Bucknell sued in death of freshman lineman Calvin Dickey Jr. - ESPN

The parents of a Bucknell football player who died after a workout in July are suing the school and members of its administration and coaching staff, saying the university knew about their son's sickle cell trait diagnosis but didn't have protocols in place to protect him.

Calvin «CJ» Dickey Jr., an 18-year-old freshman, died July 12, two days after collapsing at his first workout with the Bisons. According to the family's attorney, Mike Caspino, Dickey's autopsy determined he died from complications of sickle cell-related rhabdomyolysis, a medical condition that experts told ESPN is easily prevented, and even reversed, by stopping exercise.

The lawsuit states that Dickey's death was «completely avoidable» and was in part caused by «aggravated hazing.»

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

In a statement to ESPN, Bucknell said it is aware of the lawsuit. «The death of a student is always a tragic loss,» Bucknell said in the statement. «While the University will not comment on pending litigation, we again extend heartfelt sympathies to CJ's family, and we will continue to focus on our most important priority — the health and safety of all Bucknell students.»

The NCAA mandates sickle-cell trait testing for all athletes, as individuals with the trait are at a higher risk of rhabdo if they begin to feel fatigued and do not stop exercising. In an online fact sheet for coaches, the NCAA says, «Incidents of sudden death in athletes with sickle cell trait have been exclusive to conditioning sessions rather than game or skill practice