The parents of a Bucknell freshman football player who died following a workout last summer have filed a lawsuit against the school and members of the administration and coaching staff.
The suit claims the university knew about their 18-year-old son’s sickle cell diagnosis but did not have protocols in place to protect him, calling his death “completely avoidable.”
Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. died on July 12, two days after collapsing in his first workout with the school in Lewisburg, Pa. He was 18 years old.
“We do this for CJ, for every young man on that team, and anyone who comes after him, and anyone at any university,” Dickey’s mother, Nicole, said Wednesday. “This is a longer, harder path, and I am ready for it. My boy is worth it.”
An autopsy determined Dickey died from a sickle cell-related condition called rhabdomyolysis, family attorney Mike Caspino told ESPN.
The lawsuit claims there were no trainers present when Dickey and other freshmen were performing up-downs “as punishment” after they “messed up” during the workout.
“Students who were present at the workout have reported that CJ was clearly in distress during the 100 up-downs,” the lawsuit states. “He was falling behind the rest of the group and could not keep up.”
The Cleveland Clinic’s webpage says anyone with rhabdomyolysis who is attempting to exercise can reduce the risks by: “Starting an exercise program slowly, and listening to your body. If you feel especially sore or tired during a workout, stop and rest. Don’t push yourself beyond safe limits. … Take breaks in the shade if you’re doing physical activity in the heat.”
Bucknell released a statement to ESPN saying the school is aware of the lawsuit.
“The death of a student is always a tragic loss,” Bucknell said in the statement. “While the University will not comment on pending litigation, we again extend heartfelt sympathies to CJ’s family, and we will continue to focus on our most important priority — the health and safety of all Bucknell students.”
The family is accusing the school of negligence and wrongful death and seeking unspecified compensation.
“We don’t want another athlete, another family, brother, cousin to go through this type of agony and pain and death, especially when it’s not necessary or completely avoidable,” Dickey’s father, Calvin Sr., said Wednesday.