Fired McNair coach watches Mustangs lose 42-0 in opener
Michael Carvell
McNair High School, which fired its football coach two days before the opener, dropped a 42-0 decision to Stephenson on Saturday.
The team’s former coach, Roderick Moore, sat in the crowd at Hallford Stadium and observed McNair’s worst loss to Stephenson since the two DeKalb schools began playing in 1998.
PHOTOS: Take a look at former McNair coach Roderick Moore over the years.
Stephenson, ranked No. 6 in Class AAAAA, led 21-0 after the first quarter over the unranked Mustangs, which are directed by interim coach John April.
“It was painful to watch, and I felt every ounce of the boys’ pain from up there in the stands,” Moore told the AJC on Sunday.
Moore, 40, was abruptly fired last Thursday after four seasons as McNair’s coach by the school’s principal, James Jones over “some issues, some concerns”, according to DeKalb School spokesman Dale Davis.
No further details were provided by the school; Moore said he was initially called to the principal’s office over “miscommunication” over having cooking grills on campus for a meal before a scrimmage, and then conversation “snowballed from there.” [Click here to see the previous blog on Moore's firing]
Last Friday, a group of around 100 supporters had a public meeting for an hour with Jones at McNair.
“I felt like most of the peope there, that very little answers were provided to the questions that were asked,” said Carlton Jackson, a former McNair player who graduated in 2003.
“Coach Moore laid out any infractions he may have committed. All were very minor, and none in my opinion warranted dismissal, especially two days before the season.”
Jones is standing by last week’s decision, and Moore has been relocated to Redan Middle School as a math teacher. “Nothing has changed,” Davis told the AJC on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Moore says he is still unclear about the reasons for his termination. “If it would have been something really bad, then I would’ve lost my teaching job along with my coaching job. The only person who can answer that question is Mr. Jones.”
Moore guided McNair to a 26-18 record, three appearances in the state playoffs, and helped nearly 60 players earn college scholarships. He was also an assistant coach at McNair for five years.
“I don’t know any details about the situation, but I feel bad for him, McNair’s program and football in general,” Stephenson coach Ron Gartrell said. “It kind of a black eye for all of us in the profession when you have a football coach getting dismissed from his program.”
Said Peachtree Ridge coach Bill Ballard, “[Moore] is a great person who spent a ton of time mentoring and helping those kids at McNair. If they didn’t have food, he’d get them food … so many little things like that.
“He was making a positive difference in the lives of a lot of young people, and I really think he’ll be missed in that community.”
In 2006, Moore made headlines around the state for helping 28 of 30 McNair seniors earn college scholarships.
On Sunday, Moore said he plans to attend the remainder of McNair’s Friday games to “support the kids.” On Saturdays, he is planning trips to go and watch as many former McNair players as possible playing in the college ranks. He also will begin applying for other football coaching jobs in December.
“I’m a coach, that’s what I do,” Moore said. “I love working with and helping young people. I’ve got to get back out there on the football field.”
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69 comments Add your comment
Past Parent
September 3rd, 2009
4:54 pm
Coach Mo dont know the firat thing about recruiting dumba$$. While you worried about Coach Mo worry about your own legal issues. Is your picture still on Dekalb county inmate page?
Past Parent
September 3rd, 2009
4:56 pm
While you worried about Coach Mo you need to worry about your own legal issues. Is your picture still on Dekalb county inmate page?
risinging light
September 4th, 2009
3:41 am
What a shame to see a good man with apparent faults lose his coaching job. In business if someone gets fired they 9 times out of 10 deserve it. Coach Mo will land on his feet and will learn from this experience.
I am a fan of the McNair Mustang Football Program and in light of this recent event I hope the season can be salvaged for the sake of the team and the McNair Community.
As for the ill feelings being expressed by parents and former players please do us a favor and stop it. Nearly 22 million dollars of tax payer money was spent to support improving the image of the school and along with the upgrade it was expected that test scores would rise and the drop out rate would decline. So far the results reflect that McNair is underperforming. The truth is that we cannot continue to fail our children and drive them in lives of despair and struggle. Get it together please parents and tell your children especially your sons the truth about life ( it is not fair and nothing in life is free you got to work for everything you want )
A.Walker's Parent
September 4th, 2009
2:32 pm
Four years of being over rated!! Sorry. I did not realize he was horrible that long.
Unlike your family, I have no legal concerns stupid! I have never been arrested and I have never even had a speeding ticket! Maybe you should consider that everyone that is around McNair is NOT a criminal. I know that you might not be used to it, but there are black people around that don’t go to jail AND DON’T BLAME FAILURES IN LIFE ON SOMEONE ELSE. Maybe you should take a page out of the “being black in America book”.
I have a very lucrative career for the last 18 years, I have two sons that are playing college football (D1) RIGHT NOW. I pay for everything myself without their father being there AND I THANK GOD FOR COACH MO EVERYDAY!!
Maybe your dumb a$$ should try to get your game up so that maybe you won’t have to blame the world for YOUR ONLY HOPE BEING A FAILURE. Too bad you and your husband (since you decided to stop popping out children to strangers) have to live through Arnold! It ain’t Mo fault that he is going to lead you to a soup line dumb Bit@h!
A.Walker's Parents
September 5th, 2009
3:32 pm
and you the dumba$$ that POSTED YOUR IDIOT A$$ SON PLAYED THREE YEARS!!
Go back to the top and look stupid!!
“My son grauduating from McNair last year and played football with Coach Mo for 3 years. Coach Mo is not giving you the whole story.”
Stupid Bit@h!!
Past Parent
September 5th, 2009
9:04 pm
I know how many years my son played you the dumba$$ A. Walker played for 4…. My son played for 3 go figure not 4 A. Walker you so you the stupid Biach. Your son maybe be D1 do he play? Been there 3 years still on the sideline……… NOT MATTER WHAT HAPPENS HE STILL FIRED WHAT HE DESERVES.
Disappointed
September 5th, 2009
11:29 pm
I have been quiet long enough. I understand the frustration when change occurs and it “seems to be” from left field. The coach in this situation has received numerous opportunities to follow the rules set by DCSS. I agree with the reader that stated that if he was from the “North” schools, he would not have been fired two days before the first game. You are so correct. He would have been fired years ago. Mr. Jones is really defending Coach Moore by keeping quiet. If he spilled out half of what has occurred behind closed doors, Coach Moore’s career would be over for good. Truth of the matter, Coach Moore was not relocated to Redan Middle. He just was offered a position at Redan Middle. He was in the building at McNair High but he was not employed as a teacher. He does not have certification to be employed as a high school teacher. Even though, he allowed everyone to believe that he did. I don’t know many principals that will allow a teacher, without proper certification, and no position, sit in their school for three weeks doing nothing. Let’s not speak about the numerous money issues and misappropriations of funds that he has been written up for. His file is extremely thick and believe it or not, Mr. Jones let him stay on about two years too long. Before pointing fingers, know your facts. Talk to the football Booster club president, ask her about the outside account (with only his name on it), where funds have been entering and exiting with no person held accountable for it.
I personally like Coach Moore and wish him the best, but I also feel that he should exit quietly before all of his dirty laundry is aired. He has a lot of people feeling sorry for him, believing that he was fired for a cookout. Coach Moore, please!!! I’m your girl, I know the deal…You know the deal…Stop playing the innocent victim and move on with your life.
The knew interim Coach is a decent man with high morals. Hopefully, he can teach the boys without calling them every name in the book. This is a lesson learned…Be honest and do things right. You should never find yourself in this position again!!!
nick johnson
September 6th, 2009
8:57 am
Enter your comments here
nick johnson
September 6th, 2009
9:20 am
Once again injustice falls on the door steps of the black community and we stand on the sidelines an talk about doing nothing. Doing nothing! What if Dr. King and the civil rights leaders said lets wait and see what therest of the story is about and do nothing.The very computer your fingertips are blogging from wouldn’t be available for you not to mention the many other opportunities. Why should we wait for the rest of the story? We are the taxpayers who pay their salaries from Crawford Lewis to the principle we should demand that they give the reason for termination right now. It’s our right to know if they know. They work for us and if they don’t want to abide by what is law then we don’t have to wait to vote them out, we ask for Crawford Lewis and all under him that want to serve us with injustice to step down. Didn’t we learn anything from the Clayton county school board case the past year. If we didn’t learn anything but the fact that we thought they had the worst school system and they didn’t. Dekalb has it! The only difference in Clayton county and Dekalb county is the citizens and parents of clayton didn’t stand back and do nothing.
A.Walker's Parent
September 8th, 2009
12:51 am
Yes! Did you see ESPN? Made that highlights trick! I don’t think ESPN covers that lil bull$hit school your “professional tapes” got your loser son into
Mike Vick
September 8th, 2009
9:31 pm
You know what Ms. Disappointed, you gave way 2 much info. How u no what in Mo file? I’m sure u watched the video by Mr. Ramsey. Only Mo should no what in his file. U should b no where near Mo file. I’m sure J. Jones let u c it den. So, thats the way the DCSS does. Only if the power that be know what DCSS does behind close doors. Hey stupids…Mo is on a provisional certificate. He aint the only coach on a provisional certificate. Go to http://www.teachgeorgia.org and look up Mo name. Remember idiots, his real name is not Mo. So, for some of you non Educators….shut up…..u no nothing. Only Mo should no about Mo infractions….not every Tom, Dick, and Disappointed in the school. And fo the persons who don’t like how i write….get yo chillin some education cause i gots mines. Ha! In case you didn’t no, this is a disguise from the ones that will seek to blackball Mike Vick.
We all Know
September 9th, 2009
3:07 pm
What was written by disappointed is no secret to anyone on the inside at McNair high school. There is no need for J. Jones to show the file, this information has been known for years. Why when someone speaks the truth about Mo(Roderick Moore we know his name) everyone that is for Mo attacks that person or writer. If you are indeed for the kids then you should not be afraid of the truth. If Mo(Roderick Moore) was so concerned then he would have shown his face at the meeting on Friday and not sent representatives. So please be respectful to everyone on this blog and stop attacking those that don’t agree with you. I think as an educated person you should know that. Whether plenty of coaches do it or know those coaches are not acting as if everyone is wronging them. I don’t know of anoyone who would allow someone to stay in there school for so long ignoring their policies. Coach had not been in the building for years and things were just fine, But J. Jones brought him back thsi year as a cafeteria monitor what true teacher would settle for that. There is more work to done in the classroom than on the football field. These can play football for years be great at it and it means nothing without being just as good in the classroom. One person does not make a program….sure McNair will struggle this season but I believe they would have struggled even if Mo had stayed the coach.
Mike Vick
September 10th, 2009
8:08 pm
We all know that you know cause Jones showed you Mo file or someone with access shared Mo’s file….maybe another AP, secretary. No one can dispute the fact that his certificate expires in 2010. I still say that Jones should have waited until the end of the school year to get rid of Mo. Believe me Mo was not just a cafeteria monitor. And if so, Jones should be in trouble…not Mo. I am a teacher and I would take the job of a cafeteria monitor if they gave it to me….especially on my salary…you would to and you know it. Lets be honest….the reason Jones got rid of Mo was because Mo was not in his click. Also what do you teach and how well did your students do on the test….maybe Jones needs to remove you…or maybe the state needs to move all your behinds.
We all Know
September 14th, 2009
1:29 pm
I am not a teacher I am a past parent of Mo and no one has shown me Mo file…..Mo talks to much so no one needs to show me his file, and further more Mo was a cafeteria monitor at the beginning of this school year I still have children at McNair so I know what I am talking about. No I would not take a job as a cafeteria monitor if I was a teacher and if you are not satisfied with your job find another profession you are the reason our children( I mean everyone’s children not just mine) is not making AYP because it sounds as if you don’t care one way or another. My kids take AP classes and my son pass the GHSGT on the first try and is in an excellent college. When I speak I know what I am talking about because I do attend PTSA, I do have a repore with all my kids teacher. I AM INVOLVED….I DON’T JUST SIT AROUND AND COMPLAIN. Mo was not fired for not being in a click Mo was fired because he did not follow proper policies you know it and he does too. Stop blaming Jones for Mo mistakes……….Again if you would rather be a cafeteria monitor than in the classroom making a difference find anothr profession our black kids need teachers who won’t to teach and not complain about salary( although I agree teachers should make a lot more than they do) I also agree that the situation with Mo could have been handled differently. WE AGREE ON THESE 2 POINTS AND THESE 2 POINTS ALONE.
IF MO HAD COACHED THIS YEAR THE FOOTBALL TEAM WOULD STILL HAVE THE SAME RECORD AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON. 0-3
TJ
September 15th, 2009
10:23 am
It is just football people. Coaches get fired every single day. Move on and let it be!!!! It amazes me how this is the only thing that you have to talk about. I feel sorry for Coach Moore because football is his life..no girlfriend, no kids, no life, just football. I hope that he finds employment soon because everyone needs something to look forward to in life!!!’
I am so glad that Mcnair begins region play this week. They have been playing way out of their league for the past 3 weeks. I can’t understand why (with 27 seniors lost) they would even attempt to play Stephenson, Redan, or MLK. Well let’s see how well they play in their Region. People….It’s just football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tadi F
September 18th, 2009
11:51 pm
I go to this school now. I have a lot of these players in my class and they are really upset about it. They say if coach Moore did not get fired they would be doing better right now. It’s very sad when they end up losing and everyone is saying how they suck.
MUSTANG PARENT
September 19th, 2009
11:39 am
ALL I GOT TO SAY IS THIS IF MCNAIR THINKS THAT DRUID HILLS IS GIONG TO BE A CAKE WALK THEN THEY HAVE ANOTHER THING COMIN. THIS THE SAME TEAM THAT TIED DRUID HILLS ON JV LAST YEAR. AND IF ITS A LOSS AR A CLOSE GAME THEN ALL OF THE COACHES DESERVE TO BE FIRED.
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December 20th, 2011
8:01 pm
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2:50 pm
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