1 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: On this episode of Newts World, high school football coach 2 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: Joe Kennedy had no other choice but to fight. A 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: childhood in foster care followed by twenty years in the 4 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 1: Marine Corps was nothing compared to his biggest battle, his 5 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: commitment to stand for God publicly by taking a knee 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: in prayer after each football game. When he was fired, 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Joe and his wife Denise knew this battle for religious freedom, 8 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: freedom of speech, and the rights of all Americans was 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: one they would have to fight no matter the cost. 10 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: From the director and producers of God's Not Dead and 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: the producers of The Blind comes Average Joe, a movie 12 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: in theaters, now here to talk about Average Joe. I'm 13 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: really pleased to welcome my guests, Coach Joe Kennedy. He's 14 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: a twenty year Marine veteran turned football coach and his 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: book is Average Joe. One Man's Faith and the Fight 16 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: to Change the Nation. Coach Joe, welcome and thank you 17 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: for joining me on Newts World. 18 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 2: Well, thank you so much, sir, It's quite an honor 19 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: for me. 20 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: Can you share a little bit about your background and 21 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: why you joined the Marine Corps. 22 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, when I was a kid, well, I was on 23 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: one in pregnancy and I was kicked out of my house. 24 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: I was a horrible kid. I got for fighting any 25 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 2: kind of trouble you could possibly imagine. I went to 26 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 2: I think twelve different schools. I was in foster homes, 27 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: boys homes, group homes, and just couldn't find a place 28 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: that I fit in. And the Marine Corps seemed like 29 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: the perfect place since I get paid to fight, and 30 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: I knew I needed discipline and I needed something in 31 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 2: my life. And that's where my love of my country 32 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: and the Constitution came into play, because I became something 33 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: bigger than myself. 34 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: You served for twenty four years. That's a pretty tumultuous 35 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: time in terms of having to deal with America's enemies. 36 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's for sure. I never thought i'd be fighting 37 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: here in the States over something as simple as a 38 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 2: fifteen second prayer. But it was an honor to serve 39 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: in the Marines. 40 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: Somebody once said that you serve in the army, but 41 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: you are a marine. 42 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 2: That is a very well put. That is exactly the truth. 43 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: So you're still walking around thinking, simprifi. 44 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: Our rah twenty four to seven. 45 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,119 Speaker 1: All right, you serve twenty years, you leave the Corps. 46 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: What motivated you to become a high school football coach? 47 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: Well, I just found my faith. When I retired, I 48 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 2: got married to my childhood's sweetheart, and she was a 49 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,399 Speaker 2: good church girl. I was failing miserably at being a husband, 50 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 2: and when I accept the Lord, I told him that 51 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 2: I would give him anything if he fixed my relationship 52 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: with my wife. And so I thought it was a 53 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: great idea that I started coaching football. And I was 54 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 2: approached by the athletic director at the school district, and 55 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: I put up a fight, didn't want to do it, 56 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 2: But after a few months of him hounded me, I 57 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: finally gave in because I figured God had something in 58 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: store for me and I just had to do it. 59 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: I mean, and do you spend much time with football? 60 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: Were you sort of a fan of footballer? 61 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 2: No? I mean I watched my fair share of football. 62 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 2: I played a little bit in the Marine Corps, but 63 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: it is nothing like real football. Don't know anything about 64 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 2: offense or defense. He just really just go across and 65 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: smack the guy in front of you and try to 66 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: kill the guy with the ball. So I had no 67 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 2: football knowledge whatsoever. 68 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: So what was your first year like? That? Must have 69 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: been almost frightening. 70 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: It was actually really really good because I got to 71 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: focus on nothing but the kids that were doing the 72 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: x'es and o's, and it freed up the other coaches 73 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: should just to worry about football. So I took care 74 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: of these kids in their homework, their home life, girlfriend problems, everything, 75 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: and getting the most out of them on the field, 76 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: trying to get them at one hundred percent when they're 77 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: playing in the game. 78 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: When did you start kneeling at the fifty yard line 79 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: and offering a prayer? 80 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that started right at the very beginning. I was 81 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: watching facing the giants, and that inspired me to give 82 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: all the glory to God after each game, and that's 83 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: what I did for I was in my eighth year, 84 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: so eight years I prayed on the field twice a week, 85 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: and it was always just a really quick thing to say, 86 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 2: thanks for let me be part of this game. 87 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: What would you say your coaching philosophy was at. 88 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 2: That point, Well, really, it was mostly just teaching these 89 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 2: young men how to become good young men because a 90 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: lot of them come from broken homes, single parent families, 91 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 2: and our school is in a very poor district, so 92 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: we get really what society considers all the leftovers, and 93 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 2: I graduated from school, so I wanted to be part 94 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: of their lives. And my philosophy was just to build 95 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 2: a team, teach them about discipline, the team building aspects 96 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 2: of it, and trying to get the most out of 97 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: them so they believe in themselves so they could become 98 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 2: great citizens in our community. 99 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: So when you on the process of doing this and 100 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: your praying, at some point stidn't start asking if they 101 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: can pray too. 102 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, it started sometime during the first year. It was 103 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: months into it. They saw me out there taking a 104 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: knee after the football game and they said coach Kim. First, 105 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 2: he asked what I was doing out there. I said, 106 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: thanking God for what you guys did. And they wanted 107 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 2: to know if they could join, and I said, this 108 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: is a free country. Of course you could do whatever 109 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 2: you guys want to do. So it kind of grew 110 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: from there. In the eighth year, we had not just 111 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: our team, but we had teams from every team in 112 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 2: our league was joining us on the fifty yard line 113 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: after games. 114 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:57,119 Speaker 1: That's tremendous. And then the school district steps in. Yeah, 115 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: was there a complaint or why did they step in? 116 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: Actually, they got a compliment from somebody at another school 117 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 2: district saw what we were doing and called their principal 118 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 2: and said, hey, I want to tell you what your 119 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: football program is doing is awesome. So this all started 120 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 2: from a good compliment and they launched an investigation. And 121 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: they thought it was so much easier just to have 122 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: me stop praying with the kids than to actually stand 123 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 2: up for people's rights. And I complied with them. Then 124 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: the news got a hold of it. It got out 125 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 2: of control and they wanted me to stop praying altogether 126 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: where people could see me in public, and that's where 127 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: I had my rub. 128 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 1: How did the students react to being told they couldn't 129 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: pray with you? 130 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: They were pretty upset. The school has only one policy, 131 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: you cannot encourage nor discourage kids in prayer, and I 132 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: really tried to hit that mark every single time. So 133 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 2: when they wanted to come out, I had to explain 134 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 2: to them that this was my fight, even though they 135 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 2: wanted to support me. Their fight was out on the field. 136 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 2: Mine was on my knee after the game. So I mean, 137 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: it's a great team, good community, any good kids, and 138 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 2: I was there for so many years. I get to 139 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 2: help raise these kids, and they fully understood it. They 140 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: didn't like it, but they understood where I was standing. 141 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: This is a little strange. They send you a letter 142 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: telling you to quit praying with students. You then, through counsel, 143 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: send a letter requesting a religious accommodation to nil and 144 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: say a brief, quiet, personal prayer in the field after 145 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: football games. Then the superintendent sends an email saying the 146 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: issue in question is shifted. I don't understand this at all, 147 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: from a coach leading prayer with student athletes to a 148 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: coach's right to conduct a personal private prayer. 149 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 2: I had the hardest time trying to figure that out, 150 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: and it really came down to I found out the 151 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: lawyers that represent all the schools in Washington, they're being 152 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: funded and being backed up by the Separation of Church 153 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: and State group. So there is outside influences really demanding 154 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: what our schools do, and they have a whole different 155 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 2: agenda than what we're used to and what should be 156 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 2: happening in our public schools today. So I found out 157 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 2: it was somebody else behind all of that, and instead 158 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 2: of standing up for what's right and good, they wanted 159 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: to turn it to evil and remove it completely. 160 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: When you get this note from the superintendent. As I 161 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: understand it, you offer to me with the school or 162 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: the school district to get a solution, and they won't 163 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: meet with you. 164 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: For the first week, probably two weeks, we met face 165 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 2: to face person or person. Because these people are my friends. 166 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: The superintendent, he still is a dear friend of mine. 167 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: My wife, she worked there for fifteen years. I worked 168 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 2: there for almost a decade. We spent holidays together, we'd 169 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: have functions together, we go to church together. I mean, 170 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: it's not like we were enemies. But when their lawyers 171 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 2: gave me the letter that I could no longer talk 172 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 2: to the school district any employees unless I was represented 173 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 2: by lawyers, I knew I needed help. And that's when 174 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 2: First Liberty Institute got involved. Because I was powerless, I 175 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 2: had no step forward to try to remedy this. 176 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: At that point, they announced a new ban on any 177 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: employee engaging in any quote demonstrative religious activity that is 178 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: quote readily observable to students and the attending public. And 179 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: then on the twenty third, after the evening football game, 180 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: you kneel alone to offer a brief, quiet, personal prayer 181 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: of thanks and five days later you're suspended. 182 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, can you believe that? So they gave me the 183 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: choice really of my faith or my job. And no 184 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: American should ever be faced with that. And that's where 185 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 2: I had the really hard part about it, is that 186 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: no American should have to do this. I fought and 187 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 2: defended the Constitution. I just didn't think i'd be fighting 188 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 2: it in my hometown. And the American in me, I 189 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 2: was an American before I became a follower of the Lord. 190 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,959 Speaker 2: So the red blooded American and marine in me said, 191 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 2: this is not right. People should not have to choose this, 192 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 2: and they can't demand other people how to exercise their faith. 193 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: So I was going to die on that hill, even 194 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 2: though it was only for a fifteen second prayer. 195 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: You're a guy who literally risk his life for his 196 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: country and you're being suspended for simon prayer. This is insane. 197 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: I totally agree. I never understood this, even to this day. 198 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 2: I failed to understand why the school district would take 199 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 2: that stance, especially when I guaranteed them that this was 200 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 2: going to end up in a lawsuit for me to 201 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: be able to pray, and they said, well, so be it. 202 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 2: But they hung out there for eight years, and they 203 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: fought this tooth and nails, spent millions of dollars fighting 204 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: this to make sure that religion was not in our 205 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 2: public square. That's very concerning for me. 206 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: In America, they go further and they after they suspended you, 207 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: they then placed do not rehire recommendation on your annual 208 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: coaching evaluation, So in ef fact, you're fired from your job. 209 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: Yep end in my career right there. 210 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 1: Did they ever explain their reasoning. 211 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 2: The only reasoning I got from them was that it 212 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 2: was so much easier to comply with the lawyers and 213 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: to stand up for what is right, and that didn't 214 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 2: sit well. It never ever made sense to me, even 215 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 2: when they reinstated me and they had to reinstate me. 216 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 2: That's a stance they took. It was that instead of 217 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 2: teaching these people in our community what the First Amendment 218 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 2: means a great lesson for everybody, they took it as 219 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: a personal loss and held it against me, which is 220 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: terrible when you have an opportunity to correct your course 221 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 2: and they absolute did not. 222 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: Your friends and your neighbors in the community. What was 223 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: the reaction. 224 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 2: I would say overall, probably ninety almost ninety nine percent 225 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 2: of people were in favor of me. I was a 226 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 2: good coach. I was great with the kids. I was 227 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 2: part of the community. We were very vested in our school. 228 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 2: We had two kids in the high school, one in 229 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 2: the middle school. I was coaching for eight years. Our 230 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 2: kids grew up with the community's kids and they were 231 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: behind me, the families, the team. But I did lose 232 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 2: some friends over this, especially on the coaching staff. It 233 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: seemed like they were fractured because they said the team 234 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 2: comes first, and I said, well, you're not going to 235 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 2: have a team if we don't have any constitutional rights, 236 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 2: and they couldn't understand that. So, yeah, I lost some 237 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 2: friends over this. 238 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: Then you go to the next step and you file 239 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission arguing 240 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: that your rights to free exercise of religion and free 241 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: speech have been violated. And frankly, I surprise, they come 242 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,839 Speaker 1: back and give you a letter saying you have a 243 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: right to sue the school district. 244 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that seemed like a weird way to go 245 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 2: instead of them just ruling and everything be done there. 246 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 2: But they obviously took a look at what the First 247 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 2: Amendment said in old case law, and they were concerned 248 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 2: with it. So they gave us a green light, and 249 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 2: so we filed the injunction to give me back on 250 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 2: the football field because we were in mid season, so 251 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 2: I wanted to get back to coaching as quickly as possible. 252 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: But then forced you to go into a lawsuit, and 253 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: the district court in the Western District of Washington, and 254 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: then the US Court of Appeals to line circuit both 255 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: side with the school district. I mean, you're really going 256 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: through a lot of costs, a lot of trouble here, 257 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: and then finally in twenty twenty one, the Supreme Court 258 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: agrees to hear your case. I mean, what were you 259 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: thinking when you learned you've now created a case that 260 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: was going all the way to the US Supreme Court. 261 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 2: Well, when I first went through and they said they 262 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 2: ruled against me, I was just in shock. And so 263 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 2: it went to the Supreme Court the first time and 264 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 2: they kicked it back, but they gave us kind of 265 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 2: a roadmap and said, hey, there's some very concerning things 266 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 2: with the lower courts. So I was just amazed that 267 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 2: we had to start all over again and start at 268 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 2: the lowest level. And I mean, even to this day, 269 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 2: I'm still baffled. This is a fifteen second prayer. This 270 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: is not worthy going to the United States Supreme Court 271 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 2: and taking up all this time, money, and effort on 272 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 2: both sides over something so trivial as that, such a 273 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 2: simple freedom in America. 274 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: So seven years after it happens, in June twenty twenty two, 275 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: the United States Supreme Court ruled in your favor and 276 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: asserted that you have a right to pray publicly on 277 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: the field protect it under the First Amendment. And they 278 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: said that the school district's actions infringed upon your personal 279 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: religious expression. What was your reaction when you heard that 280 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: the court had sided with you. 281 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 2: I wish I could have celebrated more, but it was 282 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 2: more of a huge relief the way that the lower 283 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: courts ruled that any display of religion in the public 284 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 2: square could get you terminated. If that would have stuck, 285 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 2: I would have screwed up religious freedom for all Americans. 286 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: It would have been on the books forever, and that 287 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: would have been on my watch and my cause. So 288 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 2: I didn't get a chance to really enjoy the victory 289 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: of it. I was just so so glad and relieved 290 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 2: that we didn't screw it up, and they actually, the 291 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 2: Supreme Court took a look at what the First Amendment 292 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: says and bounce it off the facts of the case 293 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 2: and came up with the right decision. 294 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: You now reinstated as amazingly long fight seven years. How 295 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: did that impact your faith and your sense of the 296 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: importance of religious freedom. 297 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, it really solidified it. It was always a freedom 298 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 2: thing for me. It just happened to be about religion. 299 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 2: As a follower of the Lord. I didn't know which 300 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 2: way to go. I don't know if I'm supposed to 301 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 2: fight these people or what. It was really the case 302 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: of the Constitution that really kept me going, knowing that 303 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: God called me to serve and gave me this fighting spirit, 304 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 2: and everything I went through in my entire life was 305 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 2: leading up to this moment. So I think he was 306 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 2: pretty proud of me and sustained my wife and I 307 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 2: throughout that long, horrible battle. 308 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: I was going to say, your wife must have had 309 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: a real sense of commitment to you and a real 310 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: sense of being a partner on this extraordinary journey. 311 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, behind every man there is a greater woman. And 312 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 2: I tell you there is so much truth to the 313 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 2: power of a praying wife. You have that support, you 314 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 2: could get through anything. 315 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: You're now reinstated, and you go to the field for 316 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: one game. Why did you resign? 317 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 2: I could give a whole bunch of reasons. So they 318 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 2: didn't make it fine. I didn't expect a big parade 319 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 2: or open arms, but they made it horrible. I wasn't 320 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 2: even allowed to talk to the team. I wasn't allowed 321 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 2: to attend the team functions. I wasn't given a locker 322 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 2: or even a key into the coach's office. When you 323 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 2: can't even talk to your own team and interact with them, 324 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 2: there's obviously a problem. So I wanted to take the 325 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 2: moral high road and said, fine, let everybody heal from this, 326 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 2: and I got to retire on my own terms instead 327 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: of having somebody else tell me I needed to quit. 328 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: So that's about a year ago. 329 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: Yep, year ago, yep, last football season. 330 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: What inspired you to create the film, average, Joe. 331 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 2: Well, I thought there was a real good story there. 332 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 2: The guys that approached me. I didn't understand how this 333 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 2: could possibly encourage other people, because this was just my life. 334 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 2: But they heard my testimony and the way that they 335 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 2: wrote the screenplay for it, it was actually pretty compelling, 336 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,719 Speaker 2: and that we wanted to tell the story not of 337 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 2: just the headline news that you see every day, but 338 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 2: the whole story that led up to it, because there's 339 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 2: always a backstory to everything, and we had an opportunity 340 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 2: to show people that no matter where you come from 341 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 2: in life, no matter what the odds are against you, 342 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: that if you stay faithful and you say true that 343 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 2: good things could happening, you aren't defined by your past. 344 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 2: So we really want to encourage Americans to have a 345 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: good love of their country, their love of their spouses, 346 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 2: and for the love of their God. 347 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: It was really kind of daring because you kind of 348 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 1: have to stand outside yourself and watch a bunch of 349 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: strangers trying to explain who you are. You've really been 350 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: through a lot. I mean, did you ever have any 351 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: idea your life would follow as many twists and turns? 352 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 2: No, you could never guess this. I'm probably the least 353 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 2: likely person in America that should have been called for this. 354 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 2: My background says that I shouldn't have made it. My 355 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 2: entire life has just been about fighting and trouble. I 356 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 2: never thought that it would be motivating for people. And 357 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 2: when God calls you man, he calls the weirdest people 358 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 2: and to stand up for the right things. But they 359 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 2: picked a fight with the wrong guy. You don't pick 360 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,919 Speaker 2: a fight with the Marine without expecting to have it 361 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 2: last a little while, and us put up a good fight. 362 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: In that sense. Did the Marine Corps really sort of 363 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 1: shape you into the person you are today? 364 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 2: It absolutely did, And everything about my coaching reflected that. 365 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 2: Training young men and women how to become good military people, 366 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 2: good citizens, and really be able to stand up on 367 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 2: their own and have the trust of their brothers and 368 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 2: sisters and that respect for the Constitution. This was a 369 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 2: great thing for me and turn my life completely around. 370 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: If young people come and ask your advice, do you 371 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 1: generally recommend that they join the Corps? 372 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 2: No, I do not. Every kid is different, obviously, but 373 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 2: there's two. You have the Air Force on one side, 374 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 2: which is a very corporate good way of life. They 375 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 2: got a good way of taking care of their people, 376 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: and then you have the Marine Corps that we get 377 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:13,160 Speaker 2: the leftovers and we have the roughest environment. So there's 378 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: a good difference between the one side to the other. 379 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 2: And I encourage people go where they fit best. If 380 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 2: you want to be challenged more than anything in your 381 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 2: life and see what you're made up. You go in 382 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 2: the Marine Corps. If you just want to serve and 383 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 2: not have to worry about that part of it, go 384 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 2: into any other service and just serving is worth it 385 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 2: in any of the branches. 386 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: I'm really intrigued with your life story, what happens next. 387 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 2: I've been asked that quite a bit lately, and I 388 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 2: have absolutely no idea. I have a platform right now 389 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 2: that I get to speak about free speech and the 390 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 2: freedom of our religion and all really all the freedoms 391 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 2: we have in America, and so right now I'm trying 392 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,680 Speaker 2: to get people out there to number one, get out 393 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 2: and vote, be active in their schools and their communities, 394 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,120 Speaker 2: even in their home life, and men to be men today. 395 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 2: That's what we really need in our society. And I'm 396 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 2: using my platform right now to encourage people and helping 397 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 2: people be able to stand up and be good Americans. 398 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: And do you think that requires courage? 399 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,360 Speaker 2: It just takes a little bit, because courage isn't something 400 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 2: that you really can develop. It's something that you have 401 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 2: inside you to do what's right, even if it's not popular, 402 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 2: and it doesn't change the fact that you're scared. I mean, 403 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: I never wanted this battle. I was scared to death 404 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 2: that I was going to mess this up for everybody. 405 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 2: Everybody's looking at you. But going through that adversity, that's 406 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 2: where the courage comes in, is to stick with your 407 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 2: convictions and being able to stand on your own two 408 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 2: feet because you have so many people that are behind 409 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 2: you and supporting you and helping you today. 410 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: I think you have an amazing story. And then I'm 411 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: very honored that you would come and spend some time 412 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 1: with us. I know you're remarkably busy. Can you imagine 413 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: yourself making another movie? 414 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 2: We talked about that, because you can't put fifty years 415 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,200 Speaker 2: of life. There's just too much to put in there, 416 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 2: and there are so many unanswered questions. If they do, cool, 417 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 2: if they don't, I'm okay with that. I don't mind 418 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 2: writing into the sunset and finally retiring from this and 419 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 2: leaving it to the young bucks to continue on this journey. 420 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 2: But I'm here to encourage anybody else and to stand 421 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 2: with all Americans. 422 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: Right now, you just strike me as pretty young and 423 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: pretty energetic to be riding off into the sunset. 424 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 2: I got a lot of miles on this body. 425 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: My friend, Well, I want to thank you for joining me. 426 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: Your new film Average Joe is a must see for 427 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: anyone who cares deeply about the future of this country 428 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: and religious liberty, and our listeners can watch the trailer 429 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: and buy tickets to the film by going to averagejomovie 430 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 1: dot com. It's a real honor for me to have 431 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: this opportunity to chat with you and to explore what 432 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: has been kind of an amazing journey. 433 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 2: Well, thank you. I have been a follower of yours 434 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 2: my whole entire life, so this has been a huge, 435 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 2: huge blessing for me. One of the highlights I'm going 436 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 2: to put in my life. 437 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: Well, thank you. Maybe it'll make the next book or 438 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: the next movie. 439 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 2: We'll put it in if they do. Absolutely thank you 440 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 2: to my guest coach, Joe Kennedy. 441 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 1: You can get a link to buy tickets to see 442 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 1: his new film Average Joe on our show page at 443 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:35,199 Speaker 1: Newtsworld dot com. Newsworld is produced by Ginglish three sixty 444 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 1: and iHeartMedia. Our executive producer is Guernsey Sloan. Our researcher 445 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: is Rachel Peterson. The artwork for the show was created 446 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 1: by Steve Penley. Special thanks to the team at Gingleish 447 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: three sixty. If you've been enjoying Newtsworld, I hope you'll 448 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: go to Apple Podcasts and both rate us with five 449 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: stars and give us a review so others can learn 450 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:01,399 Speaker 1: what it's all about. Right nowtioners of Newtsworld can sign 451 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: up for my three freeweekly columns at gingrichthree sixty dot 452 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: com slash newsletter. I'm newt Gingrich. This is Newtworld.