School officials are looking into allegations that Scotland High School football coach Chip Williams and his staff have mistreated players.

The allegations are detailed in an anonymous letter sent to Scotland County Board of Education members.

The Laurinburg Exchange was also sent a copy of the unsigned letter that claimed that the Scotland coaches made disparaging remarks to players, used excessive profanity and gave a punishment to sophomore Quarterback Kershaun Quick that led to an injury before a game.

The letter also claimed that an assistant coach used sexually explicit language to tell one of the players that he should never have been born.

"It hurt this boy more than anyone will ever know to be told such a thing," the letter said. "That is not discipline, it is humiliation and not necessary."

Williams has denied any inappropriate treatment of players.

"I think we treat them very fairly," Williams said Wednesday. "We have a true concern for their overall well-being."

When asked about the negative comments alleged in the letter, Williams said those kinds of put-downs aren't used by his staff, "unless it is a joking type situation."

"No one is called out as being dumb or stupid," he said.

He confirmed that Quick was injured while "crabbing," but denied the danger in the exercise.

"(Crabbing) used to be a type of block and is sometimes used for conditioning or discipline."

The exercise involves people crawling on their hands and feet.

He said that a number of exercises have been used for discipline and "crabbing has probably been the least chance to get hurt."

He said regardless of what exercise routine athletes are made to do, there is always a chance of getting hurt. People can fall out while running, another disciplinary tool, Williams said as an example.

The coach added that Quick was the first player he'd seen injured while crabbing.

Williams said no one had mentioned the allegations to him before The Laurinburg Exchange interviewed him on Wednesday. Coach Williams' contract was renewed through June at Monday's school board meeting.

Williams took issue with the complaint coming in an anonymous letter, noting someone may be using these allegations to punish him for something different that may have angered the parent, like a child being benched during a game.

The letter did praise Mark Barnes, the former Scotland High football coach who left in 2008. Under Barnes, the players were "taught to be men and be responsible and that they had it in them to be successful if they worked hard and did right," according to the letter.

School board member Calvin Newton scoffed at the anonymous complaint.

"I don't like anonymous letters," Newton said.

He said it makes it difficult to verify the information contained within the letter, even when they are legitimate complaints.

Still, several school board members said the allegations need to be addressed.

"Every allegation that we hear to this magnitude is certainly a concern for school members and for parents," School board member Terence Williams said. "I do not think any parent would want their children to be subject to what was contained in the letter."

Board Vice Chairman Mary Evans agreed, saying "We certainly want to protect our children. That is one of our missions and goals."

She said the school system was looking into the situation at the board's request. Williams, Evans and Newton were quick to add that any decision on the matter would be left to school administrators.

"Our job is to hire the superintendent and that's the only hire we make," Newton said.

Administrators were mum on any possible investigation.

"I can't discuss personnel matters," Athletic Director Tommy Britt said.

Britt said he had not received a copy of the letter.

Superintendent Rick Stout was at a conference and could not be reached. Several calls to his cellphone were not returned by press time.

Board member Jeff Byrd declined to comment on the letter as it pertained to a personnel issue.

Board Chairman Jimmy Bennett said he had not received a copy of the letter and was unable to talk about the issue because he was driving when reached by the reporter.

Bennett promised to call the newspaper back, but could not be reached before press time for a longer interview.

Calls to school board members Paul Rush and Charles Brown were not returned by press time.

School board member Duke Williams was out of town for police training and could not be reached.