Suspended coach gets community support

Associated Press

DOYLESTOWN, Pa.

A high school football coach suspended amid hazing allegations received overwhelming support Tuesday night during a raucous school board meeting in which parents accused the district of rushing to judgment in canceling the remainder of the team’s season, a move the district said was a tough but necessary action.

In a meeting that occurred five days after Central Bucks High School West saw the final two games of its football season canceled and all of its coaches suspended, district officials praised the team’s head coach, Brian Hensel, but stood by their decision as an investigation into the alleged hazing continues.

Superintendent David Weitzel said last week that players had engaged in pre-season hazing that included a requirement that rookies grab another player’s genitals. He said another initiation rite involved placing towels over players’ heads, leading them into the shower and throwing powder on rookies after they were wet down. Weitzel said both occurred while players were fully clothed.