Lawsuit: Dozens of football players abused

An attorney preparing a lawsuit against Ohio State on behalf of more than 50 former athletes who claim they were sexually abused by a team physician told The Associated Press on Saturday that most of those clients were football players from the school’s storied program, including some who went on to play in the NFL.

The proposed lawsuit suggests there were far more victims of Dr. Richard Strauss than investigators detailed in a 232-page report made public Friday by a law firm hired by the university. The report found that Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students but made only one specific reference to football players while listing how many athletes from each team were abused.

Dayton attorney Michael Wright said Strauss’ abuse of football players and other athletes he’s representing occurred during required physical examinations at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and during treatment for injuries and ailments at Strauss’ off-campus clinic and at his home, where he insisted they be seen.

The report from the Seattlebased Perkins Coie law firm said three football players were interviewed. Wright said he was not aware that any of his clients were interviewed by investigators.

The report concluded that scores of Ohio State personnel knew of complaints and concerns about Strauss’ conduct as early as 1979 but failed for years to investigate or take meaningful action.

Strauss, a physician at Ohio State for nearly 20 years, killed himself in 2005 nearly a decade after he was allowed to retire with honors.

Wright said he plans to file the lawsuit late next week and, for now, that his clients prefer to remain anonymous.

“They believe the university will either retaliate or significantly distance themselves from these athletes,” Wright said.