Residents React To Canceled Cheltenham High Football Season

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — For the first time in 125 years, Cheltenham High School will not field a varsity football team.

Since the inception of the football program in 1901, the school district has fielded a varsity football team every year.

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But not this year.

Due to an ongoing investigation of a hazing incident that ended the football season early last year,the schools superintendent made the decision on Tuesday to scrap the upcoming season for the varsity and junior varsity teams.

There will be a ninth-grade team only in 2026.

Schools Superintendent Brian W. Scriven informed the school community on Tuesday of the decision, coming in the wake of last year when the program was suspended and then ended due to hazing issues.

That decision does not sit well with parents, residents, and high school football fans.

"To cancel the season for the players that weren’t involved, the cheer team, the band, the color guard etc, is not ok," one resident posted on Facebook. "How bout we have a community meeting about this Dr Scriven? Eight months is long enough for an investigation."

Others reacted to the decision.

"I think we paid the price last year," another person posted. "Should play this year but under strict supervision.And no post season appearences."

"I have read a lot of comments about punishment. This is not punishment," another resident posted. "It’s protection from liability for the school district. If it were just about punishment, they would have found the bad actors and punished them."

Scriven said that following the suspension of last year’s season, several critical tasks were identified as needing to take place before the program could be resumed. And they haven't been yet.

Until those investigations are concluded and their findings are known, it is not possible to define, develop, or execute the necessary corrective actions, Scriven said in a statement.

"Very unfortunate but the best course of action at the moment," another person posted. "Hazing can cause serious injury and in some cases death. Not to be taken lightly."