College football player files lawsuit against ex-teammate and coaches, alleging abuse and sexual assault
By Keith Farner
Published:
A former walk-on kicker at Troy University has filed a lawsuit against the school, a former teammate and 3 coaches in a case that he alleges culminated in a sexual assault with a pool cue.
John Haynes alleges sexual harassment and bullying in a 29-page federal lawsuit, which was filed on July 25 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The lawsuit states that the Troy football coaches did nothing to stop a teammate bullying him, according to reports from AL.com and WSFA-12/News 4-WTVY.
Haynes, a walk-on kicker at Troy during the 2020 football season, names Jack Dawson, a punter and Haynes’ suitemate, as the person responsible for “verbal harassment, which included sexual statements and homophobic slurs,” as well as “molestation and violence.”
The lawsuit claims he became depressed and anxious because of the bullying, and it grew to the point of taking antidepressants.
The suit alleges Title IX violations, sexual harassment, discrimination, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
The suit also claims Haynes’ parents made attempts to meet with coaches about the issues, but it didn’t happen.
Haynes also claims he sought help from Special Teams Coordinators Brian Blackmon and Dayne Brown, and Director of Player Development Jamaal Smith, who are also named as defendants.
According to Haynes, Brown told him, “Do not tell anyone that I told you this, but the way to handle a bully is to beat their ass. You should beat Jack Dawson up so you can get the message across that you are done with him and will not take any more shit.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
