We will continue to make every reasonable effort to ensure that justice is served in this case.. Canton McKinley Football's "You Can Get There From Here" series. Theyve run plenty of sprints. 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. 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No Bulldogcoachs tenure has spanned more than five years since Thom McDaniels guided the program from 1982-1997. And then … they start telling everyone to get around the gym with the 45-pound plates, and then they start saying if I dont eat it, then the team will have to keep doing the punishment until its all gone. GlenOak 22. The trial was set to begin Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court. Its unclear from the players testimony whether the other coaches heard the player talking about his religion. More on the McDaniels family: Canton council approves street name change to honor McDaniels football family. 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. All rights reserved. Talbert said surveillance videogave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board. 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. He said hes asked God for forgiveness for eating the pork residue. 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. 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 . "This report is under investigation, in accordance with our district policies," Canton City Schools told 3News. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - New developments occurred this week in the pizza scandal involving a former Canton McKinley football player and his coaches. Repository reporters Kelli Weir, Charita Goshay,Steve Doerschuk and Josh Weir contributed to this story. … Physically harming is a lot different. One of the state's most successful coaches . McDaniels is a significant donor. "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. 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,. 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 head football coach Marcus Wattley and seven assistant coaches were suspended last week by the Canton City School District after the 17-year-old reported what happened to him on . Thom McDaniels is a retired Ohio high school football coach.. 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.. Thats the lesson that needed to get through to him.. 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. Example video title will go here for this video, New procedures, clinical trials offer hope for pancreatic cancer patients | Health Yeah. Talbert said counselors will be available for the football players Friday. 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. 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. 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. Josh Grimsley, Wattleys former defensive line coach who also works as a school resource assistant for the Canton City School District, was so bothered by the punishment that he sent a text message to his supervisor, Safety and Security Director Steve Humphrey, shortly after the May 24 workout ended. "This incident does not reflect the Canton City School District's culture of protecting the physical and emotional wellbeing of our students.". "I remember sitting in the stands watching a McKinley-Masillon ninth-grade game," Rose said. I will defer to Judge Haupt and her able staff to handle. With the same vote, the board also deemed assistant football coaches Frank McLeod, Zachary Sweat and Josh Grimsley as ineligible for future coaching positions. I think I said, Im sorry for missing practice and I wont let it happen again or something across those lines, the player testified. Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or [email protected]. Former McKinley football coaches dismiss defamation lawsuit, intend to refile Kelli Weir The Repository 0:00 0:57 The former Canton McKinley football coaches who have been waiting for. Its not like they put their hands on me, but they forced me to eat it, he said. 2023 www.cantonrep.com. 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. 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. "I don't think they gave him enough time in Denver. "Look at how many times (Mayfield) has had the opportunity and hasn't won those games," Rose said. I wasnt taking it, so then he just sat it down right beside me again. 0:36. 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. He always tries to make the people around him better. Rose prefers Carr to Baker Mayfield based on pulling out wins in fourth quarters. Gilbert said the family has delayed filing its lawsuit because the district has asked to mediate the dispute out of court. He saidthe video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. Fletcher played 256 NFL games, third all-time among linebackers behind Junior Seau (268) and Clay Matthews (278). Attorney Michael Kahlenberg, who represents the player and his father in the coaches defamation lawsuit, said he cannot comment on pending litigation. "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," Talbert said. CANTON, Ohio There are new developments in the scandal that once crippled the Canton McKinley football team. Example video title will go here for this video. and last updated 6:19 AM, Jun 02, 2021. 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 . 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. The others mentioned above stayed in football. Allegations that the court says "lumped all the former coaches together without distinguishing the allegations against each individual. On 10/28, the McKinley varsity football team won their home playoff game against GlenOak (Canton, OH) by a score of 40-22. Box Score. 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. John Carroll went on to an 18-12 win. A native of Canton, Ohio, President McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War and is assassinated in 1901. . 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, Marcus Wattley and six of his assistant coaches were fired by Canton City Schools, Canton McKinley student allegedly forced to eat pepperoni pizza files a lawsuit against Canton City Schools in U.S. District Court, Attorney: Fired Canton McKinley head football coach Marcus Wattley never forced player to eat pork, Canton McKinley football coaches fired for pizza incident file defamation suit, Canton McKinley football coach Marcus Wattley, 6 assistants fired following misconduct investigation. 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 had planned to do some exercises with a stretch band due to his shoulder injury. 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). He previously served as the quarterbacks coach for the University of Michigan and also previously serving as the interim wide receivers coach in late 2018. MEDINA, Ohio - Solon and Midview both picked up big wins in the OHSAA Division I regional semifinals at Medina High School on Tuesday night. 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,. Las Vegas is, and he's going to rock it 'til the wheels fall off. McKinley's Harold Fannin is the Federal League Player of the Year,. Add the football angle of Massillon-Hoban and this is a can't miss. He also said he wasnt missing workouts due to using marijuana as the coaches have suggested. "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. The most important thing for Mr. Wattley at this point is that the truth comes out so that his name is cleared of these ridiculous charges against him, and we will make sure that happens. I was hoping David Carr would come to the Browns. 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. . Do you support the move? Pattakos said he believesthe assistant coach wanted Wattleys job. The Canton City School Board held a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss the incident that occurred . Theyve run plenty of sprints. So I just went with it and went to the contest, the player testified. And I was cussing at them, and they were saying, Oh, then he was like, when did he get so tough?. The player said he continued to protest and at one point kicked the box, but the box was brought back to him. It wont be the same without them, said Powell, a rising senior who is considered McKinley's top returning player. What we are most certain of is that this communitys unfortunate loss will be another communitys gain, and that Mr. Wattleys excellent record as a coach, educator, and community servant will continue to speak for itself to anyone interested in the truth.". Wattley, who was hired as McKinley's coach in 2019, said he misses his players. Superintendent Jeff Talbert said surveillance video gave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendation to dismiss the coaches to the school board. Editors Note: Below is a previous report by 19 News about the lawsuit. 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. If not, then you can leave. Thats the lesson.. Repository sports writer Josh Weir contributed to this article. School board president John "J.R." 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