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Sayreville superintendent considers canceling football program

It is a town centered around the high school football team, but residents of Sayreville, N.J., may be waiting a long, long time before they see their boys play another down. After canceling the remainder of this season in light of allegations of hazing and sexual assault taking place in the football locker room, the district superintendent said Sunday that he's now considering canceling the entire program.

Superintendent Richard Labbe explained that the Middlesex County (N.J.) Prosecutor’s Office is indicating that harassment, bullying and intimidation in the locker room were nothing new this year. The information shows it “was pervasive, meaning it was beyond this year. Is he going to be able to substantiate it? That’s the information he is gathering," Labbe said, according to USA Today.

“The question of whether we are going to have a football program going forward is a critical one I am now going to be addressing,” Labbe said. The investigation is still being handled by the prosecutor's office, but Labbe hopes to start an internal investigation soon.

“I’m hoping to get clearance at some point this week so that we can start interviewing the coaches," he said. "I’m going to make this decision based upon sound rationale, which includes very concrete data and information.”

Seven players between the ages of 15 and 17 were arrested over the weekend on charges including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint, and hazing. The allegations were first brought forward on Oct. 2.