Suspension ends for Big Macs coach
Evans on sideline again; Aug. 30 halftime event sparked punishment
Mike Evans is back as the football coach at Canon-McMillan High School and got to enjoy a victory.
Evans had missed the past two games, serving a suspension by the school after an incident in the locker room of the team’s second game of the season Aug. 30 against Mt. Lebanon.
Lane Turturice, Evans’ attorney, said Friday night that the school had agreed to reinstate Evans. When Evans received word, he drove to his team’s game at Hempfield. He got to the contest for the second half, coached the Big Macs in the final two quarters and was able to enjoy a 21-12 victory, the first of the season for -CanonMcMillan (1-4).
“Mike would like to thank the school board and administration for working with him through this situation,” Turturice said in a text message. “It was only because of the board and administration working with us [Friday night] that enabled Mike to return to the field. He would also like to thank the parents, players and community for the outpouring of support.”
The suspension was handed down by the Canon-McMillan school administration a few days after the Mt. Lebanon game. Then at a Canon-McMillan school board meeting Thursday night, the board voted, 5-4, to continue the suspension.
Some parents and players showed up to show their support of Evans and also criticized the board for the suspension. One parent said it was all over a cooler being knocked over.
Evans is in his fifth season as coach. “The incident that occurred was no different than anything else that’s ever gone on at some point in the season in locker rooms all over Western Pennsylvania,” Turturice said Friday before Evans was reinstated. “I told the board at the end of the day, if the right decision is made, the kids, the parents, the players and the school district are not only going to get a great coach to return to the field, but more importantly, a good man influencing children and the community in the right way.”
Bishop Canevin forfeits game
Bishop Canevin has forfeited its Saturday night football game against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart because of a small roster due to concussions and injuries.
Bishop Canevin principal Michael Joyce said school administrators and coaches decided in the middle of the week to forfeit the game because of safety reasons for the remaining players. Bishop Canevin, a WPIAL Class 1A school, started the season with 20 players on its roster.
Joyce said four players would miss the Saturday game because of concussions. Three of those players sustained concussions in the game last week against Springdale. Joyce also said six other players were highly questionable for the game because of other injuries. Of the 20 players on Bishop Canevin’s roster, five are sophomores, four are freshmen.
“We were monitoring this all week,” Joyce said. “We thought this was wise because we have a very young roster. If you start moving positions around with young players, it might make them more susceptible to further injuries.”
Bishop Canevin is 0-4 and has been outscored, 145-18. Joyce said the team hopes to play next week against Union and also the rest of the schedule.
“The incident that occurred was no different than anything else that’s ever gone on at some point in the season in locker rooms all over Western Pennsylvania.”
— Lane Turturice Coach Mike Evans’ attorney