Miami Northwestern football players ask school board to reinstate Teddy Bridgewater
During the public forum of Wednesday’s Miami-Dade school board meeting, several football players from Miami Northwestern High asked the school board to reinstate the school’s head football coach, Teddy Bridgewater. They told the board members about how much Bridgewater inspired and believed in them and how he turned the football team into a family.
The former Miami Dolphins quarterback was suspended by his alma mater after he posted on social media that he paid for players’ Uber rides, which is considered “impermissible benefits” by the Florida High School Athletic Association’s rules.
Read more: Miami Northwestern suspends football coach Teddy Bridgewater for upcoming season
“He didn’t just coach football. He taught us about manhood, discipline and character,” said Miami Northwestern football player Anthony Bell during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s school board meeting. “He gave us rides when we didn’t have no way to get to practice and the way going back home. He made sure we had meals. He connected us with colleges we never thought we’d have access to. He’s gone above and beyond. Not because he had to but because he wanted to. He used his platform as a former NFL player to shine a spotlight on our team and because of that we are finally being seen.”
“Please don’t take away one of the few people that cares about our future.”
Stephen Rivera, a barber who has been volunteering to offer haircuts to student athletes at Miami Northwestern, was in tears as he stood at the podium and spoke into the microphone about Bridgewater.
“Teddy is a true leader. He elevates and gives back the way he can. We should not be suspending him, but celebrating his efforts to give kids hope,” said Rivera.
Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern back to prominence last season, guiding them to their first state title since 2019 and their ninth overall. Northwestern had gone 4-6 the previous season and missed the playoffs.
Student athlete Amir Day said his team would not have won the championship without Bridgewater.
“Why suspend a coach for giving back to his team?”
“He is building up young men and teaching us our value,” added Day.
School board member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall thanked the speakers and said she was advised by the general counsel for the school district, Walter Harvey, not to comment further as an investigation is underway by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Bridgewater confirmed the suspension via a post on his Facebook page earlier this month. The post did not specify the length of the suspension, but according to a source connected to the South Florida football scene, Bridgewater will not be allowed to coach the Bulls this coming season.
During the meeting several parents also took to the podium to ask that the school board investigate Miami Northwestern’s booster organization. They accused the organization of misspending money donated to support the football team.
“How much money have they raised? Who has access to it? Where are receipts and invoices?” said Latoyah David, a parent.
The Florida Board of Education has already reached out over the past week to Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres demanding Bridgewater’s reinstatement.
A petition was also started recently by Katherine Higgs-Palmer, a 1978 graduate of Miami Northwestern, on change.org, which has drawn over 2,300 signatures as of Wednesday night.
“According to multiple reports and firsthand accounts from students and parents, Coach Bridgewater’s impact extends beyond the football field,” Higgs-Palmer wrote on the petition’s website. “His dedication to improving students’ lives through education and personal mentoring is unparalleled. It’s imperative to recognize that his presence is crucial in guiding our young athletes towards success, both in their sports and academic endeavors.
“By reinstating Teddy Bridgewater, we reaffirm our commitment to the values that have always made Miami Northwestern great: excellence, leadership, and community. In these trying times, his leadership is needed more than ever to steer our young athletes in the right direction and continue building a legacy of achievement and integrity.”
