Keep it Clean. Both the district court and the Ninth Circuit again sided with the school district in 2021, though the Ninth Circuit confirmed Kennedy had been fired because he refused to stop praying on the field after games. Ive been to the mountaintop. High school coach fired after players use anti-Semitic play calls Citrus High coach fired; community asks 'why?' Duxbury residents are beside themselves, CBS Boston observes, and a local group called Duxbury For All says there's a lot of work to be done. The insensitive words weren't directed at the opposing team or at a particular player, Antonucci said. All of his hard work had payed off extremely well with a record of 9 wins and 1 loss. Ohio high school football coaches fired after player says he was Kennedy asserted that the school district violated the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This case has massive implications for religious liberty for millions of Americans, and we are hopeful the Court will correct the injustice that occurred here, Berry said. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. That same day, a petition appeared on the website change.org titled "Rehire Coach OBrien." Bishop Sycamore fires coach after bizarre fallout from ESPN blowout Bishop Sycamore fires head coach amid legitimacy questions; Ohio Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Bishop Sycamore also is scheduled to play big-time programs Duncanville (Kentucky) and St. Thomas More (Connecticut) this season. 21-418 in the Supreme Court of the United States. He would continuously come into classes and check on the football players and make sure their studies were up, they had adequate attendance, and make sure they were being all around good students. Duxbury, Massachusetts A Massachusetts high school fired its successful football coach and hired an outside consultant Wednesday to assist an investigation into reports that the team used anti-Semitic language, including a mention of Auschwitz, in its on-field play calling during a recent game. Low 66F. Varnadore said he will be leaving both the coaching and teaching profession to work out of a local church. Given the complicated scenario in the case, liberal Justice Stephen Breyer seemed reluctant to use it as a vehicle to issue a sweeping decision about the religious-freedom rights of teachers and coaches. Mainly clear skies. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. "When someone says 'Auschwitz,' I don't think these young people understand how harmful and hurtful that is to people that are Jewish.". March 25, 2021 / 7:51 AM The announcement came the day after Robert Trestan, president of the New England Anti-Defamation League, called for an independent investigation. 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. "I think he did a good job as far as the coaching end of it. Unfortunately for principals and athletic directors, the task of firing an individual comes with the job description. "Coach OBrien was a very inspirational coach with high hopes for the Citrus High School football program. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Principal Ed Staten offered Cline the chance to resign the position he has held for two years, but Cline refused. 187 overall marked the 22nd wide receiver selected. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. 3 min read. 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. Citrus High head football coach Robert OBrien stands on the sideline before a game Sept. 27 in Inverness against Central. 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. What do I do with the fact that parents complained that their children wouldnt follow their directives? Sotomayor asked. FL woman takes home $1M from $5 scratch-off ticket, Bride killed, groom seriously hurt in golf cart crash, Teen dies after accident in equestrian competition, DeSantis signs 3 bills at law and order event in, WATCH: Manatee deputies rescue dad, son from rip, 35 firearms stolen during break-in; 4 charged, Is my money safe? | Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool. There had been crowds that come from all over just to watch the Hurricanes play. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that he has requested the Department of Education to open an investigation into the legitimacy of Bishop Sycamore. Citrus 9 Citrus High School football player dies after collapsing - WFTS Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. - 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. The school district announced on Wednesday that the JV football game against Crystal River for Wednesday night and the Friday night football game against Leesburg have both been canceled. 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. We want someone to come in and build upon what Nate has done. in the Supreme Court of the United States. District Superintendent Jeff Talbert said surveillance video gave administrators the information they needed to warrant their recommendations to the board. Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also joined other conservatives in filing a brief in support of Kennedy. Citrus High School (Inverness, FL) Varsity Football 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.. / CBS/AP. However, we are still in the middle of an active investigation and it is important that we get accurate information and facts in this case," the statement said. Be Nice. The religious liberty case argued at the high court Monday stems from a suit filed by Joseph Kennedy, a high school assistant football coach who was placed on administrative leave by Bremerton School District in 2015 after refusing to stop kneeling to pray audibly at the 50-yard after his teams games. that is degrading to another person. WebHurricanes Football Coaches. Citrus Plymouth school officials alerted Duxbury about the matter. Mainly clear skies. 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. Use the 'Report' link on Then out of nowhere he gets let go. There was adversity after adversity, once one thing was under control something else pops up. A high school football coach in Charleston, South Carolina, was fired after he permitted a post-game celebratory ritual involving a watermelon that some say is racist. 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. Don't Threaten. Jun 4, 2021, 12:50 PM EDT. Overall, Im happy with the season, Varnadore said. Its just a different job title. I think he did a great job for us. 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. "They want to know why coach Cline is not going to be at Citrus High School anymore. The district's Crisis Team will be at Citrus High School on Wednesday and throughout the rest of the week to provide counseling, assistance and support as needed. Principal Laura Mason released a statement on Twitter. 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. Not only did the CHS football spectators love him, but the players all spoke so highly of him. Web50-9 (L) Citrus @ River Ridge On 10/21, the Citrus varsity football team lost their away conference game against River Ridge (New Port Richey, FL) by a score of 50-9. A Citrus High School student-athlete who collapsed Tuesday, Sept. 28, during football practice and was rushed to Citrus Memorial Hospital died, according to a Citrus County School District Facebook post late Tuesday night. 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. Attending McMurrays funeral the night before their preseason contest, the Canes got off to an 0-4 start to the regular season. Duxbury in recent years has been one of the state's most successful teams, with five state championships since 2005. - Staff writer Barbara Behrendt contributed to this report. 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. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Mr. Staten is the boss - he does the hiring and the firing of teachers and coaches at Citrus High School," Langer said. Kennedy has been fervently backed by conservatives. In 2018, First Liberty filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Ninth Circuits decision. Ill be around. Varsity was set to play Leesburg High School on Friday night. "I don't know how a coach would allow this to happen. Pattakos also blamed the district for conducting a rushed and incomplete investigation. 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. A decision about subsequent games will be made later, CBS Boston reports. Citrus High School varsity football coach McKinley Franklin is overcome with emotion Friday evening, Oct. 1, during a memorial service for 16-year-old football player Antonio Hicks who collapsed during practice Tuesday, Sept. 28, and later died at Citrus Memorial Hospital. The Supreme Court appears poised to rule in favor of a high school football coach suspended over his on-field prayers following games. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Be Proactive. 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. Citrus High School football player dies after collapsing during Talbert disputed the claims about the investigation, saying the video gave them enough information to determine that the coaches acted inappropriately. Anything that was spoken of coach OBrien was uplifting to his name and reputation. "It's deeply hurtful to the Jewish community to learn that the plays somehow connect to the Holocaust and Judaism," Trestan said. Part of HuffPost News. Home - Citrus High School He called the language "careless, unnecessary and most importantly hurtful on its face - inexcusable.". They had big wins over Crystal River and defending district champion Nature Coast, finishing tied for first place in District 5A-7. The affluent coastal community about 30 miles south of Boston has nearly 16,000 residents, according to the Census Bureau. that is degrading to another person. Higher wind gusts possible. Is that true? A higher calling for Varnadore | Sports | chronicleonline.com 600 W Highland Blvd, Inverness, FL 34452. However, under the new point system implemented by the FHSAA that season, Citrus failed to make the playoffs. "Nobody's getting an answer and I'm frustrated," Citrus County School Board member Karen Johnson said. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. You have permission to edit this article. 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.