LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A former University of Louisville football player has sued the school and coach Charlie Strong and says he was coerced into covering up a beating in the locker room by a pair of teammates.

Former Cardinals defensive lineman Patrick Grant of Sunrise, Fla., alleges two teammates attacked him Oct. 24, 2010, in the locker room at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and, according to the lawsuit, beat him ``so badly that he required immediate, urgent care and nearly lost his left eye.''

Grant says that on the way to the hospital, the team's trainer told him to lie about the beating coming from his teammates.

Grant filed the suit Dec. 21 in Jefferson County Circuit Court in Louisville.

University of Louisville athletics spokesman Kenneth Klein declined to comment on pending litigation.