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Georgia high school football coach under fire from national watchdog group
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At this story -- Georgia high school football coach is now under fire from a national watchdog group.
For allowing churches to make pregame meals for his team.
This could have called the freedom from religious foundation.
And it is demanding an immediate investigation.
Saying quote taking public school football teams to church even for any -- is unconstitutional.
This program is an egregious violation of the establishment clause and must -- immediately.
Let's bring in our two -- -- this Bradford Cohen is a criminal defense attorney Kelly -- in as a former prosecutor welcomed to both the view.
So let -- -- that quote first of all and let's understand that basically this is a tradition has been going on in this town for some time.
And they go to various churches around the community who served the team they're preening all their pregame dinner.
And it now apparently somebody has lodged -- -- it's not clear whether it's a local person in the community or whether it was a student.
We'll deal with that a moment but in terms of the constitution -- Brad what do you thank.
Well it all depends on what exactly is going on in the church if they are mandatory early making these kids go to this church and then there's prayer taking place.
And there's more than just the meal I mean they're going to have a meal and then it's a meal and combined -- lot.
I don't really think there's going to be a problem there I think -- you you get more in depth into a problem is if the -- is surrounded by prayer if there's other things that are going on and it's and it's something that's mandatory.
That the kids have to go to and that the coach makes and go to.
It it sounds to me Cali like -- you know the person who wants his complaint.
Is also talking about the alleged that the coach prayed with his team used Bible verses in motivational speeches on the tee and on the team shirts.
And participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
And -- to be what got some individual who's involved in all this of fired up about it.
You know you're right that is something that they've been focusing on the problem is there's nothing that says a football is a privilege not a right secondly there's nothing that said these kids.
Have to pray they have to go to the team EL.
It's voluntary understand -- -- the kids are related to their religious groups and some of these churches.
So I think it's a choice I agree with Brad that it it can be -- issue but I don't see it as unconstitutional.
Because the separation between church and state is mandating that you participated in a specific religion.
It's not.
-- freedom of choice being taken away from you.
And here we don't have that I and it's kind of ridiculous -- a look at out of basin at the churches get to get -- wanna make it on a nice meal for the football players this kind of amazing school spirit issue it appears to be.
Based on you know everything that I'm reading about the tradition in this town I Brad you know it does raise the big question now like that don't have bigger fish to fry it right now that -- -- that.
I think so I I think the most idiotic claim is that the coach uses up biblical phrases in in his motivational speeches I mean that it's just idiotic I don't think they're gonna get anywhere with that I don't think that.
You know any coach any football team any team I mean not I wrestled in high school of my coach -- -- business biblical terms.
I don't think anything like that -- gonna even come close to being unconstitutional but it's gonna hinge on what is mandatory what is not mandatory I think there's huge huge damage fish out there to -- other than there.
Yet that that does seem to be the legal issue Cali if the kids are compelled to go to cities and there's somebody sitting in that -- who says look I don't.
You know I feel like I'm being proselytize to that does that become a legal issue if if somebody's upset about.
You know the thing about it is -- it's not just that they're being subjected to it is are they subjected to participation.
Are -- being ostracized for lack of engagement or involvement.
I don't think we have that here I think it's I'll close knit community I jokingly suggested that it was a rival -- that was getting beat that has a problem with less than.
Yeah it seems like it's -- community that's coming together and someone outside as saying hey don't like this.
-- separation of church and state and that's not it it's a community pulling together they want a winning team you don't -- kids complaining.
And and I think that you're right there's so many bigger issues out there why it at somebody it's not affecting at all is jumping in and trying to sort of hot on the -- and that you know this -- -- -- content based group we should point out this freedom from religion foundation and they're talking about it Georgia high school.
And clearly this is a group that you know seeks to make a name for themselves by finding issues like this and you know -- pounding on them.
And I.
I think -- -- and it right and it's not a student because if it was a student they would bid file a lawsuit they wouldn't say -- do an investigation they would follow lawsuit because what you file that lawsuit you get national news.
You know they filed a thing that says do an investigation they're getting national news -- doing investigation but it was a student who was involved.
Then they would file a lawsuit I think that that -- absolutely correct that -- -- either rival coach your parent or someone else it's not involved in the actual football and spaghetti and meatballs church can be pretty good sometimes.
The you know I guess is that -- user panel like in the garlic bread but it out we'll see if it goes anywhere thanks very much for Wayne and.
