The parents of Calvin "C.J." Dickey Jr. have filed a lawsuit against Bucknell University following their 18-year-old son's tragic death after a football workout last July. The freshman collapsed during his first practice with the Bisons and died two days later on July 12.

According to the family's attorney, Mike Caspino, Dickey's autopsy revealed he died from complications of sickle cell-related rhabdomyolysis, a serious medical condition that experts say is entirely preventable by simply stopping exercise when symptoms appear.

"We do this for CJ, for every young man on that team, and anyone who comes after him, and anyone at any university," Dickey's mother, Nicole, stated. "This is a longer, harder path, and I am ready for it. My boy is worth it."

The lawsuit claims the university not only knew about Dickey’s sickle cell condition but failed to implement proper protocols to protect him. Dickey's parents had uploaded their son's medical records, and a trainer even called his mother specifically to discuss the sickle cell diagnosis before he arrived on campus.

The NCAA mandates sickle-cell trait testing for all athletes precisely because individuals with this condition face higher risks during intense physical activity. Despite these known risks, the lawsuit alleges critical safety measures were absent during that fateful workout.

The lawsuit also characterizes Dickey's death as partially caused by "aggravated hazing." According to the filing, Dickey told his parents he and other freshmen were performing 100 "up-downs" as punishment after they "messed up" during the workout. Witnesses reportedly stated that Dickey was "clearly in distress," falling behind the group and struggling to keep pace.

The lawsuit further claims no athletic trainer was present during the workout when he collapsed, and the facility lacked an emergency action plan. After being hospitalized and placed on dialysis, Dickey passed away when his heart stopped beating despite emergency surgery and resuscitation attempts.

Calvin Dickey Sr., his father, explained their motivation: "We don't want another athlete, another family, brother, cousin to go through this type of agony and pain and death, especially when it's not necessary or completely avoidable."

This case unfortunately joins a disturbing pattern of preventable tragedies in collegiate athletics.