Citrus High School football player dies after collapsing at practice. 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. 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. Neither Cline nor Staten would give specific details as to what was said in a meeting between the two Wednesday. "In a statement that I prepared for him, I told him, 'I'm not doing this out of disrespect. Not only did the CHS football spectators love him, but the players all spoke so highly of him. Thanks for contacting us. We have been in Citrus was expected to be a district contender again this season, but suffered a tragic blow when McMurray, a senior starting offensive lineman, was struck by a vehicle and eventually died the weekend before the school year began. WebCitrus High head football coach Nate Varnadore announced his resignation on Monday, ending his two-year tenure with the program. The former Crystal River and now Hurricanes head coach plans to go into the ministry to serve the local community in a different way. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Josh Thomson is the Sports Editor for The Journal News, Poughkeepsie Journal and Middletown Times Herald-Record. Duxbury in recent years has been one of the state's most successful teams, with five state championships since 2005. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. after collapsing on football field OBrien did not respond to a text seeking comment. 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. However, under the new point system implemented by the FHSAA that season, Citrus failed to make the playoffs. The 15 years Ive done that have prepared me for this.. Peter Pattakos, an attorney retained by Wattley, said details of the events were exaggerated and parts are false. During Sundays broadcast, ESPN announcers claimed Bishop Sycamore led them to believe its roster contained multiple Division I prospects, which quickly proved to be untrue during its game against IMG. I dont know how to deal with that, frankly, he said. He was ordered to sit in the middle of the gym and eat an entire pepperoni pizza, Gilbert said. 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. 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. They must remain secular in nature, so as to a void alienation of any team member. Schultz, whose oldest son, Andrew, played Division I football at Bryant, criticized the process that led to the decision. He said the coach's win-loss record had no bearing on the dismissal. "These players and the community as a whole are very active and will react to that same statement. CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A student-athlete in Citrus County has died after collapsing during football practice, the Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. 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. I heard that Coach OB was not allowed to have any interaction with our kids at this point. Citrus athletic director Larry Bishop praised the work of Varnadore, and said the school hopes to have a replacement hired by Christmas. 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. "I don't know how a coach would allow this to happen. Citrus High School football player dies after collapsing - WFTS Former Vice President Mike Pence, dozens of state legislators and GOP lawmakers in Congress have urged the high court to overturn the 9th Circuits ruling in favor of the school district, saying it imperils the most basic forms of individual religious expression. Twenty-four conservative state attorneys general also filed a brief backing the coach. Webcitrus high school information 600 West Highland Blvd., Inverness, FL 34452 - (352) 726-2241 - Guidance office fax: [352] 249-2101 office Fax: (352) 249-2102 Principal: Mark Use the 'Report' link on Phone 352-726-2241 | Fax 352-249 The district also used the First Amendment to justify its argument, claiming that Kennedys prayers in view of the public and students following a school sanctioned event violate the Establishment Clause because his actions could be perceived as a district endorsement of religion. Please enter valid email address to continue. He believes in those relationships, Bishop said. Your talks with students may not include religious expression, including prayer. This is the second time the case, which could have implications for teachers and other public employees First Amendment rights to religious expression while on the job, has been appealed to the high court. "It's deeply hurtful to the Jewish community to learn that the plays somehow connect to the Holocaust and Judaism," Trestan said. However, he declined to provide details of what happened and said the video would not be publicly released due to federal student privacy regulations. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Part of HuffPost News. In order to be a good leader, you have to be a good servant. Varsity was set to play Leesburg High School on Friday night. racist or sexually-oriented language. "It's a move that I need to make for the benefit of the program," Staten said. "Based on information given to me by Mr. Staten as to valid reasons or justification, I made a decision (Wednesday) morning not to resign. Football - Citrus High School 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. This gives me an opportunity to be around in our community. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. that is degrading to another person. Plymouth school officials alerted Duxbury about the matter. Maimaron had released a statement this week in which he apologized. "You try and find a basketball coach or football coach who teaches 16 and 17-year-old kids and hasn't cursed. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Friends, teammates mourn the loss WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. As a result, one could assume that citizens want to have a good football team to watch on Friday nights. DiCarlo first met with the district's independent investigator two days prior to that game. Ive coached in the college ranks, in high school, Ive been with district champions and regional champs. 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. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. Attending McMurrays funeral the night before their preseason contest, the Canes got off to an 0-4 start to the regular season. Be Truthful. "On behalf of the staff and players of the Duxbury High School football team, I want to extend my apology for the insensitive, crass and inappropriate language used in the game on March 12th," he said. This story has been corrected to show the player is a Hebrew Israelite, not a Hebrew Israeli. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Kennedy, a devout Christian who began working at Bremerton High School in 2008, was fired from his role asvarsity assistant coach and as the junior varsity head coach after he refused to quit praying on the 50 yard line in full view of the public following games. "And it's sad because of the way it was handled.". The affluent coastal community about 30 miles south of Boston has nearly 16,000 residents, according to the Census Bureau. There was adversity after adversity, once one thing was under control something else pops up. Low 66F. She stressed that no teachers work is limited strictly to class time. Be Nice. That same day, a petition appeared on the website change.org titled "Rehire Coach OBrien." Keep it Clean. "I've been getting phone calls ever since it hit the paper last week. I am asking that all Leesburg high school football fans say a prayer for the citrus high school football team, student body and the family of the player that died tonight after collapsing at practice. Citrus High coach fired; community asks 'why?' He told colleagues he had not been contacted further until superintendent Ronald Valenti met with him Wednesday and informed him of the district's decision. | Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool. Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. Kennedy asserted that the school district violated the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Use the 'Report' link on in the Supreme Court of the United States. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Contact Chronicle sports reporter Chris Bernhardt at 352-563-5660, chris.bernhardt@chronicleonline.com or on twitter @cpbernhardtjr. At this time I feel that the justification was not concrete enough for me to resign."' 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. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. A higher calling for Varnadore | Sports | chronicleonline.com 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. I've had teachers, parents and students calling and they're saying, 'Why?' When Its Necessary to Terminate a Coach - NFHS In a move that shocked colleagues and members of the community, Eastchester varsity football and boys basketball coach Bishop Sycamore, the unknown Ohio-based online school that talked its way into a nationally televised football drubbing Sunday on ESPN, has fired head coach Roy Johnson. High School Football Coach Fired After Raising Concerns About The will to win is extremely important, but the will to prepare is going to be vital in whatever they do the rest of their lives.". 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. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. accounts, the history behind an article. You can follow her onTwitter. They did their best considering what theyve been through this year.. 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. 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 justices will hear oral arguments in April and are expected to make decision in the case by the end of June. We want someone to come in and build upon what Nate has done. Ive built a bridge. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, 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. Is that true? "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. Citrus 9 Be Proactive. Franklin confirmed with SBLive Sports Florida that he has stepped down from his position as head coach and All of his hard work had payed off extremely well with a record of 9 wins and 1 loss. 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? He also said no members of the football coaching staff were interviewed during the district's investigation. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Mainly clear skies. Eastchester's basketball team, which went 18-5 last season, is scheduled to begin a new season when practice opens Monday. 21-418 in the Supreme Court of the United States. 00:54. football coach fired over By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 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. He is an amazing coach & I feel blessed that he was in my son's life. A federal court dismissed the lawsuit, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit widely considered the most liberal federal appeals court ruled against Kennedy, saying he was praying as a public employee and risked violating the Establishment Clause. Mainly clear skies. WSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Citrus athletic director Larry Bishop said on Wednesday that he had heard about the petition but hadnt had an opportunity to review it. Citrus High Principal Laura Mason also posted a message Tuesday night on the schools Facebook page. 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.. 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. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Principal Laura Mason released a statement on Twitter. 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