The NCAA News - News and Features

September 14, 1998

School's 'harsh measures' send message after hazing incident

Alfred University has forfeited its first football game of the year and suspended six football players for the remainder of the season following an apparent hazing incident that resulted in the alcohol poisoning of five freshman players.

President Edward G. Coll Jr. responded quickly with what he called "harsh measures" against students believed to have been involved in the alleged hazing of freshman football players at a party August 29 in an off-campus residence.

"I deeply regret that the university must take such actions, but they are absolutely necessary," Coll said.

In a statement released September 1, Coll detailed the situation and the university's response. Coll said he ordered the game forfeited "as an expression of the seriousness of this incident. I wanted our football team to know that we will not tolerate this kind of behavior."

The evening of August 29, Alfred University residence life staff summoned the Alfred Rescue Squad to treat several cases of severe alcohol intoxication. Staff members quickly discovered that the afflicted students had two things in common: They were all freshman football players, and they had attended the same party at a private residence -- known as the "football house" -- in the Village of Alfred.

Gerald Brody, vice-president for student affairs and dean of students, was called by the residence life staff. Brody immediately initiated an investigation and contacted athletics director Jim Moretti and head football coach Dave Murray.

Murray and Moretti, along with members of the residence life staff, immediately visited the rooms of all freshman football players to determine the players' conditions and to summon medical attention for those who required it.

"We believe this may have saved the life of at least one student," Coll said.

Five freshmen were hospitalized. All were treated and eventually released.

Alfred Village police arrested five students in connection with the incident, and Murray suspended six players from the team for the remainder of the season. The suspended players included two co-captains.

Another involved student, already on disciplinary probation for earlier infractions, has been expelled by the university, pending the results of a disciplinary hearing.

The university also is requiring all members of the football team to attend substance-abuse educational classes.

"I am extremely disappointed, not only for myself, but for the members of the team who were not at fault in this incident," said Murray, who forfeited what would have been his first game as head coach for the Saxons and the beginning of 100 years of football at the university. "This is not the way I envisioned starting my career as head football coach at Alfred, but I believe this is clearly the right thing to do in these circumstances."

Coll said the university will continue its investigation.