…Adding… The Daily Northwestern…
Northwestern has parted ways with football head coach Pat Fitzgerald, sources familiar with the situation told The Daily.
Fitzgerald had previously been suspended for two weeks without pay after the University announced Friday that an independent investigation into the team indicated hazing reports were “largely supported by evidence.”
The Daily published reports on Saturday and Monday with details of the hazing allegations and additional racism allegations from former players.
University President Michael Schill told community members in an email Saturday that he believed he may have “erred” in his decision to suspend NU football coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks hours after two former Northwestern football players detailed allegations of hazing to The Daily, including coerced sexual acts.
A source familiar with the situation told The Daily that board members had kept up with coverage of the situation today and grew increasingly frustrated.
* ESPN….
Northwestern will reconsider penalties for coach Pat Fitzgerald after new details emerged Saturday surrounding allegations of hazing in the football program.
University President Michael Schill, in a letter sent late Saturday to the Northwestern community, wrote that he “may have erred in weighing the appropriate sanction” for Fitzgerald, who began serving a two-week unpaid suspension Friday. Fitzgerald’s suspension was among the measures Northwestern announced after concluding the six-month investigation it commissioned into hazing allegations made by an anonymous whistleblower. […]
The former player, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Daily Northwestern that sexualized hazing activities took place in the team’s locker room. One common practice, called “running,” involved a younger player being restrained while eight to 10 older players engaged in a sexualized act in the locker room. Versions of “running” took place during certain portions of the year, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“It’s a shocking experience as a freshman to see your fellow freshman teammates get ran, but then you see everybody bystanding in the locker room,” the former player told The Daily Northwestern. “It’s just a really abrasive and barbaric culture that has permeated throughout that program for years on end now.”
According to the newspaper, the former player reported his claims to the school in late 2022, and he spoke to investigators during the six-month university-commissioned probe.
…Adding… Daily Northwestern…
Three former Northwestern football players told The Daily about what they called a toxic environment in the program, recalling multiple racist actions and remarks from both coaching staff and players.
All three players, who played for the team in late 2000s, also corroborated some of the hazing allegations reported by The Daily on Saturday.
Ramon Diaz Jr., a Latino offensive lineman for Northwestern from 2005 to 2008, said his experience on the football team was hostile as a non-white player. […]
Another player, who asked to remain anonymous and played through the 2009 season, said racism on the team was often blatant. He alleged head coach Pat Fitzgerald would ask Black players and coaches to cut off longer hairstyles — including dreadlocks — so that they were more in line with what Fitzgerald called the “Wildcat Way.”
* Daily Northwestern…
If a player was selected for “running,” the player who spoke to The Daily said, they would be restrained by a group of 8-10 upperclassmen dressed in various “Purge-like” masks, who would then begin “dry-humping” the victim in a dark locker room.
“It’s a shocking experience as a freshman to see your fellow freshman teammates get ran, but then you see everybody bystanding in the locker room,” the player said. “It’s just a really abrasive and barbaric culture that has permeated throughout that program for years on end now.” […]
According to the former player, team members allegedly identified players for “running” by clapping their hands above their heads around that player. The practice, the player said, was known within the team as “the Shrek clap.” […]
According to the player who spoke with The Daily, Fitzgerald repeatedly made the signal during practices when players, specifically freshmen, made a mistake. […]
Diaz, the former offensive lineman, is now a clinical therapist. He said the program’s culture had a profound mental impact on him. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after graduating from Northwestern, and said that his time on the football team was a major factor in that diagnosis.
* The Daily Northwestern today…
Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner, who played defensive tackle for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been working on what he calls a “college athlete’s bill of rights” in Illinois. He said this weekend’s hazing reports have encouraged him to include additional language protecting student athletes in the bill.
“Today, hazing and sexual assault allegations showcase another grotesque way Student Athletes have been preyed upon,” Bucker said Saturday. “As a former college athlete this culture of turning a blind eye to harms, deliberate endangerment, neglect & dereliction of duty all in the name of “Wins” & revenue is disgusting.”
The bill is modeled after similar protections for student athletes in California.
* Rep. Buckner…
* Politico…
Maggie Hickey, former inspector general of Illinois who previously reviewed Chicago Public Schools’ policies in wake of a separate sexual abuse scandal, led the investigation of the whistleblower’s allegations against the Northwestern football team. According to the Daily Northwestern’s report, Hickey’s investigation “revealed that while current and former players ‘varied on their perspective regarding the conduct, the whistleblower’s claims were ‘largely supported by evidence.’”
*** UPDATE *** Another one…
As Northwestern University deals with the fallout from allegations of hazing on its football team, the university’s athletic department has been mired in a different controversy centered on first-year head baseball coach Jim Foster, sources said.
Former players, alumni and people close to the baseball program told the Chicago Tribune that they alerted university administration — including President Michael Schill and athletic director Derrick Gragg — of problematic behavior from Foster starting last fall before the team kicked off its 2023 season. At least some of those complaints spurred a human resources investigation.
The university’s investigation found “sufficient evidence” that Foster “engaged in bullying and abusive behavior,” according to an internal HR document obtained by the Tribune. The probe went on to conclude that Foster “made an inappropriate comment regarding a female staff member, and spoke negatively about his staff to other staff members.” […]
While these allegations were not made public, signs of trouble were visible. In February, hitting coach and recruiting coordinator Dusty Napoleon, who had been with the team since 2015, left before the first game of the season. By the time the team returned from that opening road trip, pitching coach Jon Strauss and operations director Chris Beacom had also left the team. After the team’s 10-40 season concluded, 16 players entered the transfer portal, sources told the Tribune, and at least a half-dozen players individually met with Gragg or other athletic department leaders to voice their concerns over Foster.
…Adding… Listen…
* More…
* Poynter | Northwestern’s student newspaper broke a blockbuster national story: In his column for the Chicago Sun-Times, sports columnist Rick Morrissey wrote, “If everything indeed starts with the coach, then NU needs to fire Fitzgerald. If the school really does put the well-being of its students first, then it needs to find someone else to run the football program. And if the university’s trustees are paying attention to this very public mess, they might want to take a hard look at the man handing out two-week vacations that are masquerading as suspensions.” Morrissey also pointed out, “It took the university’s student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, to bring to light what the school chose not to after a six-month investigation that it had authorized.”
* NBC Chicago | What we know after Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald suspended following hazing allegations: Many current and former players rushed to Fitzgerald’s defense after suspension was announced. Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski tweeted: “When it comes to being a man I admire and respect, Coach Fitz has always been that man for me in my time at Northwestern! He always offers an ear when I need to talk and a hand whenever I need help up! I’ve got his back like he always has had ours.” Former quarterback Trevor Semien, now with the Cincinnati Bengals, tweeted: “Fitz emphasized integrity, sacrificing for others, respect, and accountability. These are values that I strive to uphold now as a husband and father. While I won’t speak for anyone else, I can say that my experience at NU did not reflect what I read in the Daily Northwestern.”
- Socially DIstant watcher - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 12:22 pm:
NU has handled this like last year’s season: very badly. Time to step it up.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 12:43 pm:
“routinely discounted and ignored”
Needs to be every single school, not just colleges. Including high schools.
I’ll leave out the name of the school, but a very similar situation existed here in Will County. When the news started to get out, and some parents even looked at filing lawsuits, the district pretty much brushed it off as ‘boys being boys’ and ‘this has always been part of football’.
The four varsity players involved in the incident were handed three-day suspensions and no other punishment.
Surely our local officials wouldn’t protect abuse, would they…
“Will County prosecutors have said that the alleged assaults did not meet the legal requirements for criminal hazing charges.”
No punishment for the coaches at all.
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 12:49 pm:
Love football. Loved playing it, still love watching it.
Being said, the biggest meatheads in our school were the best football players.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 12:57 pm:
The Illinois statute criminalizing hazing could use a careful review.
It is quoted at Northwestern’s website at: https://www.northwestern.edu/hazing-prevention/responsibilities/illinois-law.html.
The definition of hazing only applies to an act committed “for the purpose of induction or admission into any group, organization, or society associated or connected with that institution.” The alleged hazing on the football team was likely not covered by that definition, since the victims were already on the team. The definition could be broadened.
Also, hazing is only criminalized if “the act is not sanctioned or authorized by that educational institution.” If the head coach arguably authorized it, the act was arguably authorized by the institution — even if it went against the institution’s stated policy. That may be the correct limit for a criminal statute. But there may instead be suitable language that would criminalize the conduct if it was obvious that the act was contrary to law or the institution’s policy, and could not be authorized by the employee.
- Dog in em - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 12:58 pm:
Yet another example of why local journalism is so incredibly important. Medill is important to Northwestern, Chicagoland, and all of Illinois really.
Glad they put in the hard work to break this story and kudos to them.
- levivotedforjudy - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:01 pm:
I’m an alum. This has been a hot topic for us to say the least. I think Fitz is resigning by the end of the month. There is precedent with coaches sticking their heads in the sand (i.e. Rick Pitino).
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:05 pm:
“The definition of hazing only applies to ”
Yes, and that’s a purposeful deflection to justify not taking any action. Then the conversation is just over. It might leave people feeling angry but there’s a small part of justification included for that decision, to allow it to just fade away into the past.
It’s still an assault, in both descriptive and legal meanings, which is left unsaid.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:07 pm:
*correction on my last comment.
It’s a battery, not an assault. Although it’s probably also an assault too in most situations.
- JS Mill - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:09 pm:
=Including high schools.=
Sad but true. As a former HS athlete, I can never understand the perception that there is something sacred about sports.
I can say this, we dismissed a coach for vaping on school property during a practice. I would rather be over the top when it comes to integrity than let kids get hurt.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:27 pm:
If Fitzgerald knew or should have known about the hazing, other staff members knew or should have known, as well. Fitz shouldn’t either get off without meaningful punishment or become a scapegoat.
A lot went wrong. NU should conduct a fresh examination of its football program, it’s athletic department, and it’s decisionmaking process.
- Frida's boss - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:32 pm:
Really bad timing for NU football program as they are looking to expand their stadium. They are in a pretty big fight with community groups in Evanston.
You can’t expect the community, alumni, donors and others to get on board with this when you have these type of issues.
This isn’t the University of Miami.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:39 pm:
Friday’s boss - “Really bad timing for NU football program as they are looking to expand their stadium“
One wonders whether concern about the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake in the new stadium contributed to the university administration’s attempt to whitewash the investigative report.
- New Day - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:51 pm:
“Really bad timing for NU football program as they are looking to expand their stadium. They are in a pretty big fight with community groups in Evanston.”
Yes. And they have been making some pretty non-credible assertions to the community in defense of their plans to not only redo the stadium but to turn it into a major concert venue. For those that don’t know, the stadium is located in a quiet suburban neighborhood and just a few blocks from a major area hospital. NU’s credibility on both of these issues is and should take a major hit. Whitewashing and covering up is a really bad look.
- btowntruthfromforgottonia - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:53 pm:
“…coaches sticking their heads in the sand (i.e. Rick Pitino).”
That would be one thing but if this is true the head coach knew and should be terminated on the spot……
“According to the former player, team members allegedly identified players for “running” by clapping their hands above their heads around that player. The practice, the player said, was known within the team as “the Shrek clap.” […]
According to the player who spoke with The Daily, Fitzgerald repeatedly made the signal during practices when players, specifically freshmen, made a mistake. […]”
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:54 pm:
that report on a school in Will county is disturbing. we are teaching young men a particular kind of abuse that has longterm consequences, on their psyche and potentially as a teacher of sexual violence. is this a football only thing? it has to be eradicated. I know I sound pie in the sky ridiculous, but we all have to do better because the hazing stories are sexually abusive, homophobic, violent, horrible.
- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 1:59 pm:
Keyrock is right on. They clumsily tried to bury this on Friday with a two-page executive summary and a wrist-slap because they didn’t want it to interfere with approval of the stadium. They’re having a hard time pushing it through, and they will do anything to please their biggest donor, Pat Ryan.
- Jerry - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 2:24 pm:
So many similarities to this story and what happened with a professional hockey team.
- Dog in em - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 2:25 pm:
@ movieboy
According to who, exactly?
Hope you’re right but never underestimate this country’s ability to let men get away with stuff simply because of their athletic prowess
- Ares - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 3:07 pm:
This will be an acid test for the university’s new president, who took office after the previous candidate passed away prior to her installation.
- amalia - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 3:18 pm:
the Score had a very sourced story on NU baseball. it is on line.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 3:19 pm:
670 the Score reported more details to the baseball story about coach Foster. Over the weekend, they spoke with 9 sources about the baseball program. The reporting should be up on the website soon.
The reporting included:
-The coach discouraged players from getting medical attention from the trainer, and encouraged players to return before they were ready.
-Two boosters participated in interviews with the coach.
-Coach Foster had not been well liked in his prior jobs. Reportedly, he hadn’t been able to keep an assistant coach for more than 2 years.
-Assistant coaches reported misconduct to HR.
-There were allegations of racial insensitivity.
- The athetic director didn’t respond to complaints.
As I said above, NU needs to have a serious review of its football team, and also its athletic department and the administration’s decisionmaking. The review should include outside participants.
- Jocko - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 3:36 pm:
The fact that these hazing rituals had names (running, Gatorade shake challenges, & the carwash) shows you how engrained this hazing had become.
For Fitz to pull this ‘babe in the woods’ routine after spending hundreds of hours with these players tells you all you need to know.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 4:24 pm:
Can one make a bet online for the day Fitzgerald loses his job? Seems inevitable at this point. Just a matter of when.
- Proud Papa Bear - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 5:54 pm:
@Friendly Bob Adams
Didn’t get a chance to get my bet in.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 5:57 pm:
@Friendly Bob -
Now do the athletic director.
- B Team - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 6:48 pm:
Fitz is gone. Only a matter of time before the baseball coach exits as well.
- Wensicia - Monday, Jul 10, 23 @ 7:25 pm:
Excellent reporting by the Daily Northwestern.