I'm in no way condoning what went on at NU, but isn't it funny how it's OK to have men in women's thongs and stockings shake their business in a kids face, but a little dry humping on adults is an outrage??
But the baffling thing is that the school hired and paid millions to a silk-stocking law firm that issued a report following its investigation that concluded that F was unaware of any harassment. Based on that report (not yet made public), the president of NU issued a 2-week suspension to F. It was that act that caused the accuser to go public with his allegations to the student newspaper. The accuser has been identified by others in the program as a disgruntled QB who entered the portal in February and further accused of embellishing and lying re the allegations because he had a vendetta against F. I would assume that the allegations provided by ex player to the newspaper were also provided by him to the law firm charged to investigate the matter. So, there does not appear to be any significant new information that was uncovered during the brief period of time between the suspension and firing. The only new thing that took place was the social and mass media inferno that followed after the student newspaper article was published. My guess is it was this inferno that caused the university president to do his abrupt U-turn re punishment. If so, his capitulation to the mob is cowardly. I agree that the conduct described in the newspaper article was repelling and likely criminal but it seems there is still no clear evidence demonstrating that this conduct was widespread and long established in the program or isolated. If it was not isolated, then probably F needed to go even if he were not aware since the buck stops with him. But, things still seem pretty opaque as to what took place and I do wonder if F is just another scalp taken in a media frenzy.
Bob Huggins is also got some lawyers that are going after WVU over his firing. Different set of circumstances for sure, but a lot is at stake. Not just the firing, but money and future employability. For Fitzgerald for sure he has to be angry and hurt, he's a "proud" Alum and was a lifer. I don't believe however that he had no knowledge and as I said before I won't be shocked to find out that some level of hazing has been going on since he was a player. Bobda's post on the law firm is interesting. Is the original complaint from a disgruntled QB with an axe to grind, is it truthful? Can it be verified by other players with no axe to grind? As Bobda said...Lawyers now in the game.
More on what Bobda has already posted. A current Northwestern player, who asked to remain anonymous, also told ESPN on Sunday that the former player, whose hazing allegations late in 2022 launched the investigation, informed him of a detailed plan with the sole objective to take down Fitzgerald. The current player on Sunday relayed a conversation he said he had early this year with the former player to Northwestern trustees and other influential university figures. "He just kept emphasizing, 'Yeah, it'll be OK. I'm just trying to get Coach Fitz fired,'" the current player told ESPN. "I don't think he ever acknowledged what he's saying is not true. It was just like, 'I might embellish or exaggerate to get Coach Fitz fired.' He said his sole goal was to see Coach Fitz rot in jail. "The truth is none of that stuff happened in our locker room." Ex-player calls for Fitzgerald ouster after inquiry
Sad to sure, I was a big fan of Fitz. I re-read the statement NW put out regarding their internal investigation and there is one section that seems particularly damning to Fitz and likely is the nail in the coffin, at least should have been. " To conduct this investigation, the investigation team received complete cooperation from Northwestern University, including the University’s athletics personnel. They interviewed more than 50 people affiliated or formerly affiliated with the football program and reviewed, among other things, hundreds of thousands of emails and player survey data dating back to 2014. Due to confidentiality, the specific findings are not detailed here. Current and former players varied on their perspective of the conduct; however, the investigation team determined that the complainant’s claims were largely supported by the evidence gathered during the investigation, including separate and consistent first-person accounts from current and former players. While the investigation did not uncover evidence pointing to specific misconduct by any individual football player or coach, participation in or knowledge of the hazing activities was widespread across football players." So the allegations were corroborated by other players and there was "widespread" knowledge of the activities. Then under those circumstances, I agree with Bobda, the buck stops with him and the timing of the Presidents decision notwithstanding, he needed to go. Not unlike Trump's humiliating and damaging behaviors surrounding stolen election claims, Fitz knew or should have known and in any event, as chief executive, had a duty and an obligation to know, he failed in his duties, imo. https://news.northwestern.edu/assets/Docs/Executive-Summary-FINAL.pdf
Not sure how I missed this discussion.....I agree with my Husker friend. I can say I went to school with him tho he was 2 years ahead of me. We played his team in high school as well, he scored 6 touchdowns in the first half and I don't recall him being tackled once. He either took it to the house or we somehow managed to wrestle him out of bounds. Pretty sure it will be a long time before his 31 consecutive 100 rushing yard games is broken. Looking back, his durability and consistency of performance at such a high level was extraordinary. A truly humble and gracious man, he is an outstanding rep of the school
The summary of the report maintains the hazing was widespread but then they note: Seems very strange that they concluded that the harassment was widespread but could not find evidence of any player engaged in harassment.
The "hazing" as described in the original report is certainly unacceptable but some "hazing" of the newer players seems to be common with football teams and is not necessarily something that needs to be halted. If you watched Hard Knocks last season you saw where the Lion's rookies all had to do a karaoke singing. It's been part of their tradition for years, and might add to team bonding. The report seems to indicate that some hazing occurred but some reports I read said the original description was embellished by a disgruntled former player. I hope that Fitz's punishment is warranted and that he's not just another victim of cancel culture. Now that he's taking legal action, we may learn more about the facts.
Big 12 Media Days....Sark ARLINGTON, Texas -- Not since 2009 have expectations been so high for the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns are an overwhelming preseason favorite to win the Big 12, and coach Steve Sarkisian said he hopes a league title will be "a great send-off" in Texas' final season before heading to the SEC in 2024. "I'd be lying if I wasn't saying that I want to win a championship," Sarkisian told ESPN when asked if this could be a career-defining season for him. "There's no question, and I feel like I've had good teams in the past. I haven't been able to do it. When you get into coaching, I'm a highly competitive guy. I would love to win a championship. I would love to win a championship our last year in the Big 12." Sark eyes 'great send-off,' title as UT exits Big 12
Just reading online, Fitzgeralds lawyer seems to indicate that he's willing to settle out of court for a lot of money. Makes a point that no new information surfaced after their verbal agreement to the 2 week suspension without pay. Also damage to reputation. Bottom line is he's never going to coach at Northwestern again. It's about money now. I wouldn't say however that he'll never coach again, but if he gets paid he won't have to coach again. Question is as always what's he going to do with the rest of his life.
Hadn't even thought of this, but Northwestern is retaining the assistants and support staff. Seems odd in a way as they probably were more likely to know what was going on than Fitzgerald.
Will be lots of college football talk as Media days are here. Coaches and players will be trotted out to say all sorts of positive things about their teams. Not a lot stuff that matters will be said. But always interesting if for no other reason than we're getting closer to the season. Actual fall/August camps will be opening in about 2 weeks, then it gets real.
If you are coaching in college football, this has to have shaken you a bit. I imagine more than a few coaches have brought their staffs together to talk about this and evaluate where their programs are with regards to hazing. This is an interesting article on the subject. Hayes: If this can happen to Pat Fitzgerald, it can happen to any coach in America - Saturday Road
I read that 4 of NU’s high end recruits pulled their acceptances and that there is now a big push back in Evanston re NU building a new $800m football stadium to replace their antiquated stadium. Penn State was fortunate after the Sandusky scandal to have Bill O’Brien and major leadership in the senior class to hold the program together when it looked like it was going to implode. Does not look like NU have people like that in reserve to prevent their program going into a free fall.
Just curious as to how many of these players who endured hazing and racism transferred or went through the portal? How many of the complaints came from players who started?
I have a NIL question. If a Team is at the 85 player limit, could they just offer enough NIL money to a player so that they could pay their own tuition and have plenty enough money left over for them to walk on?