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Naperville Central football coach agrees to end pregame prayers

Naperville Central football coach Mike Stine released a statement in response to last week's announcement by Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges that Stine no longer can lead his team in prayer.

In the statement Stine said that while the pregame tradition of gathering as a team will continue, the moment will not involve prayer or religion.

"There won't be any coach led prayer during this time or at any time," Stine said.

"I understand that a coach's participation in a prayer or any religious activity with the players cannot happen," he said. "Through this experience, I better understand the separation that must exist between church or religion and the public schools. Myself and the football program will conduct this tradition in a way that will abide by that understanding."

Last week the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a complaint with District 203 after players and coaches were seen praying before the Redhawks' Nov. 14 playoff game at Waubonsie Valley in Aurora. The foundation seeks to defend the separation of church and state.

Daily Herald columnist Kerry Lester wrote on Thursday that former Neuqua Valley teacher and current speech team coach Hemant Mehta, an atheist blogger, was the person who notified the Freedom From Religion Foundation of the coach-led prayer.

Naperville Central senior football player Daniel Bumpus released a team-endorsed statement last week in support of Stine, saying "(Stine) is the best coach in the state and cares about each and every one of us more than any other coach cares about his players."

Stine called the pregame tradition "a symbol of 'Brotherhood'" and stressed the football program's role to "prepare young men for life."

"We will continue to teach our young men how to prepare themselves mentally for any intense challenges that might lie ahead," he said. "The tradition is part of that process."

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