Cheltenham High football team's 'toxic' culture blamed for hazing incident, leaving 2026 season in doubt

[Musical Yeti Rescue]

Cheltenham High Football Team's Toxic Culture Put 2026 Season in Doubt

Months after suspending its varsity football team, Cheltenham High School is facing another setback in its efforts to reform the program. An investigation by an external investigator hired by the school district has found that the team had a "toxic and negative culture" that may jeopardize hopes for a 2026 season.

The probe, which was sparked by reports of hazing allegations, concluded that a student-on-student assault took place in a Cheltenham High locker room on September 3. While details about the incident were not disclosed, it is known that 19 students witnessed the event and none of them intervened to stop it.

The investigation also found that several students participated freely in the assault and some even filmed it. The school's superintendent, Brian W. Scriven, described the findings as "disturbing" and emphasized the need for significant reforms.

The coaching staff was criticized for failing to supervise the locker room or prioritize student safety, as well as their failure to address anti-bullying and hazing with students. Despite finding evidence of a reported assault, the investigation did not substantiate a pattern of hazing.

Scriven outlined several recommendations to overhaul the football program, including replacing the coaching staff, establishing new protocols for incident reporting, and creating training materials on student conduct. He emphasized that this year's season will depend on the high school's progress in reforming the program over the coming months.

The investigation also raises concerns about the eligibility of some players who were involved in last year's team. Ongoing Title IX and disciplinary investigations could impact the future participation of students who were not directly involved in the September incident.

Scriven acknowledged that those students are crucial to rebuilding the culture of the program, but it remains to be seen whether the necessary changes can be made in time for a 2026 season. The district's superintendent stressed that the progress made will be critical in determining the team's future success.

 

[Undead Sumo Invaders]

I'm so worried about the kids who were involved in that locker room incident . It's not just the football team, it's like the whole school is affected by this toxic culture . I mean, how can you trust the coaches when they didn't even supervise the locker room? That's some serious neglect .

And what about those students who were involved in last year's team? Are they going to be banned from playing because of the investigation? It feels like they're being punished for something that was already done . But at the same time, if they do get kicked off the team, it might actually be a good thing for the school .

I just hope that the school can figure out how to make some real changes and create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected . The 2026 season is going to depend on it, and I'm crossing my fingers that they can pull it off .

 

[Carefu]

This whole thing is super worrying . Can you believe that some of these students were just chillin' and filming their peers get assaulted? It's not like they're getting a free pass or anything, but it does raise questions about accountability . The fact that the coaching staff wasn't doing its job properly is pretty shocking too . But what really gets me is how some of these students might still be eligible for next season . I mean, come on! How can you just ignore a culture of bullying and assault? The school's trying to do the right thing here, but it's gonna take some serious work to turn things around .

 

[Shrunken Driving 25th]

I'm really disappointed to hear about the toxic culture at Cheltenham High School football team . As someone who's seen many young people get caught up in cliques and negativity, I know how hard it can be for them to recognize when they're being hurtful or contributing to a bad situation.

It's not just the coaching staff that needs to step up - all the adults in that school need to take responsibility for creating a safe space for their students. The fact that some players were even filming the assault is just mind-boggling . It's like they thought they could get away with it or that no one would ever find out.

I'm glad the superintendent is taking this seriously and making recommendations for change, but I really hope those changes happen fast enough to give the team a chance in 2026. This kind of behavior can have long-term effects on young people's emotional health and well-being - we need to make sure they're not stuck with a toxic legacy from their school days

 

[Sim Beat Power]

this is so sad what happened at Cheltenham High School it's heartbreaking to think that some students were left feeling unsafe and powerless in a locker room situation . the fact that 19 students witnessed the assault and no one intervened is just...wow i'm all for giving those involved second chances but safety has to be the priority here

coaches need to take responsibility for creating an environment where students feel comfortable reporting incidents without fear of retribution and it's not just about replacing staff but also addressing the root issues that led to this toxic culture i'm keeping my fingers crossed that the school can get its act together and make progress on reforming the program

 

[Excited E]

The whole thing is super concerning . Like, I get it, football teams can be tough environments, but hazing and assault are completely unacceptable . It's wild that 19 kids witnessed this stuff and nobody stepped in to stop it . And the coaching staff is getting roasted for not prioritizing student safety .

It's also kinda messed up that some of these players might be cleared to play again before actual changes are made . I mean, I guess you gotta give them a chance, but it feels like the school is just papering over the issues instead of actually fixing them .

I'm curious to see how this all shakes out and whether the new coaching staff and protocols can turn things around . Maybe 2026 will be the season where Cheltenham High puts its football team's culture on the right track

 

[Spectr]

this is so sad what happened at Cheltenham High School its not just about football, its about creating a safe and respectful environment for all students i hope they get to reform the program and make it better for everyone involved the fact that 19 students witnessed the assault and none of them intervened is just heartbreaking the coaching staff needs to take responsibility for their actions and prioritize student safety i'm keeping my fingers crossed that they can make some real changes in time for the 2026 season

 

[Grumpy]

I'm low-key shocked by this investigation results . It's like they knew something was up behind closed doors and just let it fester. I mean, a student-on-student assault? That's wild . And to think some of those students even filmed it... that's just messed up.

I feel for the coaching staff, but at the same time, I don't think they're off the hook entirely . They should've taken this situation way more seriously from the start and prioritized student safety. But hey, it takes courage to admit when you messed up, so props to Scriven for being transparent.

The fact that some players might be ineligible due to their involvement in last year's team drama is just a whole other level of complication . It's gonna be tough to rebuild trust and create a positive culture around the program. Fingers crossed they can get it together and make the necessary changes, but it's not looking good for that 2026 season

 

[Cha]

Ugh this toxic culture on the Cheltenham High football team is just heartbreaking . Can't believe some students would participate in or film an assault like that . The coaching staff's lack of supervision and failure to address these issues is appalling . It's not just about hazing, it's about creating a safe environment for everyone . Replacing the coaching staff and establishing new protocols are good starts , but it's gonna take more than that to rebuild trust and create a positive culture . Hope they can get their act together in time for next season

 

[Twiste]

[Image of a football player looking dejected with a thought bubble of a locker room brawl]

[Fade-in background noise of a locker room, followed by a single punch sound effect]

[Image of a coach standing in front of a whiteboard with "TOXIC CULTURE" written in bold letters, as they look on in horror]

[GIF of a referee holding up a red card to a football player who's clearly got his game face on... or not]

 

[Naught]

I'm so down with the new reforms they're trying to implement at Cheltenham High . Like, let's get real, hazing and toxic cultures can't just be swept under the rug... it's time for some serious changes . I feel bad for those students who were affected by what went down, and I hope they get the support they need . The coaching staff needs to step up their game too - it's not just about winning games, but about keeping those kids safe . I'm all for giving them a second chance, but if the culture doesn't change, then maybe it's time to start over from scratch . Fingers crossed that they can get it right this time and create a positive, inclusive team environment .

 

[In Search o]

OMG, this is so sad ! I mean, I know everyone makes mistakes, but it sounds like there was some super serious stuff going down in those locker rooms . And the fact that no one intervened when they saw the assault happening? That's just not cool . It's crazy to me that it took an investigation for people to realize what was going on.

I feel bad for the kids who were involved, but also I'm like, how did this happen in a school? shouldn't there be some kind of system in place to prevent this stuff from happening? It's just so frustrating . And now it sounds like the whole season is on hold because of it? That's just not right .

I do think it's good that the superintendent is taking steps to reform the program, though . Like, replacing the coaching staff and creating new protocols for reporting incidents is a good start . And I hope those kids who were involved last year get some support and help moving forward . It's not going to be easy, but I think they can do it .

 

[Lone]

omg what is going on with these schools lol? like seriously though its super sad to hear about the toxic culture in the football team at Cheltenham High... 19 students just witnessed a student-on-student assault and nobody did anything about it?! that's so messed up. and now the coaching staff is getting criticized for not doing their job right? like shouldn't they be, you know, supervising the locker room or something? but seriously though, i hope these kids get the help they need to change this toxic culture... its gotta be a lot harder than just saying sorry and promising to do better .

 

[Vast Vole]

this is super concerning... i mean, who creates a culture where players feel like they gotta participate in or film a student being assaulted? it's not just about the coaches not doing their job, it's about the whole system failing these kids. and now you're telling me that some of these players are still eligible to play in 2026 if they've got good grades? what does that even say about our priorities as a society? shouldn't we be focusing on making sure these kids are safe first?

 

[Deep]

I'm really concerned about what happened at Cheltenham High School... it's unacceptable that some students were involved in a physical assault and didn't do anything to stop it, meanwhile others even filmed it which is just crazy! The coaching staff's lack of supervision and oversight is also super worrying. I think the school needs to take these findings seriously and implement some serious changes ASAP, like retraining their coaches and making sure students know that hazing and bullying won't be tolerated. The fact that there are ongoing investigations into players' eligibility is just a big mess... can they even build trust again?

 

[Silly Stag]

This is so heartbreaking ... a whole football team having a toxic culture and then it all comes crashing down with allegations of assault... 19 students witnessed it but none intervened, what kinda 'team' is that? and to think they're trying to rebuild for next year's season, I'm not sure how they'll get there if the players involved are still under investigation . It's like, can't we do better than this?

 

[Electric Acid on]

ugh this is so messed up how do u expect the team 2 come back from this kinda culture?? it's not just about replacing the coaches, it's about changing the way these kids think about each other... newsflash: bullying/hazing r NOT okay gotta make sure these students r held accountable & that they actually care about creating a safe environment for everyone

 

[Better Baboon]

man i'm really worried about this cheltenham high school football team its like they're not even trying to fix the problem they just wanna sweep it under the rug and hope everyone forgets what happened and whats with the coaching staff they should be all over this incident not just sitting there twiddling their thumbs meanwhile kids are still hurtin from last year's assault i mean what kinda culture does that foster? one where students feel like they can do whatever they want and get away with it without any consequences? this toxic culture is not gonna go away on its own its gotta be actively worked on by the staff and admin.

 

[Arm]

Umm... what's going on with Cheltenham High School? Like, I get it, hazing and stuff is bad, but can't they just sort of... move forward? I mean, a year ago there were allegations and now the coach is out and all that jazz... 19 students saw this whole thing go down and none of them spoke up . And now they're saying players who weren't involved might not even get to play next season? That's kinda harsh, right? Like, can't we just try to make it work for the kids who were affected? I'm all for holding people accountable and fixing problems, but this whole thing feels like it's gonna drag on forever...