BROOKLYN, Ohio — One week after Brooklyn High School's football squad used the term "Nazi" to address play calls against Beachwood, the team returned to the field.
On Monday, head coach Tim McFarland — who had led the Hurricanes for three years — resigned following the controversy. On Friday, interim coach Tim Hanlon led the team against Independence.
Hanlon coached alongside McFarland for his entire tenure and has been with the Brooklyn program for 25 years. Earlier this week, Brooklyn superintendent Dr. Ted Caleris told 3News that the term "Nazi" had been in McFarland's playbook for multiple seasons.
"We're still using the same plays," Hanlon told WKYC prior to Friday night's homecoming game. "Obviously, we've changed some terminology."
Hanlon was asked what knowledge he had of the audible call "Nazi."
"We're moving on from that and just focusing on the game tonight," he answered.
Meanwhile, McFarland and his attorney, Peter Pattakos, stand behind his play call. With just three games remaining in the regular season, Caleris tells 3News the future of the program is unclear.
"We'll reevaluate the program at the end of the season," the superintendent said, adding they're moving forward as a district and community.
Brooklyn school administrators have spoken to the Anti-Defamation League, the Maltz Museum in Beachwood, and other organizations to learn how they can educate students about Jewish history.
"Myself, my assistant superintendent, [a] couple other administrators, we're going to take some visits in the next couple weeks to different areas, to different museums, see what they have to offer for our kids," Caleris said.
Caleris further told us that both the Beachwood community and the Brooklyn community are moving forward together.
"We're just going to grow and move forward," he stated.
As for the game itself, Brooklyn lost to Independence 35-0 to fall to 2-5 on the season.