Monday, February 11, 2013
The fired-then-rehired football coach gives thanks.
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Monday, February 11
North Andover Varsity Football Coach John Rafferty hasn't said much since being rehired last week. But Monday morning he published a letter of thank you to the community, posted on the Support Coach Rafferty Facebook page. Rafferty was fired in January, which ignited a groundswell of support for him in the community as well as outrage at school officials. Eventually, after two weeks of growing public pressure, Rafferty was rehired last week. The letter Rafferty wrote reads as follows: To the North Andover Football Community, On behalf of myself and the Knights Coaching Staff, I would like to thank you for your overwhelming support and concern during these recent weeks. We are grateful for the opportunity to coach your sons again. It is …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
North Andover High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella made the announcement Thursday.
Two weeks after being fired from his position as North Andover High School varsity football coach, it has been confirmed that John Rafferty is back at the high school. Principal Carla Scuzzarella made the announcement to her students late Thursday morning. Before doing so, she sat down for an interview to discuss the decision. "You make decisions all the time about what's a fit and what's not a fit, and after listening to my students, I have to put my money where my mouth is," Scuzzarella said. After two weeks of public outcry and a rising movement of support, there are reports that recently-fired North Andover High School Varsity Football Coach John Rafferty has been offered his job back. Rafferty was fired in late January without …
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Tuesday, February 5, 2013
A massive crowd of supporters of the fired football coach voiced their frustration.
Monday night's School Committee meeting had a much larger audience than most School Committee meetings. In fact, it saw a higher turnout than some past Town Meetings. Players, former players, parents and other members of the North Andover community crowded into the North Andover High School library to speak out against the recent firing of Varsity Football Coach John Rafferty. Many players wore dress shirts and ties. Many former players came from all over -- one even flew in from Virginia to speak. The message was loud and clear: Hire Rafferty back. "Everyone feels that the needs of a few outweighed the needs of the many," Varsity Football co-Captain Tom Stabile said. "Going to many people with administration and people who had a say in …
Monday, February 4, 2013
The group hopes to have its voices heard.
Ten days after North Andover Varsity Football Coach John Rafferty was fired, local support for him is only getting stronger. Monday night, according to the Support Coach Rafferty Facebook page, supporters plan to attend the School Committee meeting in the North Andover High School library -- which starts at 6 p.m. -- and voice their frustration over the firing to the School Committee during the public comment segment of the meeting. School officials have not spoken publicly about the firing, but reports (including Rafferty's statements to the media) suggest it was because he disciplined two players for drinking this past fall but did not go through specific protocol. The Facebook page administrator wrote: "Whether you are a football player…
Friday, February 1, 2013
It's your turn to weigh in on the situation.
It's been an eventful week in high school football. Last Friday, North Andover Varsity Football Coach John Rafferty was reportedly fired by Principal Carla Scuzzarella and Athletics Director Jon Longley. School officials have still not spoken publicly about the firing, but Rafferty has reportedly told media outlets that he was fired because he disciplined two players this past fall without following proper protocol. The firing has ignited a surging backlash from the community, with a groundswell of support for Rafferty growing every day. Even the "Unofficial Mayor" Terry Holland has spoken out in support for Rafferty. So what do you think? Should school officials offer Rafferty his job back? If they do that, should Rafferty accept? Or …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The local business owner and "unofficial mayor" has taken up the cause for the fired coach.
When Terry Holland was on a search committee to find a new North Andover High School varsity football coach 12 years ago, he was impressed by then-candidate John Rafferty, whom he'd never heard of before then. "In high school football, you play with passion, and that's what separates you from the next guy," Holland said. "I had never seen a guy who had more passion for the game than that guy." And today Holland -- owner of Stachey's who was also named "Unofficial Mayor of North Andover" last year by Patch readers -- has stepped up to support Rafferty, who was fired by school officials last week. Holland and Rafferty worked together for the Scarlet Knights over the years, in endeavors that included the annual golf tournament to benefit the …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Looks like it's not blowing over any time soon.
School officials still have not spoken about the firing of North Andover Football Coach John Rafferty last week, but their silence has not cooled down the reaction. Rafferty was fired Friday and it's been reportedly said it was because he didn't follow protocol when he disciplined two students this past fall. As of Tuesday night, the Support Coach Rafferty Facebook page has attracted more than 500 followers. Monday night, there was a petition set up at Stachey's for people to sign to show their support for the coach, and that petition reportedly garnered more than 500 signatures. And there is talk of parents and students going to the School Committee meeting to voice frustration over the coach's firing. Will the effort make a difference? …
Bryan McGonigle2
11:51 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Bill - you're analysis is spot on. (Other than I think it was the principal that rehired the coach rather than the Supt.). more ›