Football players lead prayer with parents, fans after game in Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — After battling it out on the gridiron, football players led parents and fans in prayer in Putnam County Friday night amid a letter concerning coaches and teachers from a group calling for separation of church and state.

Putnam County Schools administrators were told last week that teachers and staff, including coaches, can't lead students in prayer.

RELATED: Coaches, teachers in Putnam County can't lead students in prayer, school attorney says

This came in response to a letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The group wrote to PCS that there were several instances of prayer and proselytizing at events at Cookeville and Upperman high schools.

A school attorney said the law is clear: "Courts have consistently ruled that prayer and proselytizing can not be sponsored by schools or school personnel."

Bob Vick, a PCS alum and fan, shared a photo of players from Upperman High School and Stone Memorial High School as they came together after their game at Overall Field to lead parents and fans in prayer.

"Satan’s power was defeated tonight," Vick wrote with the photo on Facebook.

The schools added this in a statement to FOX 17 News:

"As a district, we absolutely understand the importance of prayer in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff members. We support the right of students to participate in and lead spontaneous prayers. That right is and will continue to be protected. We also understand that faculty and staff members can not lead or participate in the spontaneous student-led prayers."

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