Seriously, Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern? WTF?

I mean is there anything left to be shocked about?

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Be shocked if he survives the week

I will never understand hazing and why anyone would subject themselves to it.

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“ The Daily Northwestern published an explosive report that included a detailed account of hazing incidents within the Wildcat program from a former player who wished to remain anonymous. His statements were corroborated by another player, again anonymously.

If true, they could mean the end of Fitzgerald's 18-year tenure at Northwestern, as difficult as that is to believe.

The allegations were disturbing and sexual in nature, including a forced center-quarterback exchange while naked.

The smoking gun, however, was the practice of “running” a player, when “a group of 8-10 upperclassmen dressed in various ‘Purge-like’ masks” would surround and “dry hump” a player in the locker room who made a mistake during practice or in a game.

What makes this running allegation particularly incendiary was that the player alleges that Fitzgerald not only knew of the practice but would sometimes identify players who needed to be “ran” ”

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My guess is the whole NU major donor community is as shocked and disappointed as the athletic donors.  

Fitzgerald’s defense is he wasn’t aware of the hazing or specifics.  He’s been HC for 17-18 years and an NU assistant for 4 more.  “I didn’t know” might fly for an HC with less than 2-3 years at a school but this appears like people went out of their to give hime deniability.

If Fitzgerald survives, it’s probably short term survival thru the ‘23 season.  If he’s shown the door, an interim will be there  and the school will begin its search for a new coach early, find finalists and name a successor days after this season’s conclusion.

Ugh.

I always kinda liked Fitzgerald. I suspect there's no way he survives this.

If so, wow.. what a time to have to look for a new coach. I suspect an interim would be announced (as long as there is a potential interim who can be absolved of any association with this).

My daughters boyfriend is a Northwestern under grad. He’s very pissed. I really think most NU grads are about college and doing it right. Not about shit like this. If Vegas was giving odds I’d say 80% chance he’s gone.

NigelUno wrote:1-11 last year.
3-9 in 2021.

She, I get that. However, I guess when you look around in the Big Ten and other conferences, maybe I was naïve, but I always thought he did things the collegiate way. Education, career, goals, work hard on the football field, and perhaps win, but perhaps they don’t. But nonetheless a clean program and a good person. It just bothers me that that type of mentality even exists at Northwestern. And I guess that’s on me for being so naïve.

First, I’ll wait for the school’s report after its “deeper” investigation. If it turns out to be true, Fitz is done unless he really didn’t know of the practice—which will be hard to prove and more difficult to believe. It’s possible this type of hazing goes all the way back to his playing days.
But again, through the years, we’ve seen charges levied against a few of our own coaches which turned out to be false or overstated, so I’ll wait.

Hazing is fucking weird. Doing weird, non-consensual sexual shit to new guys is some straight up psycho shit, and the fact that it is kinda common is extremely disturbing.

Cameron wrote:Hazing is fucking weird. Doing weird, non-consensual sexual shit to new guys is some straight up psycho shit, and the fact that it is kinda common is extremely disturbing.

not that it was ever 'right' or acceptable in any way, the fact that this sort of thing happened, if true, in 2023 is even more f'd up.

I suspect my fellow old-timers here will agree that we all said and did stuff in, say, the 70's and 80's that we are pretty embarrassed by now. Chalk it up to a bunch of things, but in the modern day and age, it's absolutely unacceptable.

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Okay, so now tell me why any player who took part in this shouldn’t be booted from the team and charged with a sex crime? That’s the logical next step. They weren’t victims—they were the ones accused of this “tradition.”

The Athletic reported the same about 15 minutes after Rittenburgs report.

Too bad for a guy who was Northwestern royalty for more than decade however he should have known or known better to be more diligent.

Given the $260M football building Northwestern has recently completed the new coach will have better facilities than any of his predecessors.

Sounds like Pat Fitzgerald got run. Karma is really a bitch.

Any of you guys that played varsity sport through high school or college, please tell me how the following makes any kind of sense. But Northwestern wants us to believe is that somehow Pat Fitzgerald knew what was going on, but all of the assistants had no idea. Anyone reading this that played a sport, tell me who is more likely to know what is going on in the locker room. If Fitzgerald knew he needs to be gone. I have no issue with that but to retain all these assistants? Call me paranoid but I think something weird is going on.

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DWags wrote:Any of you guys that played varsity sport through high school or college, please tell me how the following makes any kind of sense. But Northwestern wants us to believe is that somehow Pat Fitzgerald knew what was going on, but all of the assistants had no idea. Anyone reading this that played a sport, tell me who is more likely to know what is going on in the locker room. If Fitzgerald knew he needs to be gone. I have no issue with that but to retain all these assistants? Call me paranoid but I think something weird is going on.

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My guess is the assistants knew. but damn this whole thing puts Northwestern football in a terrible spot. Gutting the staff on July 11th and trying to hire a new one is a tall task. Now there is talk that their board wants to re-evaluate building the new stadium.

NU football is fucked.

Ex-Northwestern football players retain high-profile civil rights attorney after revealing hazing allegations

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ex-northwestern-football-players-retain-high-profile-civil-rights-attorney-after-revealing-hazing-allegations/

More bad news from Evanston.

The current Associate HC reportedly witnessed some of the hazing that got Fitzgerald fired.  

Many more reports like this might push NU to seriously consider a self-imposed ‘23 season cancellation or play this season with an all interim staff.  

Right now recruiting must taking a hit every time another current coach’s “I didn’t know” explanation gets blow out of the water.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2023/07/20/northwestern-associate-head-coach-football-matt-macpherson-witnessed-hazing/70441175007/

I would not be opposed to be poaching mfrs on any players worth a damn. At least grab their kickers... bad kickers are a horrible was to ruin a season.

NigelUno wrote:Maybe we can add a few of their players when they enter the portal.

REPORT: Michigan State football to host Northwestern transfer 4-star LB Nigel Glover

https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/2023/07/25/report-michigan-state-football-to-host-northwestern-transfer-4-star-lb-nigel-glover/

Turtleneck wrote:

NigelUno wrote:Maybe we can add a few of their players when they enter the portal.

REPORT: Michigan State football to host Northwestern transfer 4-star LB Nigel Glover

https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/2023/07/25/report-michigan-state-football-to-host-northwestern-transfer-4-star-lb-nigel-glover/

Last I heard (this afternoon) he cancelled plans for a visit. I hope he’s changed his mind.

Remember when pat Fitzgerald got fired? Oh the good old days when big ten scandals were player hazing instead of jacking off on FaceTime and whatever this (waves hands in the direction of Ann Arbor) is

I didn’t know that Fitzgerald was suing for $130 million.

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So watching this NW game got me remembering.

There must be some pretty bad not public shit on Fitzgerald for him not to have a coaching job outside of a volunteer assistant at his kids high school team.

kingstonlake wrote:So watching this NW game got me remembering.

There must be some pretty bad not public shit on Fitzgerald for him not to have a coaching job outside of a volunteer assistant at his kids high school team.

I wouldn’t read too much into that.  I remember when Bobby williams just said screw it I’m gonna forgo college and the nfl just to coach my kid.  Got his time in at the NFL level to get a pension and Saban said hold on for a year or so and I’ll hire you again.  Your child is bigger than coaching, college or the NFL, If you are financially secure.  I’m guessing Fitzgerald is financially secure

DWags wrote:

kingstonlake wrote:So watching this NW game got me remembering.

There must be some pretty bad not public shit on Fitzgerald for him not to have a coaching job outside of a volunteer assistant at his kids high school team.

I wouldn’t read too much into that.  I remember when Bobby williams just said screw it I’m gonna forgo college and the nfl just to coach my kid.  Got his time in at the NFL level to get a pension and Saban said hold on for a year or so and I’ll hire you again.  Your child is bigger than coaching, college or the NFL, If you are financially secure.  I’m guessing Fitzgerald is financially secure

You might be right. I’ve just never seen him mentioned in job openings. Even retired comfy guys are constantly mentioned whether they’re interested or not. I’m assuming if he wasn’t fired he’d still be coaching and wouldn’t have retired abruptly to spend more time with the fam.

kingstonlake wrote:So watching this NW game got me remembering.

There must be some pretty bad not public shit on Fitzgerald for him not to have a coaching job outside of a volunteer assistant at his kids high school team.

Does taking a paid gig threaten in any way the money he’s seeking from Northwestern? You can say you don’t know or you can make up an answer.

tGreenWay wrote:

kingstonlake wrote:So watching this NW game got me remembering.

There must be some pretty bad not public shit on Fitzgerald for him not to have a coaching job outside of a volunteer assistant at his kids high school team.

Does taking a paid gig threaten in any way the money he’s seeking from Northwestern? You can say you don’t know or you can make up an answer.

I don’t know. I would think a person could still work and collect on wrongful termination.