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Ridgeland High School football coach Mark Mariakis reads a prepared statement to the media during a news conference at the Walker County school.Photo by Tim Barber /Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Walker County Schools Superintendent Damon Raines said he stands behind Ridgeland High School football coach Mark Mariakis and says the team hasn’t done anything wrong when it comes to religious activities.
At a news conference this afternoon at Ridgeland High School, Raines said several allegations made by the Freedom From Religion Foundation are false and the team will continue student-led prayer.
On Aug. 21, Ridgeland High’s administration received a letter from the foundation, calling for an investigation into several alleged football team religious activities, including church-sponsored meals before games, at least one of which included a sermon.
Raines said they did investigate the foundation's claims.
At the news conference, Mariakis said he didn’t believe he has done anything wrong and said he supported the team and will continue to try to build team members’ character.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.
Joy Lukachick is a crime reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since 2009, she's covered breaking news, high-profile trials, stories of lost lives and of regained hope and done investigative work. Raised near the Bayou, Joy’s hometown is along the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Joy was a staff writer for the Daily Reveille. When Joy isn't chasing down ...
