High school football in Ohio called off due to a legal dispute claiming players suffered violent hazing incidents
Ursuline High School in Ohio has found itself embroiled in a scandal, with its football team benched for the rest of the season due to allegations of physical and sexual abuse during a football camp. The school's president, Father Richard Murphy, announced the suspension of head coach Daniel Reardon and the placement of assistant coaches Timothy McGlynn and Christian Syrianoudis on administrative leave.
According to a federal lawsuit filed by an anonymous mother of an incoming freshman player, the freshman, identified as Son King, was repeatedly assaulted during a multistate football camp bus trip from June 12 to June 20. On the first day of the trip, Son King hid in a closet due to fear of attack, and on day four, he was allegedly attacked again, with videos of the assaults shared online. One of his attackers took a pair of his underwear as a "trophy," according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit names the school, its principal, assistant principal, head football coach, two assistant football coaches, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, 11 unnamed players, and their parents. The coaching staff, including Reardon, McGlynn, and Syrianoudis, were present during discussions of hazing and initiations that included having the new players fight one another.
The allegations suggest that the Ursuline Fighting Irish football program has a long-standing "culture of hazing." The coaches, including McGlynn, did not intercede to help Son King despite him being openly ridiculed, according to the court papers. McGlynn was also accused of being aware of the videos and not ensuring that the players deleted them.
The players continued to share the videos, which the lawsuit refers to as "child pornography," even across state lines. The mother of Son King reported the hazing to the police department, which launched a criminal investigation.
The scandal has attracted attention beyond the school and the community. The bishop of Youngstown, David Bonnar, has weighed in on the matter, stating that "We are deeply saddened by the allegations that have emerged regarding Ursuline High School." A second federal lawsuit was filed against the school involving a female student, Daughter Chef, who alleges she was subjected to bullying, harassment, and a physical attack after rebuffing a football player's demand for sex and nude photos. The lawsuit also accuses school officials of failing to take action to protect her.
The school's response to the allegations has been met with criticism. The mother's lawyer, Subodh Chandra, expressed dismay at Murphy's decision to remove the coaches only after a lawsuit was filed and public outrage mounted in September. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has barred Ursuline football players from playing for other schools this season.
The name of the lawyer who filed the two complaints against Ursuline High School is not publicly available. The school and the diocese have not yet issued a public statement regarding the allegations or the ongoing investigation.
