A tragic incident involving an 18-year-old Bucknell University football player has sparked serious allegations of a dangerous “hazing” ritual. The young athlete, who was just beginning his college journey, tragically passed away, and his grieving parents have taken legal action against the institution, its officials, and members of the athletic department.
The player in question, CJ Dickey, faced a medical emergency during a team workout that resulted in him being rushed to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed CJ with rhabdomyolysis, a severe condition that occurs due to intense physical exertion, causing muscle tissue to break down. This can lead to kidney failure and, if untreated, can be fatal.
According to the lawsuit filed by CJ’s parents, the intense workout involved rigorous physical exercises known as “up-downs” or “burpees.” These exercises were allegedly enforced because some of CJ’s fellow freshmen teammates had made errors during drills.
Reflecting on the devastating moment, CJ’s mother, Nicole Dickey, shared their heartbreaking decision with reporters: “They were trying to resuscitate him, and they came to us, and we made the decision as parents to stop, because CJ wasn’t coming back.”
CJ’s condition was further complicated by sickle cell trait, an inherited genetic trait that significantly increased his risk for rhabdomyolysis. Notably, he had been diagnosed with this condition only weeks before starting his journey at Bucknell, thanks to routine athletic screenings. Since 2010, the NCAA has required all student athletes to be screened for sickle cell trait, following a similar tragic incident involving a Rice University football player.
As of now, Bucknell University has remained silent on the ongoing litigation and has yet to provide CJ’s parents with an official explanation regarding their son’s sudden death. His family is convinced the extreme exercise session, conducted as a rite of passage for new athletes, constitutes hazing. CJ’s father plainly stated, “I do think CJ was hazed, and I think this was something that was completely avoidable.”
Echoing these sentiments, CJ’s mother added, “This feels like someone pressured and pushed and drove these kids way beyond what they should have been.” The community continues to seek answers as they grieve the loss of a young life taken too soon.
