Player says he was urged to hurt rival

Several players said four of the coaches verbally abused them.
CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. (AP) -- High school football coaches encouraged players to deliberately injure a star player on a rival team, a player testified at a school board hearing into the coaches' firings.
Loris Lepri, a senior on the Abington Heights football team, made the allegation in a public hearing asked by the discharged head coach, Bill Phillips, and assistant coaches James McDonough, Collin Phillips and Erik Sadowski.
But Joseph Mariotti, a lawyer for the coaches, challenged the veracity of Lepri and several other accusers, saying they had complained about a lack of playing time before they leveled the allegations of abusive behavior.
Testimony
Several players testified about verbal abuse from four of the coaches, who were fired Oct. 8 for what school district officials described as "repeated use of profane language, unsportsmanlike conduct and overall totally improper behavior."
Another player, Jeff Reim, said Collin Phillips told him he was a disgrace for missing a block during a game Sept. 3 against Hazleton, speaking in a manner that made him feel threatened.
"He got right in my face," Reim said.
Susan Sallavanti, principal of the high school in Lackawanna County, said the administration upheld the coaches when a player complained about not getting enough playing time. But she said she became worried when the more serious accusations arose.
Sallavanti said she went to the superintendent when players said the coaches were becoming abusive.
"I was concerned for their health, safety and welfare," she said.
Once Sallavanti spoke to him, he realized how serious the problem was, Superintendent Michael Mahon said. "I became convinced that there was a need to relieve them of their duty."
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