Some people are laughing at Marion County High School right now. For some, they enjoy seeing a “football school” get raked over the coals. Others are connected to rival schools, and they’re glad to see their longtime opponent writhing in pain. And still others just have nothing better to do. They surf the web, and love posting snarky comments on social media.
“But,” you say. “The Marion County football program asked for it. They begged for it.” To be fair, a few rogue coaches appear to be rejects from a failed sitcom, “Men Behaving Badly.” According to news accounts, they sent some really juvenile texts, detailing their plans to vandalize their own field house. It happened just before their annual battle with the South Pittsburg Pirates. One of the coaches, a full-time teacher, is seen on Walmart surveillance video buying orange and black spray paint (Pirate colors), while wearing his own school’s purple logo. As details of the motivational-stunt-gone-wrong keep leaking, it sure seems likely that these guys were better coaches than pranksters.
When news of the incident broke, there seemed to be no doubt: South Pittsburg did it. The obscenities, the vulgarity. It was terrible. Who, but a longtime hated rival, would possibly scrawl such hateful words on a building that was easily visible to students at the nearby elementary school? The superintendent was outraged. “We’ll do everything we can to find out who’s responsible,” Dr. Mark Griffith told reporters. Needless to say, Marion County High principal Larry Ziegler was stunned. A 1996 graduate of MCHS, and a former athlete and coach himself, he’s been in the middle of that rivalry all his life. To his credit, South Pittsburg High principal Danny Wilson was front and center. “If we find out any of our kids did this,” he said, “we’ll drop the full hammer on them. Our senior captains came to me and asked if they could go help clean it up because they’re as embarrassed as I am and they don’t want people thinking we allow thugs like that in our school.”
Two weeks later, the first bomb dropped. A Marion County assistant coach was arrested and charged. Superintendent Griffith, whose tenure has included the death of his daughter after a long battle with cancer, and the loss of his home due to fire, could barely speak about it. “I didn’t see this coming,” he told me. “And I’m afraid it isn’t over yet.” He was right. Within a few days another teacher-coach was arrested on similar charges, a volunteer assistant was dismissed after apparent proof of his involvement was revealed, and now head coach Mac McCurry has resigned. McCurry has not yet been charged with any crime, but his name appears often on texts exchanged between the other coaches, whose language indicated they were following his orders. Details of more escapades emerged, including possible thefts from competing high schools.
Principal Ziegler, who was among those involved in hiring McCurry in 2011, was in disbelief. McCurry came highly recommended after turning around programs in Mississippi and Tennessee. He was an assistant at Signal Mountain at the time, and “thorough research” revealed strong credentials that made him stand out among 70 applicants, according to a source. He could build a program, and the once-proud Warriors needed someone, to coin a phrase, who could rebuild brick by brick. McCurry took over a 1-9 team, and made the playoffs his first two years. Now he won’t be on the sidelines at this week’s game, or perhaps any other.
How could educated, grown men be involved in something so petty that it could end up putting their careers in jeopardy? A poorly-thought-out caper that has saddened and sickened family members, friends, students and the players who trusted them? They’ll get a fair hearing, and a chance to make a case for their innocence. For now, two are on administrative leave with pay, and McCurry is gone. The Warriors go into Friday’s playoff game with an interim coach and one holdover from the current staff “with no connection to this incident,” according to a school official.
During this crisis, principal Ziegler has held the school together. Students saw the concern in his eyes, and yes, the tears. They told him he had their support. He in turn has become the public face of his alma mater. Teachers are still teaching, and students are learning, despite the parade of news cars and the distraction of investigations by police and TSSAA. Marion County High means the world to Ziegler. He knows that some are saying, “How could he not know what his coaches were doing?” As if anyone who has ever managed a staff of any size knows what his employees are doing at 4 o’clock in the morning. Try it sometime. It’s much easier on the outside looking in.
I admire Larry Ziegler’s openness and honesty. He has been courteous to the media during a very difficult time. No doubt he is influenced by one of the most accessible and candid superintendents I have ever known. Mark Griffith has weathered more serious storms. He is not one to shy away from a negative story. He doesn’t slip out the back door when the media shows up. He stays in the kitchen, takes the heat, and fixes the problem.
Mark Griffith
Upon hearing about the Marion County scandal, one superintendent said, “I can’t believe they let this get out. In my district, we would have kept this quiet and taken care of it on the inside.” To be honest, I’m sure some Marion County supporters would have preferred that. Not Griffith. No one is more hurt, or more angry. But he believes in honesty, transparency and doing what’s right for kids. Marion County High will survive this, and so will its football program. Those kids at Jasper Elementary and Middle Schools who dream of being the next purple-clad players and cheerleaders won’t be disappointed. Their high school is in good hands.
Thank you for wonderful comments and your insight on our little town and great school. It is time to come together as a community, all of us, South Pittsburg, Jasper and Whitwell to uphold the respect our young men playing ball deserve, as I have said before to a friend, it is time to rise above the negative and push the positive forward. Thank you again for reminding what this is really about.
Excellent article.
WARRIOR PRIDE!!! It’s a great day to be a WARRIOR!! Thank you for writing such a great article.
Thank you for this article. My son is a member of this Warrior team. At three, he was diagnosed with autism. It took us years to teach him to tie his shoelaces but now his photo hangs with the team on the town square. These players have befriended him in such a way that has changed his life. When he gets to play, all the fans cheer for Drew and his name is announced over the PA that he is in the game. He leads the break down cheer following the game as the team huddles around him. In all this scandal, please remember a group of young men with big hearts and such kindness that will always be remembered in the heart of this mother!
to Sarah Grisham;
we love chanting for Drew and getting him in the game! He is a true Warrior and plays with heart!!
we love Drew!
Great article.
If there are any South Pittsburg citizens that are enjoying seeing MCHS raked over the coals they are in the minority. Most would prefer that this had never happened. MCHS has great leadership and will rebound. Hope they beat Trousdale this weekend!
thank you david for writing this for marion county! yes, we will survive this and hopefully to be a better and upstanding community and this will probably brought us closer together. yes, a few men thought they could get away with it or i have no ideal what was going through their mind. yes, wearing your school colors while buying the paint, and forgetting about security camera and everything.. wasn’t thought out to well! oh well, hopefully it will be over soon and we can get back into life again! yes, i know a few people in the past who has always put marion county down and i guess they are laughing at us or ridiculing us saying that who we are! NO that is not who we are and we will prove it to them that we can come back with our head held high! don’t take it out on these boys.I will support my marion county boys as long as i am alive!! I hate it for these men who have lost alot by making a few wrong decisions and my prayers are for them and FOR THEIR FAMILIES… thank you again for the article
Excellent article ! We are very proud of our Warriors ! I hope everyone whos able to make it to the game Friday will be there to support the boys !
GO WARRIORS !!!!!!
Love the article. So well written from the heart.
This is the best article I have read since this story broke. My son is a senior at MCHS this year. Hats off to Coach Ziegler and Mark Griffith for the way they are holding things together. This has affected the whole community, especially our kids. It will take a while to get over, but we will. So, Warriors, go out there and do the best you can! We are proud of you!
I agree with Jeff P. MC’s rivals are not rejoicing at their pain. Friendships cross the city limits.
Thank you David for always being so supportive of Marion County High. Our hearts go out to the boys who wear the purple and white uniforms on Friday night and how hard they have worked all season. I am a proud alumni of MCHS and will always be supportive of my former high school and our teams. I think the coaches are the ones who should be punished and never be allowed to coach again anywhere. Their actions were childish and they all certainly knew better. Our town will rally around our Warriors and cheer them on Friday. Let’s go Warriors and show everyone what you are made of!
Thank you David Carroll ~ very well spokem ~ im a Warrior for life ~
Well said !!
Just “Thank you” is all I need to say!!!!! I as a parent of a senior football player and former student myself at MCHS have endured an exhausting/stressful week and this gives me hope that people in our surrounding area support our school, program and children. Again Thanks!
Everyone is not laughing, I am from Sequatchie County but had a nephew that played for Marion County for 2 of the State Championships, this is a good article and well stated except we care for the boys, all the boys, ours and yours and South Pittsburg’s. so please don’t think everyone who isn’t directly affiliated with MCHS is not hurting for this team. We want you in the playoffs and wearing new State Championship Rings. We may be rivals but we are sportsmen and support all of our Sequatchie Valley Teams….Go Warriors and Go Pirates
Rose Morgan SCHS
Well said, my friend!
What a warm wonderful article, in this age of “gotcha” it is so nice to read such understanding words. Thank you as the mother and grandmother of children that attended Marion County schools.
Thank you for a wonderful article! my son graduated from Marion County High School last year and was deeply troubled by all of this this year; Well said!
Thanks again!
gail murphy
Well written David.
Thanks for the article! I just want to say that all of this has been so overwhelming. What these grown men chose to do, in the public’s eye could have took away all of the blood, sweat, and tears that our kids have put into this program this year. They didn’t need anyone to cheat and lie for them! This is a very talented group of boys! Bring home that state title Warriors! So proud to be a Warrior mom!!