Yes @justlookingnow agree that high school and college sports are two different things entirely. But I do believe that coaches both in high school and in college set the tone for the team. Kids are smart enough to perceive when a coach is turning a blind eye to something. I don’t know whether Busch did this or not–what was reported was that after he became aware of what was going on with Marcantonio he made those 2 statements quoted in the article. That really left Marcantonio with no other options but to quit the team or transfer if he wanted to swim. They are two lousy options in my view.
We don’t know the context of the coach’s comments. They could have been in response to unreasonable requests from the plaintiff. And it is also possible that the coach wanted him off the team, so he did only the minimum that was required under whatever the NCAA contract requires him to do with respect to players that do not fit in with the team dynamic.
True, @HarvestMoon1, if all is true, he was left with no good options. I think it would be difficult for a recruited athlete (and I assume he got some athletic scholarship money) to just quit entirely and walk away. It seems like he wanted to hold up his end of the bargain. And, not to mention, this kid likely has been training for most of his life, and he, like probably every other swimmer at that level, might have some Olympic dreams, so needed to keep up it up. Transferring was probably the better of the two options. And anyway, who would want to stay after having things play out like they did? The whole thing is so unfortunate. I hope things go better for him at Northwestern.
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Yes, agree. His actions indicate to me that he is a young man with self-respect that was not willing to let others cross his personal boundries. The “team dynamic” appears to be the problem not him.
That the plaintiff is suing the five other swimmers only is sort of interesting, in that it seems unlikely that he will recover much of anything if the other swimmers have just graduated from college. They probably have few, if any assets. It is also interesting because he is going to have to prove monetary damages, and if he has a contract with Northwestern and is swimming competitive times there (I have no idea), then I don’t know how he will prove damages. However, I believe the news articles say he filed a federal suit, so perhaps he is alleging Title IX violations (does it even apply to other students?) or some other federal statute that provides punitive damages, but again I don’t know and am just guessing.
I don’t think that swim teams need members adept at chewing live goldfish and grabbing each other’s crotches.
Re: the goldfish. Swallowing goldfish is a old-time hazing ritual that has been around at least since I was a kid in the '70s. My sister told me that as a new teen camp counselor, as part of their initiation that were asked to swallow (baby) goldfish, and she thought it was hilarious and she did it and was proud of herself. I’m just throwing that out there as an example of a similar situation, with an even younger person, whose perspective of the goldfish thing was 180 degrees from this guy’s, apparently.
And we all know that if it has been done in the past that it’s always alright to continue doing. 
No, it would not have ever been right to force anyone to swallow a goldfish.
According to this Wiki article, goldfish swallowing was started by a Harvard freshman in the 1920s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfish_swallowing
Don’t think the complaint alleges Title IX violations. Believe his complaint alleges assault, battery, false imprisonment, hazing, tortuous interference with a contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and two counts of conspiracy to commit those acts.
44 states have anti-hazing laws but I am not sure what a plaintiff has to show in order to recover under those statutes. Marcantonio was an Olympic hopeful according to the press reports-- but that to me is secondary – although I am sure it is not to him.
When you listen to the interview of the parents of the drum major that died in Florida or when you listen to James Vivenzio describe the hazing that he experienced at Penn State, you realize that this is a pretty serious issue that can have very serious consequences. I think parents, coaches and colleges administrators need to get behind the effort to eradicate it. It’s pretty clear that there are a lot of students who want no part of it as well.
Bay we had a goldfish swallowing contest as part of Homecoming week at our high school in the 70s. That’s an “oldy” thing and something that I wouldn’t consider hazing and pretty easy to turn and walk away from. I think this guy was just a misfit with that team, but I do think it’s kind of interesting that he filed a lawsuit - like what does he “want” form a couple other college guys other than to stir the pot form his “new school” against the guys that he didn’t get along with. Presumably he has the right to do that.
How do you see him proving damages, harvest moon?
@Bay thinking that for the “tortious interference with a contract” and the “intentional infliction of emotional distress” claims he would be seeking punitive damages. They would include punitive damages for him losing the opportunity to swim for UVA and damages for emotional"pain and suffering." I do believe his attorney requested a jury to hear the case so they would be charged with putting a monetary value on those things.
But also I would think one would look at what Marcantonio lost by having to transfer – did he get the same financial aid or scholarships from Northwestern as he had at UVA? Are the two teams comparable or did he take a step down when transferring as far as his athletic training is concerned? Was he an actual Olympic contender and did the transfer change his trajectory in that regard? What were the costs associated with his transfer - application fees, travel, moving expenses.
The assault and battery claims can be both criminal in nature or a civil tort. Thinking he would have to show physical injuries for battery, but for assault I think being put in fear of imminent harm might suffice for compensatory damages.
Also one of the press reports I read indicated that it was not Marcantonio that reported the hazing to the coach. It was reported by someone “unaffiliated” with the team. When the coach questioned the team, Marcantonio told the truth. The rest of the team then turned on him and labeled him a “rat.”
I read that the source was someone not affiliated with the university as well.
As far as him telling the truth, isn’t that what the Honor Code there compels all of them to do?
It’s also about learning when to tattle and when not to tattle…something kids learn in K-4th grade. It’s a fine line, granted, but a line that absolutely exists in school, in life and in the workplace.
@justlookingnow — thinking you are most likely correct. That’s why I said upthread there is something wrong with this picture. The kid truthfully answers questions posed by his coach and ends up being thrown under the bus.
It was also reported that the same 5 students being sued were benched earlier in the year for some other conduct violation and Ingraham had a third offense in 2013 on top of those 2 violations. So clearly these kids had issues to begin with and just tangled with someone who was not going to put up with it.
In many states, judgments are good for a very long time, e.g., 20 years. If he wins, he can wait 'til they have $ to collect the judgment, together with interest.
Wow, that is scary about how long you can still collect. Any judgment then could effect these 5 guys for many years to come. Makes me glad my kids are out of college and any fraternity, sports scene (except for the rather tame rec leagues sports things these days ). Unfortunately, kids do stupid things. There is still some level of hazing that is going on in many areas. It is changing but it still probably exists more than we’d like to think.