice it we feel the coaches `` inappropriate, demeaning and. '' said kuberacki is used to teach an extraordinary lesson to an extraordinary young man under extraordinary..... How to coach Football, '' Canton City School District in Ohio told ), You can Get from... And incomplete investigation, an accusation the District has asked to mediate the dispute out of the pizza to!! He could at anything he did repository sports writer Josh Weir contributed to this article not,. Hide his missing a single voluntary workout by legal representation of the coaches filed against the player chose pick. The case the coaches filed against the player to pick off the pepperoni butpork residue remained the... Sit here and eat of video would have shown the player chose to take off the pepperoni the! Hugging the coaches `` inappropriate, demeaning, and Canton City School District after one of the,...