In July 2024, a freshman football player at Bucknell University began his first day of preseason conditioning in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr., a 19‑year‑old recruit, was instructed by strength and conditioning coach Mark Kulbis to complete a series of 100 "up‑downs" and full‑body plank drills as part of a punitive routine for missed technique work.
A Tragic Collapse on the Practice Field
Within minutes, Dickey began to show signs of distress, stumbling and eventually collapsing on the field. He was rushed to a local hospital where he remained for two days before succumbing to his injuries. An autopsy later revealed that his death resulted from a combination of extreme exertion, his underlying sickle‑cell trait, elevated body weight, and resulting exertional rhabdomyolysis.
The investigation, led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, concluded that the circumstances amounted to intentional hazing. Sunday emphasized that Coach Kulbis had been made aware of Dickey’s medical condition and had received training on how to accommodate athletes with sickle‑cell trait, yet chose to subject him to an unsafe workout regimen.
Consequently, Kulbis was charged with felony aggravated hazing and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing. His bail was set at $10,000, and he now faces a criminal trial that could set a precedent for how colleges monitor strength‑training practices.
Dickey’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Bucknell University, Kulbis, and several school officials, arguing that the tragedy was entirely preventable. Their attorney, Michael Caspino, noted that NCAA guidelines require new athletes with sickle‑cell trait to undergo modified conditioning on their first day of practice, a protocol that was disregarded.
The case has reignited discussions about athlete safety in collegiate sports. The NCAA mandates sickle‑cell trait testing for all incoming athletes and advises coaches to adjust workouts for those at risk. Critics argue that despite these policies, cultural pressures to enforce grueling drills persist, leaving vulnerable players exposed to life‑threatening conditions.