Hoosac Valley Football Team to Resume Activities

CHESHIRE, Mass. – The Cooperative Hoosac Valley football program will resume football related activities on Monday, Sept. 28, after being on “pause” for the past nine days.

 

The program was paused due to allegations of potential hazing that had occurred. The alleged incident is still under investigation.

 

 

“Student-athlete safety is our highest priority and following the information provided to us, the schools believed it was in the best interest of our students to get back out onto the fields,” Athletic Director Jeff Puleri said in a news release on Sunday afternoon.  “The investigation will continue as we take these allegations very seriously.”

 

Hoosac Valley is a cooperative football program with students joining from nearby Drury and Mount Greylock High Schools. The administrators from all three schools are in agreement of moving forward.

 

As part of the return-to-play process, Hoosac Valley will implement educational and restorative components to support students and staff. These will include additional training and educational resources, guest speakers, and other activities focused on rebuilding a positive team culture and reinforcing expectations. Administrators also will maintain an increased presence throughout the return-to-play process to provide support and monitor progress. The three school districts fully support the educational and restorative components and the efforts to resume the football season with the safety of all students at the forefront.

 

“The foundation of the return to play program will be the educational component along with maintaining the safety and well being of our students,” Puleri said.

 

During the pause, Hoosac Valley had postponed two football games against Taconic and Monument Mountain.

 

“We intend to do what we can to try and reschedule a game as Hoosac Valley has a week 6 bye,” Puleri said.  “It’s important to note that this would involve collaboration with other schools and shifting of their own schedules, which could be extremely difficult.”

 

The Hurricane football team will return to the playing field this week when it plays South Hadley.  That game was originally scheduled for Thursday night but has been pushed back to Saturday at 7 p.m. at South Hadley.