High School Coach Resigns On Principle

[GeauxLions94]

... good move by Coach Borden. Hope he gets hired by a rival school real quick

N.J. Coach Resigns Over Prayer (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2188313)

[colgate13]

... good move by Coach Borden. Hope he gets hired by a rival school real quick

Horrible move by Coach Borden. Public school is public school. He wants to lead group prayer, Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic, St. Joes, Immaculata, Delbarton, etc. are all parochial schools. Go work there.

[ngineer]

Agreed, there 13. Football games are football games. Since when do we have to transform every event into a religious experience. With all of the diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds in our society, such activity has no place. I especially get upset when some coaches try to make a big display of their religion with their captive audiences. It's almost like trying to show the fans that "I'm such a holy person, you can't criticize me". Reminds me of a takeoff on an old hockey saying about going to boxing match and a hockey game broke out, "went to a football game and a religious revival broke out." If people want religion in their schools, then go parochial.

[polsongrizz]

Good riddence to him.

[blukeys]

yeah the guy sounds like a real bum. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

"During the television interview, aired Tuesday, Borden said what he was doing was not uncommon, and coaches across the state lead similar prayers as part of sporting events.

"I'm not out preaching, I'm not a preacher," said Borden, who has led the football program for 23 years. He has a 116-100-1 career record, and his team won the Central Jersey Group IV championship in 2004.

He is the founder of the Snapple Bowl, a charity all-star football game that has raised more than $150,000 for physically and mentally impaired children.

His resignation has divided the school community, with many students and parents supporting the coach.

On Saturday, a group of more than 50 members of the football team and some of their parents traveled to Borden's home and asked the coach to return.

Nancy Halupka, president of the school's football booster club, said she sympathizes with Borden and said the prayer tradition started long before he arrived at the school."

[ngineer]

Blu--no one has attacked the man's character, and by the accounts, he sounds like a saint. But the evangelical side of him has to leave it alone when dealing with captivie groups, whose members are minors and would be intimidated from objecting to such an authority figure.

[blukeys]

I was responding more to Polson's "good riddance" comment than anything else and Polson knows that I love him like a ......brother. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

But ngineer you have no idea if he is evangelical or not. His quote says he is "no preacher" and it sounds to me as if this practice began before his tenure. His prayer could be "God grant us victory in a well played game" I see nothing in the article that suggests he is "evangelical" as you allege. If you have additional info. I have an open mind and would love to hear it.

I do know of many high school coaches who give just the same sort of speech I have recounted above. I know of no coach regardless of their own religous preferences who have the time to prosletize. There just too much to do and take care of. The worry you have that someone may be overexposed to God while participating in sports is misplaced in my opinion. Students always have the opportunity to opt out and I just don't know what the harm is in this guy's pre game ritual. But if you are personally aware of the negative effects of the God talk I would love to hear your examples. I have taught "at risk" students since the early 90's and some sort of moral guidance in their lives whether religous or otherwise would be great for these kid's lives not to mention the savings to the taxpayers.

This guy will run afoul of the current supreme court guidelines regarding school prayer IF a parent complains regardless of sport and yes I have coached at the high school level and do know the rules. I admire that he took the principled approach and resigned. He didn't complain, he didn't whine he didn't hire a lawyer and sue. He simply stated that if this was the condition of employment (which it was not for 23 years!) then he would no longer do the job.

I compare that with the case of a religion teacher at Ursuline Academy who advocated abortion (Ursuline is a Catholic Girls High School in Wilmington Delaware and currently home to the best girls BBall player in the nation) and was then fired. This woman with the help of the ACLU sued to get her job back stating that her 1st amendment rights were violated!!! The media were all over her for the courage she displayed and the need to defend her rights.

I'm amazed that liberals will fall all over themselves defending a teacher who advocates such a position while working for a Religous institution but condemn a coach of 23 years who was doing what was accepted for probably 50+ years with no discernible detriment.

[Tod]

I compare that with the case of a religion teacher at Ursuline Academy who advocated abortion (Ursuline is a Catholic Girls High School in Wilmington Delaware and currently home to the best girls BBall player in the nation) and was then fired. This woman with the help of the ACLU sued to get her job back stating that her 1st amendment rights were violated!!! The media were all over her for the courage she displayed and the need to defend her rights.

I'm amazed that liberals will fall all over themselves defending a teacher who advocates such a position while working for a Religous institution but condemn a coach of 23 years who was doing what was accepted for probably 50+ years with no discernible detriment.

Concerning the case of the teacher at Ursuline, I agree with you. That is a private institution and advocating something different than the general beliefs of that institution as a whole is grounds for termination. They had every right to fire her. I'm frankly shocked and amazed and amazed some more that the ACLU would take that case, if you get my drift.

On the other hand, as far as the school prayer goes, I don't know why "50+ years" of tradition should trump the constitution. I never did and never will understand that argument.