Charlie Strong, Louisville sued by former player Patrick Grant: Beating cover-up alleged

Louisville Cardinals head coach Charlie Strong has been named in a lawsuit filed by a former Louisville football player stating that he was forced to cover up an attack by two of his teammates, according to WDRB in Louisville. The suit was filed by former defensive lineman Patrick Grant against both Strong and the University, alleging that they failed to live up to an agreement stemming from an incident that took place on Oct. 24, 2010 at 8:30 p.m.

Grant says that he was sitting in the locker room at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium when he was attacked by Jacob Geffrad and Isaac Geffrad, both his teammates at the time. Grant claims that the beating was so bad that he, "required immediate, urgent care and nearly lost his left eye, the bones around it being fractured."

Grant claims that despite this, he was told to cover up the circumstances of his injury:

"On the way to the hospital, the team's trainer told Patrick to lie and cover up the fact that his injuries were at the hands of his teammates," the lawsuit indicates. "Out of fear and desire to play, Patrick lied as instructed, telling the doctor that he was horsing around in the locker room and hit his eye on a locker door."

Both the Geffrads were eventually charged with assault and kicked off the team. Grant however tried to come back but had problems with his eye. The suit states that the doctors told him to give up the sport unless he was sure of an NFL career.

Grant claims that his 2011-12 athletic scholarship was to be honored, but that Strong cancelled it on Jan. 4, 2012, which the lawsuit alleges was a violation of NCAA bylines. Right now there is no response from the University of Louisville on this lawsuit.