Former Virginia receiver alleges hazing, abusive culture

http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/17832652/ex-uva-receiver-alleges-hazing-abusive-culture



At first I thought that this happened in a prior year and was only just now being brought forward. But this happened this past August (according to the lawsuit) so Bronco and co were definitely the coaches at the time. Famika Anae is listed as a defendant.

The lawsuit states that, on Aug. 12, Dowling and Eldridge forced Howard to fight another first-year football player after a team practice as part of an "initiation" into the football program to prove his "toughness and manliness." Howard did not want to fight but felt as though he had no choice, for fear of continued bullying and harassment, according to the lawsuit.



The lawsuit continues to describe the incident: Dowling and Eldridge taunted Howard during practice and used athletic tape to mark off a fighting area in the locker room. They forced Howard and the other football player to enter the ring to "flashing lights, loud music and announcement to simulate a 'prize fight.'"



Howard suffered severe eye injuries after being struck by the other football player, who was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit because, according to Howard's attorneys, he, too, was being forced and bullied by the older players to fight against his will. The suit states that Howard immediately experienced double-vision in his right eye and was in pain.



About 105 people, including Anae, watched the fight, and several other student athletes recorded or tried to record it on their cellphones, but no one attempted to stop it, the suit states. Howard says he heard Anae yell, "No phones," before the fight began, admonishing players not to record it.

I'm a big Bronco fan, but this is just not good. And from what I read about Pitino's Louisville problems, the NCAA is not buying the defense "I wasn't aware it was going on."

Wow, somewhat of a shocker from a Bronco Mendenhall team. I would imagine that he probably was not aware when it was done, or of even fostering such an environment, but then knowing of what happened and not reaching out to the athlete doesn't sound like the BM I knew. I'm puzzled a bit and thinking there is more to the story. Surely not the kind of news your want to hear for a 2-4 UVA football program.

Wow....if true, this could be very bad for Mendenhall's reputation and career. Since Famika Anae is named specifically as not only being aware but involved in the forced fight, I'm wondering if he gets dismissed from the staff and what that does to Bronco and Robert Anae's relationship.

Fido wrote:
Wow....if true, this could be very bad for Mendenhall's reputation and career. Since Famika Anae is named specifically as not only being aware but involved in the forced fight, I'm wondering if he gets dismissed from the staff and what that does to Bronco and Robert Anae's relationship.

How this works in the real world: Bronco, UVa, and Famika settle with confidentiality provisions and the player gets some $$ and transfers to a commuter school, Famika gets slapped on the hand, the university hires a consultant to come watch practices for a week and give some sensitivity training, and life moves on.

snoscythe wrote:

Wow....if true, this could be very bad for Mendenhall's reputation and career. Since Famika Anae is named specifically as not only being aware but involved in the forced fight, I'm wondering if he gets dismissed from the staff and what that does to Bronco and Robert Anae's relationship.

How this works in the real world: Bronco, UVa, and Famika settle with confidentiality provisions and the player gets some $$ and transfers to a commuter school, Famika gets slapped on the hand, the university hires a consultant to come watch practices for a week and give some sensitivity training, and life moves on.

Perhaps if it the incident hadn't resulted in potentially career-ending injury and gone public including making ESPN's College Football top stories. The kid left school after the fight, requested his release which was granted, and enrolled to play football at Robert Morris--however their doctors diagnosed him not just with a concussion but with a broken eye socket that required surgery. He has to redshirt this year because of his injuries and might not be cleared to play again which is why the lawsuit is now being filed.



The hazing incidents were witnessed by over 100 people including his position coach and a grad assistant (Anae) according to the lawsuit and were in direct violation of Virginia team rules and Title IX including coaches. It reports that Anae was not only aware but participated in the incident, directing observers to not record it on their phones. The only staff who checked on his injuries after the fight was his position coach. In my opinion, this is much further along than a quiet settlement and a slap on the wrist for some low level employees.



Further, according to the story Famika Anae already has a lawsuit pending against him from Orem where he punched a guy at a movie theater for not giving up his seat for his family--which caused permanent injury. So this is now lawsuit #2 against him.

Fido wrote:

Fido wrote:
Wow....if true, this could be very bad for Mendenhall's reputation and career. Since Famika Anae is named specifically as not only being aware but involved in the forced fight, I'm wondering if he gets dismissed from the staff and what that does to Bronco and Robert Anae's relationship.

How this works in the real world: Bronco, UVa, and Famika settle with confidentiality provisions and the player gets some $$ and transfers to a commuter school, Famika gets slapped on the hand, the university hires a consultant to come watch practices for a week and give some sensitivity training, and life moves on.

Perhaps if it the incident hadn't resulted in potentially career-ending injury and gone public including making ESPN's College Football top stories. The kid left school after the fight, requested his release which was granted, and enrolled to play football at Robert Morris--however their doctors diagnosed him not just with a concussion but with a broken eye socket that required surgery. He has to redshirt this year because of his injuries and might not be cleared to play again which is why the lawsuit is now being filed.



The hazing incidents were witnessed by over 100 people including his position coach and a grad assistant (Anae) according to the lawsuit and were in direct violation of Virginia team rules and Title IX including coaches. It reports that Anae was not only aware but participated in the incident, directing observers to not record it on their phones. The only staff who checked on his injuries after the fight was his position coach. In my opinion, this is much further along than a quiet settlement and a slap on the wrist for some low level employees.



Further, according to the story Famika Anae already has a lawsuit pending against him from Orem where he punched a guy at a movie theater for not giving up his seat for his family--which caused permanent injury. So this is now lawsuit #2 against him.

None of that changes anything.

snoscythe wrote:

None of that changes anything.

I guess time will tell.

Fido wrote:

None of that changes anything.

I guess time will tell.

If I were the guy's attorney ... that all changes a lot. Yes, it can still settle, but the $ figure just went up substantially, AND settlement probably includes firing of Anae (Famika) and other coaches who were involved.

Famika will and should be fired. BM and Virginia can't afford not to. They hire a new coach a few months into the gig there is a team fight club that a coach knows about? That's ugly.

Wasn't he a GA so not getting paid? They will get rid of him though.

IIRC, the position coach was also there and involved and he was a hold over from the previous staff so could also be at risk of losing his job. [Marques Hagans-WR Coach]

Fido wrote:
IIRC, the position coach was also there and involved and he was a hold over from the previous staff so could also be at risk of losing his job. [Marques Hagans-WR Coach]

Maybe Bronco will want Calhoun ... :whistle: