The University of San Diego, which has a first-year head coach and opens its season Saturday, is facing a hazing incident that promises discipline for 50-percent of the USD roster, the school's president says in a letter.
According to numerous media reports, San Diego President James T. Harris reveals in a letter that the school is making these disciplinary decisions following an in-house investigation into allegations of hazing. Harris also shares that the school is working with San Diego authorities and also a third-party to investigate the claims.
“I write to you today to share the deeply disturbing news that members of the USD football program have been accused of violating the university’s no-hazing policy,” the letter, with attribution to Harris, states. “I wish to commend the courageous young men who truthfully recounted what had transpired.
"They represent the high character and integrity we hope to see in our students.”
The Toreros are entering their first season under Brandon Moore, a former NFL player who takes over the program after leading Colorado Mines to an NCAA Division II national runner-up finish in 2022.
Harris also praises Moore's response in the letter, with Harris noting that Moore's first conversations with Harris regarding the allegations of hazing date to Aug. 18. He says there are no indications of injuries in the hazing, per findings in the hazing investigation.
San Diego opens its season Saturday at Cal-Poly; it plays its home opener a week later.
While the letter states that 50% of the team is subject to varying penalties, including indefinite game suspensions, it does not state how many players San Diego will have available for that first game or how many games or players will be suspended this week -- or beyond.
It is the second significant investigation centering on allegations of hazing this summer in college football, with Northwestern choosing to fire long-time head coach Pat Fitzgerald July 10 after its probe into allegations of years of hazing. The school is now facing myriad lawsuits from both former football players and additional student-athletes from other Northwestern teams.
Though USD competes at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, the school is one of several programs throughout the country that does not supply athletics scholarships.