Joe Theismann hopes Sayreville can move forward

Former Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Theismann led South River High School to a sectional title and undefeated season in the 1960s and has been following the disturbing headlines coming out of nearby Sayreville, where the football program has been shuttered amid a sexual assault scandal.

“When I was growing up in that area in Central Jersey, football was everything,” Theismann told USA TODAY High School Sports on Monday. “If the allegations are true, the tragedy is that a great training ground for young men will be removed from Sayreville High School.”

Seven of Sayreville’s football players, aged 15 to 17, were arrested and charged over the weekend in connection with the hazing and aggravated sexual assaults of four teammates and have been suspended from school. Their names have not been released and Gannett New Jersey is not reporting the names because they are minors and have not been charged as adults.

Sayreville Schools Superintendent Richard Labbe said Sunday that Middlesex County prosectuor Andrew Carey indicated improper locker room activity “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 already shut down the program at all three levels for the rest of the season and it is no guarantee that it will be back next fall.

“It is unfortunate that this situation has occurred and has precipitated the decisions that are made,” Theismann told USA TODAY High School Sports. “Hopefully this community will come out stronger with a renewed commitment to values for the young men and women in athletics.”

Staff writer Ryan Dunleavy and Sarah Gearhart of USA TODAY High School Sports contributed to this report