Aidan Howard is suing the University of Virginia in federal court, alleging he was forced to fight another first-year player in the team locker room as a kind of hazing ritual.
The Aug. 12 fight, complete with a ring circled off with athletic tape, flashing lights, loud music and announcements simulating a prizefight, was watched by more than 100 people, the complaint said. It ended after Howard sustained severe eye injuries, immediately experiencing double vision in his right eye and significant pain. He also felt sick to his stomach and his head hurt.
He later was diagnosed with a concussion and told he could not practice.
Six days later, Howard requested _ and was granted _ a release from the national letter of intent he signed with Virginia. He transferred to Robert Morris University with hopes of playing football this year. But, according to the lawsuit filed in the Western District of Pennsylvania, an examination a month later showed that the brawl left him with a broken orbital bone, which required surgery.
"(I)t is unclear if he will ever be able to play football again," wrote attorney C. James Zeszutek.
In an interview Thursday, Zeszutek added, "He had surgery at the end of September for the fracture of the orbital bone, and he's still seeing a physician."
In addition to the university, the lawsuit also names as defendants UVA president Teresa Sullivan, athletic director Craig Littlepage, wide receivers coach Marques Hagans, graduate assistant Famika Anae, and fellow wide receivers Doni Dowling and David Eldridge.
Zeszutek said that the university didn't get in touch with his client until Howard had left the school.
University spokesman Anthony P. de Bruyn said in a statement that the school was aware of Howard's allegations.
"The university has been actively investigating these reports consistent with its obligations under the law and university policy," he said. "The university does not comment on ongoing litigation and will not make any further statements regarding this case."
Robert Morris spokesman Jim Duzyk said the school had no comment beyond that Howard was on the team and would probably sit out this season.
The lawsuit includes civil rights claims, as well as claims under Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It alleges Howard suffered abuse, harassment and discrimination.
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound teen signed a letter of intent with Virginia on Feb. 3 and began attending summer school there in July.
According to the complaint, Howard and other first-year student-athletes interacted with older players occasionally, and during the initial meetings, they made him "the target of bullying and harassing conduct because of his soft-spoken and mild-mannered nature. Indeed, these upperclassmen, including defendants Dowling and Eldridge, targeted Aidan because they perceived him to be 'soft' and 'not manly' like other student-athletes in the football program," the lawsuit said.
Howard, who said he was diagnosed at Virginia with a learning disability, also alleges that he was bullied because he did not understand the routes and plays for the team. Upperclassmen, including Dowling and Eldridge, referred to Howard as "stupid," "dumb," "slow," and "retarded," the lawsuit said. Other players, with coaches' knowledge, would ostracize Howard, forcing him to eat lunch and dinner on his own, it continued.
The lawsuit also alleged that Howard witnessed Dowling and Eldridge and others with the team force first-year players to participate in fights and wrestling matches while naked or partially naked, "an act referred to at UVA as 'ramming.' "
"Aidan had been harassed and taunted for a period of time, sort of orchestrated into this arranged fight between him and another freshman," Zeszutek said. "And Aidan felt that if he didn't go forward with this, he would continue to be harassed by these individuals. So he thought to do this and hopefully it would stop. But what occurred was almost like an orchestration of a prizefight."
The Aug. 12 fight, the complaint alleges, was between Howard and another first-year wide receiver, Hasise Dubois, after a team practice, as a part of Howard's "initiation" and "to prove his toughness and manliness."
Howard claimed in the lawsuit that he did not want to fight but felt "as though he had no choice."
More than 100 people watched the fight, but none tried to stop it, the suit says. Several players attempted to use their cell phones to record the fight, but Howard said he heard Anae, the graduate assistant, yell, "No phones."
After it ended, Howard went to the team trainer for treatment, but, he claims, no one from the university ever reached out to him until his father requested his son be released from the team.
Virginia granted the release, noting that it was because of "conduct of others within the university," with no further comment. The lawsuit alleges that no one was ever reprimanded.
According to Virginia team rules for football players, there is to be no hazing, initiations or rookie nights.
