Assistant Coach Joe Kennedy of Bremerton East High School is under investigation by the school district for gathering a large crowd during a public prayer at the 50-yard line of the school football field.

Kennedy’s prayer during football games was always the same: “Lord, I thank you for these kids and the blessing you’ve given me with them. We believe in the game, we believe in competition and we can come into it as rivals and leave as brothers.”

According to students, Kennedy never pressured football players or audience members to participate in the prayer. It was a voluntary tradition that often drew crowds from both teams.

The coach had been previously cautioned against praying in front of students because the school district was worried that doing so would violate the constitutional separation between church and state.

“Both activities would very likely be found to violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, exposing the district to significant risk of liability,” Superintendent Aaron Leavell argued.

Kennedy stopped his tradition of praying at the 50-yard line for several games, but started it up again in time for Bremerton’s homecoming after the Liberty Institute agreed to help him sue the school district. Though the school district continues to aggressively censure Kennedy, this 20-year Marine who fought in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield isn’t afraid to fight.

“I don’t know the Constitution,” Kennedy said. “I spent my years defending it.”