Report: N.J. High School Football Players Sexually Assaulted Freshmen

Sayreville (N.J.) Superintendent of Schools Richard Labbe cancelled Sayreville War Memorial High School's football season Monday amid claims of hazing, though the details were unknown. But a parent of a Sayreville player talked to NJ.com today, and what happened sounds horrific and inhumane.

The parent said that Sayreville upperclassmen would shut off the lights in the locker room, pin a freshman down, and force a finger into his butt. Occasionally, the upperclassmen would then force that finger into a victim's mouth. This apparently happened frequently. From the report:

According to the parent, whose identity is being protected because the parent feared retribution against the family and the player, the routine was initiated when an upperclassman would enter the locker room and make a wolf call or howling noise.

"[For] 10 seconds, the lights would go off and they would grab a freshman and they would go on," the parent said. "Right on the floor. … It was happening every day. They would get the freshmen."

He added: "Kids would just sit around and witness [stuff] like this."

At a parent's meeting, Labbe—on leaked audio—said that Sayreville coaches claimed to not know anything about the sexual assaults until last week.

In unrelated news, Sayreville assistant football coach Charlie Garcia was allegedly caught with 800 mg of steroids and needles on Sept. 26. He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and third-degree possession of hypodermic needles.

We've received a few tips since Oct. 3 regarding details of hazing rituals that might more accurately be described as rape. In addition to general allegations of sexual assault and hazing, we've been hearing things like this:

It hasn't broken out in the media yet, but the "hazing ritual" was seniors would hold down freshman players, stick soap or fingers in the butts of the freshman players,... and then make them lick whatever had been stuck in their butt.

Have any more information? Drop us a line.

[ NJ.com]

Photo: AP