Ky. coach takes team to be baptized

HARNED, Ky., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- A Kentucky high school football coach used a school bus to take about 20 of his players to his church to be baptized, school officials confirmed.

Nearly half of the players underwent the religious ceremony on Aug. 26, officials told Monday's Louisvllle (Ky.) Courier-Journal.

"Nobody should push their faith on anybody else," Michelle Ammons, whose son, Robert Coffey, went along on the trip, told the newspaper.

Coffey told his mother the coach, Scott Mooney of Breckinridge County High School, never mentioned a baptism, allegedly saying only they were going to see a motivational speaker and have a free steak dinner. But two other parents told the Courier-Journal their sons contend Mooney had told them the voluntary outing to Franklin Crossroads Baptist Church would include a revival.

Mooney said school district officials had told him not to comment, the newspaper said.

District Superintendent Janet Meeks, who the newspaper said is a member of the church and witnessed the baptisms, said she believes the trip was proper because attendance was not required and the gas was privately paid for.