School system officials consider it hazing, but the father of one of the suspended students said it was horseplay and a football team ritual that got out of hand.

A suspension letters said the incident happened earlier this week at the field house. The freshman was held down by four football players and stripped while another student took pictures with a cell phone.

The humiliated freshman later went home, got a clip of ammunition and went back to school with it. There was no gun involved and no one was hurt but he has been suspended, too.

Claiborne Schools Superintendent Wayne King declined comment on the incident, saying privacy guidelines prohibit him from discussing what happened. The freshmen's parents also declined comment.

Three of the suspended players were starters on Homer's football team. They are out of Friday night's game with rival Springhill.