See more of the story

What some Elk River High School football players allegedly did in the school's wrestling room wasn't just kids being kids. To sum it up starkly, some upperclassmen staged mock anal rapes. According to school officials, they tackled younger players, held them down, and prodded their buttocks with broom handles -- a sick ritual conducted multiple times, with some of this year's abusers having been previous years' victims.

Anyone complaining that the incident has been blown out of proportion needs to answer this question: When is it ever acceptable to abuse and humiliate someone in this fashion? The answer: Never. Even when measured against other hazing incidents, what happened in Elk River crossed a disturbing line. It was, as Elk River Schools Superintendent Mark Bezek put it, a "very deviant act."

The tough discipline meted out to players is justified, not only to end the cycle of abuse at the school but to send a warning to student-athletes across the state. Four Elk River varsity players will sit out the season. Three players are benched for four games, and two players had to sit out one game last week. Nearly 10 percent of the varsity-junior varsity players won't have suited up at some point this fall, something that will make wins harder to come by. The school board surely realized this but did the right thing anyway.

Holding these players accountable will help them resist peer pressure in the future. But some irresponsible parents are undercutting that life lesson. Far too many moms and dads are bowing to peer pressure and choosing not to help school officials and the police put together the full story of what happened.

Bezek said that only 10 to 15 players' parents have allowed their sons to speak with the school's attorneys, who were called in to investigate. Elk River Police Chief Jeff Beahen said parents are putting up "walls and barriers" and are not allowing their sons to talk with the police. One parent contacted Beahen via e-mail, not only demanding action but stating that students had been beaten up in the shower in previous years' hazing. A day later, that parent refused to cooperate with police and wouldn't say why. Clamming up won't restore the program's reputation. It only suggests parents are covering up even more egregious behavior.

School officials will need to keep that in mind as they deal with the coaches, five of whom remain on paid administrative leave. The program has 16 coaches for 145 boys on the varsity, junior varsity, sophomore and freshman squads. That's about one coach for every nine kids. Where were all these coaches when the abuse happened? And how could they have not known about this appalling tradition?

Elk River coaches did not respond to requests for comment. Bezek and other officials need to make sure answers are forthcoming and that those who neglected their supervisory responsibilities are held accountable.

Sixteen coaches may sound excessive, but it's not an unusual number for metro programs. Ten of the positions are paid for by the district. The booster club pays for the remaining six. The Elk River community has invested considerable resources in its football program. At the very least, it deserves a program that instills character in student-athletes -- not one that diminishes it.