"Mr. Staten is the boss - he does the hiring and the firing of teachers and coaches at Citrus High School," Langer said. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism A majority of the justices seemed to signal Monday that the districts worries on that front were overstated. A high school football coach who led a Massachusetts school districts team for nearly a decade was fired in early 2021 after he raised concerns about the use of critical As of Wednesday evening, the petition had generated 1,635 signatures and its stated goal had been raised from 1,500 to 2,500. Overall, Im happy with the season, Varnadore said. They said the player chose to take off the pepperoni and eat it. "That is not true," Bishop said of OBriens claims. It was unclear who will replace DiCarlo as coach. There was a problem saving your notification. Contact Chronicle sports reporter Chris Bernhardt at 352-563-5660, chris.bernhardt@chronicleonline.com or on twitter @cpbernhardtjr. A high school football coach and six assistant coaches have been fired after they allegedly forced a player to eat pork against his religious beliefs. Both junior varsity and varsity football games have been cancelled for this week. Could rocket fuel soon be produced in Polk County? Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. However, the attorney arguing on behalf of the school district Richard Katskee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State said the school system had other reasons for acting in connection with Kennedys prayers, including concerns about students feeling coerced and even about safety after spectators rushed the field after one game, with some students being knocked to the ground. CRYSTAL RIVER - Ron Cline was fired Wednesday as Citrus High School head football coach, and many people in the community, including several Citrus County School Board members, are wondering why. "We know from many conversations, emails, and online posts that many people want action now, and we appreciate that sentiment. Be Truthful. The insensitive words weren't directed at the opposing team or at a particular player, Antonucci said. In ordering Kennedy to limit his prayers and later suspending him, the school district cited concerns about its obligation under the Constitution to avoid the appearance of endorsement of religion. If we didnt have the things go on, we could have done better. Higher wind gusts possible. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Kennedy asserted that the school district violated the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, under the new point system implemented by the FHSAA that season, Citrus failed to make the playoffs. Ive seen that, done that. Keep it Clean. So, OK, thats what youre telling us, fine, thats how we take it in. Jun 4, 2021, 12:50 PM EDT. Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe, via Getty Images. From what weve seen so far, this is not a fair fight, and theres got to be a point where youre worried about health and safety.. Panio said he was not aware of any instances when DiCarlo had been warned or reprimanded for his language or any other behavior by administrators this season or in past years. declares her, Alleged fraud could mean curtain call for theater, Womans car totaled in her driveway by Amazon driver, Missing Largo lawyers husband talks about love &. 00:01. His winning record and reputation as a fair disciplinarian with high moral standards has many people wondering why he was fired. At this time I feel that the justification was not concrete enough for me to resign."' Pattakos and the students said the player could have left at any time, adding that Wattley offered the teen chicken nuggets instead of the pizza after the player said he did not eat pork. Dan Schultz, a former sports club president who has had three sons play sports for DiCarlo, including one, Aidan, who is currently a junior on the football and basketball teams, wrote a letter of support to Valenti and the school board dated Nov. 4, praising DiCarlo for his character and integrity. The unedited text of the petition reads, "For the first time in years the CHS Hurricanes have had a spectacular football season all thanks to coach Robert OBrian. racist or sexually-oriented language. What I offered these young people was through concern and commitment and teaching good work habits. | Lets say he says the Our Father with arms outstretched and it starts causing a lot of havoc in the stands Band members were being rushed, the head coach feared for his life? Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked, alluding to one of the school districts arguments. He holds himself accountable and he holds them accountable.". Don't knowingly lie about anyone Threats of harming another This story has been corrected to show the player is a Hebrew Israelite, not a Hebrew Israeli. But Kavanaugh an avid sports fan who has coached his daughters basketball team seemed genuinely troubled by the predicament of young team members who might feel they were being subtly or not-so-subtly encouraged by Kennedy to join in the on-field prayer. Late Wednesday afternoon, the Citrus School District informed 8 On Your Side that students from Citrus High School are planning a vigil for later in the week. Kennedy also reacted to the news, saying he hopes to return to the field soon. Citrus High head football coach Robert OBrien stands on the sideline before a game Sept. 27 in Inverness against Central. DiCarlo first met with the district's independent investigator two days prior to that game. So why cant we continue to win with Coach Robert OBrien?". Attending McMurrays funeral the night before their preseason contest, the Canes got off to an 0-4 start to the regular season. The City of Citrus Heights reported this month that a record-breaking number of permits were issued for secondary dwelling units last year. This may be a case about facts and not really much about law, Breyer said. "Not one thing. However, Kavanaugh said there were all kinds of non-religious activities a coach might take part in or organize that could produce similar coercion and he appeared to suggest that there is no way to control such implicit pressure. Another coach was also suspended but he will remain as an assistant coach because the evidence did not show that he performed in the same manner as the other coaches, officials said. Updated: 04/25/2022 09:42 PM EDT. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Final verdict. The schools director, Andre Peterson, cited pending fraud charges against Johnson and the teams injury tracking procedures as part of a lot of things that resulted in the firing. "It's deeply hurtful to the Jewish community to learn that the plays somehow connect to the Holocaust and Judaism," Trestan said. U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor appears before an audience on April 5, 2022, at Washington University in St. Louis. Ive done this for 15 years. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Cline has been a coach for 17 years, including seven seasons at Seminole-Osceola before coming to Citrus High. Higher wind gusts possible.. Ive coached in the college ranks, in high school, Ive been with district champions and regional champs. Jeff Roberson/AP Photo. They had big wins over Crystal River and defending district champion Nature Coast, finishing tied for first place in District 5A-7. However, when the word got out that coach OBrien was no longer apart of the Citrus High School football program, the question that no one was able to find the answer to was, why?, "Ultimately, Citrus County hasnt seen this good of a program in years, and once our team finally starts to succeed and climb up the rankings, it is all stripped away for a reason that is unknown to most. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Citrus High head football coach Robert OBrien stands on the sideline before a game Sept. 27 in Inverness against Central. The player and his family are members of the Hebrew Israelite religious faith and do not eat pork. or anything. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A student-athlete in Citrus County has died after collapsing during football practice, the Be Proactive. We just decided to mutually part ways.. WebHurricanes Football Coaches. But in his case, its more of a higher calling. Why cant the school fire a coach who decides to put a Nazi swastika on their arm and go to the middle of the field to pray? Like the courts other conservatives, Justice Brett Kavanaugh sounded concerned about the districts intrusion on Kennedys religious practice. According to Outkick, Johnson faces an active bench warrant since July 2 out of Delaware, Ohio, for failure to appear in a domestic violence case that later was dropped to a criminal mischief charge. The purpose of the investigation was not specified and he continued to coach the football team through its final game, a 35-13 victory over Fox Lane on Oct. 29, completing a 6-3 season. The arguments over Kennedys case started with a sequence of hypothetical situations posed by Justice Sonia Sotomayor that involved where, when and how educators can legally pray while on the job. 600 W Highland Blvd, Inverness, FL 34452. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, It found the coach had been negative toward athletes, berated them and used profanity in their presence. Don't Threaten. The announcement came the day after Robert Trestan, president of the New England Anti-Defamation League, called for an independent investigation. I was very impressed with him stepping in and getting the program back on its feet., Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week. Pattakos also blamed the district for conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation. "I think he did a good job as far as the coaching end of it. 1624 N. Meadowcrest Blvd. Kennedy has been fervently backed by conservatives. Eastchester's basketball team, which went 18-5 last season, is scheduled to begin a new season when practice opens Monday. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. "I've got a lot of respect for him as a coach," Bramlett said. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Ive been to the mountaintop. Cline said he is open to any opportunity, either as an assistant within Citrus County or a head coach elsewhere, as long as his family was stable. There was adversity after adversity, once one thing was under control something else pops up. The Citrus Heights City Council voted earlier this month to officially oppose proposed state legislation aimed at preventing the use of police K-9s for arrest or crowd control. "Nobody's getting an answer and I'm frustrated," Citrus County School Board member Karen Johnson said. Bishop Sycamore was crushed by national powerhouse IMG Academy, 58-0, on Sunday just two days after suffering a 19-7 loss to Sto-Rox High School of Pennsylvania. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. We want someone to come in and build upon what Nate has done. "I think I reacted with confidence in this difficult situation," Cline said. Citrus athletic director Larry Bishop said on Wednesday that he had heard about the petition but hadnt had an opportunity to review it. Leavell wrote: You many continue to provide motivational, inspirational talks to students before, during and after games and other team activity, focusing on appropriate themes such as unity, teamwork, responsibility, safety, endeavor and the like that have long characterized your very positive and beneficial talks with students. There are indications of a systemic failure both on and off the field.". He was ordered to sit in the middle of the gym and eat an entire pepperoni pizza, Gilbert said. In this business this happens. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Thank you for reading! Be Nice. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Peter Pattakos, an attorney retained by Wattley, said details of the events were exaggerated and parts are false. But Clement said an abstract worry about coercion wasnt sufficient basis to tell Kennedy he couldnt pray on-field publicly after games. Those accolades resulted in $3,500 being awarded to the football program, and Varnadore was able to attend Super Bowl LII in Minnesota. Wake up to the day's most important news. Pick No. He believes in those relationships, Bishop said. OBrien, in his first year at the helm, had guided the team to an 8-1 mark but was absent for last Fridays regular season ending win at Crystal River. Franklin confirmed with SBLive Sports Florida that he has stepped down from his position as head coach and But in September of 2015, the district Superintendent,Aaron Leavell,sent a letter to Kennedy ordering him to stop praying, after a school administrators compliment of Kennedys leadership drew attention to his post-game prayers. "I am not ashamed in any negligent way. I dont know how to deal with that, frankly, he said. Citrus High School football player dies after collapsing at practice. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Watch Eli Manning, ex-Giants surprise Michael Strahan on ' Devils great still irked by blown Game 7 chance against Rangers in 1994, Devils trust their 'mood' will help them oust Rangers in Game 7, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Perez Hilton: 'Boring' Meghan and Harry need to 'give up and move' back to UK, Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. They're saying that he's the best they've ever had, not just in coaching but in curriculum and in working with the office staff because he's athletic coordinator.". The teen died Tuesday, after collapsing during football practice. Thats a real thing out there.. A lawyer for the teen players family has announced plans to sue the school district. Please enter valid email address to continue. The post says the Citrus High School football player collapsed during practice and was taken to Citrus Memorial Hospital where he later died. Hesaid: Six years away from the football field has been far too long. We've received your submission. "I feel like it's a sad day," Schultz said. Churchill high school is conducting an immature sensitive conversation with underage children by promoting 18 + topics. If someone comes up and says thats part of my religion, could the school say no to them? she asked, prompting several justices to pile on, adding more hypotheticals during the arguments, which extended for almost 50 minutes beyond the allotted one hour. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. - After four seasons at the helm as the head football coach at Citrus High School, McKinley Franklin will not be the Hurricanes lead man anymore. While Kennedy and religious freedom advocates contend he was simply exercising his right to express his devotion to God, the school district maintains that his actions were coercive and that players parents complained that their children on the team felt compelled to participate. CANTON, Ohio (AP) The head football coach at an Ohio high school and six other coaches there have been ousted after a football player said he was forced him to eat pork in violation of his religious beliefs for missing a voluntary workout. They want a good environment and they want the home team to win. While the Citrus High football team uses this Week 11 bye to prepare for a potential playoff matchup, the program has remained in the spotlight. CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue. He won a fan vote for Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Coach of the Year, after having been voted Coach of the Week following the win over Nature Coast. The teen would have been subjected to additional drills and his status on the team might have been jeopardized if he had not followed Wattleys order, Gilbert said. We'd love to hear eyewitness You look at IMG and this is the most talented prep team in the country, ESPN announcer Anish Shroff said during the second quarter of Sundays game. previously used his position on the high court bench to express empathy for the concerns of student athletes, Twenty-four conservative state attorneys general. Higher wind gusts possible.. During the Trump administration, Kennedy got the attention of then-President Donald Trump, who invited the coach to a White House event championing a proposal that aimed to bolster the right to pray in schools. Low 66F. But Im proud of the kids. Thanks for contacting us. The teens attorney, Ed Gilbert, said the player skipped a voluntary workout four days earlier before the incident while nursing a sore shoulder. The post says the Citrus High School football player collapsed during practice and was taken to Citrus Memorial Hospital where he later died. Schultz, whose oldest son, Andrew, played Division I football at Bryant, criticized the process that led to the decision. 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"Coach OBrien was a very inspirational coach with high hopes for the Citrus High School football program. Principal Laura Mason released a statement on Twitter. In response, Kennedy sought representation from First Liberty Institute, alegal organization exclusively dedicated to defending religious liberty, and asked the school to make a religious accommodation according to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Youre requiring a lot of this school board to try to figure out exactly which box in the Establishment Clause to put this in, Kagan told Kennedys lawyer, Paul Clement. OBrien turned in his resignation Monday after Don't Threaten. Contact Chronicle sports reporter Chris Bernhardt Jr. at 352-563-5660, chris.bernhardt@chronicle online.com or on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr. According to assistant football coach Tony Panio and several other members of the community, DiCarlo was informed in a letter from the district late last month that he was under investigation. In 2018, First Liberty filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Ninth Circuits decision. "They were trying to find any excuse they can," Panio argued. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. The duty is not from the beginning of the bell to the end of the bell, Sotomayor said, adding that Kennedy had several duties following the games themselves, which may have given the school district grounds to tell him not to pray audibly during that time. The Citrus county community came together for a vigil Friday to honor 16-year-old Antonio Hicks. A stunning 18-6 win at Hernando, the 2017 district champ, on Sept. 21 sparked a three-game winning streak, and Citrus ended up 4-6 overall. His statements were supported by five football players who attended the school board meeting in support of the eight coaches. OBrien said on Monday that he decided to step down after continued threats from administration that he would be fired. "In a statement that I prepared for him, I told him, 'I'm not doing this out of disrespect. Mitnick is an attorney and investigator with 30 years' experience in such matters. Part of HuffPost News. Kagan and Sotomayor appeared to disagree and framed their concerns not just as a question of the religious rights of public school students but of parents ability to dictate their childrens religious practice. Bishop Sycamore, the unknown Ohio-based online school that talked its way into a nationally televised football drubbing Sunday on ESPN, has fired head However, he declined to provide details of what happened and said the video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. Petition calls for Citrus coach to be rehired, 1624 N. Meadowcrest Blvd. While the Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2019, Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh said in a statement that the Ninth Circuits reasoning was troubling and that the Court would likely take the case if lower courts could first answer whether Kennedy had been fired because of his religion. The New England Patriots stopped the slide of former LSU standout Kayshon Boutte in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. At some games there was even news broadcasters. Ultimately, Kennedy is asking the Court to decide whether a public school employee who says a brief, quiet prayer by himself while at school and visible to students is engaged in government speech that lacks First Amendment protections, and whether the Establishment clause compels public schools to prohibit it.. We have been in "Not one email, not one question, not one phone call from, hypothetically, the guy who would know him best," said Panio, who is a teacher in the Bronx. The district has also hired Edward Mitnick of Just Training Solutions LLC to assist in the investigation. I am extremely grateful that the Supreme Court is going to hear my case and pray that I will soon be able to be back on the field coaching the game and players I love. WebCitrus High head football coach Nate Varnadore announced his resignation on Monday, ending his two-year tenure with the program. Is that true? Since 2008, Kennedy, a Marine Corps veteran, made a commitment to God to give thanks after every game win or lose for the opportunity to be a football coach for his players, Kennedys representation,First Liberty Institute, wrote. A judge also ruled Friday that Johnson and another defendant will go to trial for defaulting on a $100,000 loan issued by First Merchants Bank in April 2018. Every player is trying to get on the good side of the coach and every parent is worried about the coach exercising favoritism in terms of the starting line-up, playing time, recommendations for colleges, said Kavanaugh, who has previously used his position on the high court bench to express empathy for the concerns of student athletes. Bishop Sycamore told us they had a number of Division I prospects on their roster, and to be frank, a lot of that, we could not verify. The Leesburg coaching staff and players are praying for all of those affected, said Mark Oates, Leesburg Head Football Coach. DeSantis and King George III have in common | Column, Pasco motorcyclist: I couldnt live with myself knowing what I had done, Palm Harbor delicatessen collects hundreds of bikes for underprivileged kids, Florida adds 6,659 coronavirus cases, 98 deaths Monday, Florida adds 7,363 coronavirus cases, 59 deaths Sunday. After the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) granted Kennedy a right-to-sue letter following charges of religious discrimination, First Liberty filed a lawsuit against the district. The case is Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, No. You're not going to find one. Not only did the CHS football spectators love him, but the players all spoke so highly of him. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. At first he prayed on his own, but eventually some players voluntarily joined him, occasionally including players from other teams. "I havent read it, so I dont have a comment," Bishop said. Im not moving, Varnadore said when reached by phone. If that's true I give the man kudos for resigning rather than giving in. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Trestan said he was told by Antonucci that the words "rabbi" and "dreidel" were also used in Duxbury's March 12 game against Plymouth North. Mainly clear skies. A Jewish high school football player in Ohio was allegedly forced by his coach to eat pork a violation of his religious beliefs as a form of punishment. Several high school football coaches in Ohio were ousted after a 17-year-old said he was forced to eat pork in violation of his religious beliefs. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. I've heard some teachers, students and booster members are all signing petitions, but I haven't seen any.
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