Wattley was hired at McKinley in 2019 and McLeod has been coaching since 2004. 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 . More:Canton McKinley High School football coaches to face further discipline, possible criminal charges. John "Spider" Miller is an old Canton coach who disagrees with Jack Rose on Mayfield, but agrees on McDaniels. During this. Frank McLeod, one of the assistant coaches who was dismissed, on Tuesday said he believes the district's surveillance video clears the coaches. While the roughly 12-minute video doesn't have audio, McLeodsaid you can tell by the body language of the coaches and players that the player wasn't being threatened. 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. Gilbert, who did not attend the school board meeting, said the player has been devastated by the situation and continues to undergo psychological counseling. No Bulldogs coachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. 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, an investigation into misconduct against a player, Bigger than basketball: How a small team, facing huge odds, became champions, Keith Wakefield retires after 30 seasons as Perry Panthers football coach, OHSAA to expand football playoffs to 16 teams, Romero Harris - Weight room coach and baseball assistant. 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.. Eating pork violated the player's Hebrew Israelite faith. The sprints werent working,Pattakos said. 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. School officials told The Repository this week that the school will review its entire athletic program. Ex-McKinley football player sues, alleges coaches coerced him to eat pizza against beliefs, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Meanwhile,there is still pending litigation in the case the coaches filed against the player, his family, and Canton City Schools. 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. 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 . They needed to get through to him some other way. He said coach Brodie told him to take off the pepperoni. He always pushes the envelope forward. McLeods disciplinary hearing with school officials over his job as a safety and security liaison was held earlier Monday. Head coach Joe Mazzulla couldn't hide his . While two of his teammates have signed affidavits that say the coaches offered the player a nonpork option such as McDonalds or chicken, the player testified, I didnt hear nothing about no chicken nuggets.. They have said the player chose to pick the pepperoni off the pizza and eat it. A 17-year-old Canton McKinley High School football player is a starting tackle for a big-name football program, but he said he's been left scarred by an incident in which his coaches forced him to eat pepperoni pizza as punishment for missing a practice, despite knowing he doesn't eat pork for religious reasons. Claim this team Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. The Canton McKinley vs. Massillon Washington rivalry is the 13th most played rivalry in the nation, with 129 meetings between the schools. Location: Massillon, Ohio. Ed Gilbert, the attorney representing the player and his family, told 3News in a statement: "We feel the court made a clear error here. "Josh took after his dad in every aspect," said Kinta Mitchell, a co-captain with McDaniels on the '94 team. 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. He had planned to do some exercises with a stretch band due to his shoulder injury. "They are not Christian or Muslim. Talbert said surveillance videogave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board. "This young man is one of the most talented members of the team and he's let the team down, not showing up to practices, not communicating with his team, not fulfilling the role of a team leader," attorney Peter Pattakos told 3News. 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. He also had exceptional talent that few McKinley coaches have recently enjoyed. My job is in the courtroom, not the press room.. "He's proven he's a hell of a coach," Rose said. 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. 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. Pattakos said he believesthe assistant coach, whom he did not name, wanted Wattleys job. Grimsleys message advised Humphrey that he had concerns with how the student was treated. And he believes they should have stopped the punishment when he said that day that it violated his religion. Add the football angle of Massillon-Hoban and this is a can't miss. I try to incorporate that with my coaches every day.. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. Thats the lesson that needed to get through to him.. Thats why it raises concerns when this young man doesnt text his coaches and explains where he is when they are expecting them to be at a voluntary workout, even though it is voluntary. 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. "The football program, which has a long and proud history, is an important part of our school culture and our community," Talbert added in a statement that was read by Board President John M. Rinaldi Thursday. 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. Pattakos said Wattley previously had witnessed the eating-alone lesson work effectively in a different Division I locker room. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. Are you hungry? Canton McKinley pizza scandal: Judge dismisses former football coaches from lawsuit. The player testified he walked into the Frank Turk Alberta Football Operations Center and went into the weight room. Game Summary. This young man wasnt forced to eat anything, Pattakos said. "There's nobody in the business who is going to work harder than Josh. The player, who is now 18 years old,said he never brought up his religion to his McKinley coaches or his teammates. A native of Canton, Ohio, President McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War and is assassinated in 1901. . All rights reserved. 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. . They are more than coaches, said Powell, who lost hisfather when he was young. McKinley's Harold Fannin Jr. runs after a catch against GlenOak at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. He was offered chicken (nuggets) and (told), You can sit here and eat. ', "His awareness of defenses really struck me. His statements were supported by five McKinley football players who attended the school board meeting in support of their eight coaches. After I got off the phone call, I thought to myself, like I cant like what they did to me was just too far extreme disrespect, so I just left it there.. 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 was calling an audible. 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. December 4, 2004 (at Canton Fawcett Stadium) Canton McKinley 3 7 0 0 10 (11-4) Cincinnati Colerain 6 17 20 7 50 (15-0) Coaches: Brian Cross (Canton McKinley); Kerry Coombs (Cincinnati Colerain) Attendance (unofficial): 16,885. 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. I will defer to Judge Haupt and her able staff to handle. Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, last offseason engineered his way to Denver (and to a new . 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. Record: 10-0. With Josh going there now, Carr staying is a done deal.". 3 Nordonia (17-5), 7 p.m. Saturday . This is an extraordinary tactic that is used to teach an extraordinary lesson to an extraordinary young man under extraordinary circumstances.. 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. But the player testified that Wattley told him that if he walked out, he couldnt come back. Coaching career. Former Browns coach Paul Brown hails from nearby Massillon and, last summer, Canton erected a statue of former Browns running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marion Motley just down the hill from the museum. The Canton City School Board held a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss the incident that occurred . Former Canton McKinley Senior High School head football coach Marcus Wattley and five of his former assistant coaches are suing nine people they say have damaged their reputations in the. "Josh knew how to play defensive back," Miller said. Antonio Hall was named head coach of the McKinley High School football team on Monday. I miss my boys. 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.. 2022 OHSAA High School Football Playoff Brackets (Ohio) Region 1. Thom McDaniels is a retired Ohio high school football coach.. "This report is under investigation, in accordance with our district policies," Canton City Schools told 3News. There's nobody more tenacious. I just dont understand why after I said I dont eat pork, they didnt take it (the pepperoni pizza) away. 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. 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. A few thousand watched the Marietta Pioneers nurse a lead against the visiting John Carroll Blue Streaks. All rights reserved. The player said McLeod didnt react and continued to eat the pizza next to him. But of course, we don't know they acted as a group. Wattley's attorney Peter Pattakostold The Canton Repository on Mondaythat Wattley and the assistant 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. He has been on staff, mostly as offensive coordinator, for all nine of Bill Belichick's New England Super Bowls. Tournament Game. As we approach trial, any attempt to taint a jury pool is truly not a practice I would ever engage. 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. MEDINA, Ohio - Solon and Midview both picked up big wins in the OHSAA Division I regional semifinals at Medina High School on Tuesday night. McLeod on Tuesday said he believes the surveillance video clears the coaches. 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. "It's not going to get the coaches their jobs back. 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. . 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." He recounted an encounter with one of the coaches at the mall recently. More on Canton McKinley football: Canton McKinley Bulldogs 2022 high school football preview. He disputed Pattakos' statement that Wattley had offered the player chicken nuggets or any alternative food. 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. Fletcher played 256 NFL games, third all-time among linebackers behind Junior Seau (268) and Clay Matthews (278). The Bulldogs went 9-3 in Wattley's first year,. 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 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. GlenOak 22. Other coaches involved have not responded to requests for comment or have declined comment. He said he has lost respect for the McKinley coaches he once admired. The lawsuit also had been filed against Canton City school leaders but they were dismissed from the case in January. The player admitted he had lied to his teammates and coaches and told them he had been grounded for smoking marijuana. We will continue to make every reasonable effort to ensure that justice is served in this case.. Updated: Jun. 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. "The idea was, 'Okay young man, you're so special? The trial was set to begin Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court. The score stayed 12-3. 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 . Head coach: Paul Brown. 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. They needed to get through to him some other way. 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. 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. 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. 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. I love them, they know that. 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. McDaniels is a significant donor. 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. 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. 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 coach was trying to teach a lesson.". 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. Canton McKinley sophomore Dante McClellan looks to make a play at Akron East, Wed., Feb. 15, 2023 "We struggled at the rim," Vlkajkovich said. 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. We have a number of careers that have been destroyed here. 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. Repository sports writer Josh Weir contributed to this article. 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. 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 . 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. Talbert said counselors will be available for the football players Friday. Deservedly so. Talbert went on to say that video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. "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. Monica A. Coleman, a theologian and professor of Africana studies at the University of Delaware, said someHebrew Israelites do consider themselves to be Jewish. 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. 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. "As a coach, you can be frustrated watching that. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. Lost hisfather when he said he believes they should have stopped the punishment when was! 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