|
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the players said Fremin kept them silent since she was hired in August by creating informal rules against complaining to parents, doctors and administrators about injuries. Players said Fremin enforced these rules by creating an atmosphere of fear and punishment.
"I have recently been made aware of the alleged violations, and we're investigating," said GW Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz.
Fremin said Tuesday night she has hired an attorney and has been advised not to comment on any of the charges. But earlier in the day, she denied the allegations.
"I can tell you straight up that my side is right," she said. "All my opinions on what really happened is right."
When asked whether her job was in jeopardy, Fremin said, "No, no. I haven't done anything wrong." She added that only one player and one parent are driving the player revolt.
But another player's parent, speaking anonymously, said she would "not allow (her) daughter to play for that woman," and some parents are considering bringing legal action against the University. Assistant Coach Trena Peel said "it is definitely more than one player and one parent."
Because the team does not have enough healthy players to take the field, its doubleheader against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Tuesday was canceled. The team's next games, which are scheduled for March 9 and March 11, will also be canceled. Practices have been suspended indefinitely and players said the University has instructed Fremin not to try to contact them until the investigation is over.
In each of the six months after Fremin took over last summer, a different player quit the team. But current players said their unhappiness with Fremin grew gradually.
"It happened slowly," one of the team's leading players said. "I think I was the last one to reject everything, and I think that's what it took. In order to have something happen, it took all of us finally being like, 'No, this isn't right,' and that's just what happened this past weekend."
