This story is snowballing. Now there’s this:
Not disputing any of it - but I hate when this stuff comes out years later.
I know it’s not easy for someone to come out.
I also know it’s not easy for people (coaches) to know how to act. I get much of it - but if they have something called the wildcat way and it’s to be clean cut, I don’t see an issue - but if and only if it’s applied to everyone equally. But while behaviors seem logical, not every coach was raised responsibly or respectfully and many may have gone through this treatment themselves so they find it part of the game.
I guess my biggest concern is - is this now a hit job on the coaches?
These are big, powerful, educated, and likely worldly kids - so why now and not before?
But yes, it’s not a good look for the coach but I hope there is due process.
He’s not just a coach but an NU alum and NU legend.
And my guess is - if he did something, it’s how he was taught, what he observed from his coaches. I don’t know - just a guess.
And frankly, it’s all sad.
is it true? Are some kids upset their careers didn’t go as hoped? Is coach a bigot?
How can we really know? But how and why would so many keep this hidden for so long?
And who else is worried now? Kirk Ferentz at Iowa had issues the other year. How many other coaches are not sleeping well tonight?
My daughter was an athlete and I thought about whether she’d haze. It was a little different because her team was new and the 9 freshmen were the main part of the team. The older kids did not haze them but there were a few incidents of them being mean to each other and one group of 4 that was all rooming together had to be split up after just one semester because they were so mean to one girl. All remained part of the team for the full 4 years, just didn’t always speak to each other.
In the years that followed I know new players often had to carry equipment and set up the fields. That’s pretty common for all sports, that some have to help with the heavy lifting but someone has to do it so they usually make the rule that you have to do it for 1-2 years (which would mean a transfer would have to do it too). Not sure if that is hazing if the rule is you have to do it for years 1 and 2. Just a rule.
There was a women’s lacrosse team at UMBC that hazed the freshmen and they were suspended. But a coach (co-head) reported the incident to the athletic director was also suspended because he wanted the players off the team and didn’t even want them in the stands. Guess the coaches are damned if the do, damned if they don’t. whttps://retriever.umbc.edu/2015/03/five-womens-lacrosse-players-suspended-indefinitely/ho
I think the coaches need to stop this at the beginning of each year, and put the responsibility on the captains. There does need to be a limit to what is classified as hazing. I asked my niece if she knew a certain song from her (our) sorority. She said no, that they didn’t teach them anymore because that would be considered hazing. To learn a song? Even if required? Back in my day we thought it was fun but I guess now it is hazing.
I am only guessing but my first thought was the shame. Here’s a story about a 3rd former player now coming forward:
I think once someone is willing to break the silence and question the authority figures with the power, the floodgates may open and the hurt inflicted can be addressed.
The motivation may be retribution, but I wasn’t the person victimized and will not judge them.
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You make interesting points about what constitutes hazing. I’m not in a position to make the call, but I would classify actions designed to humiliate and degrade a person at the top of my list. To me being made to undress (be naked) is totally unacceptable.
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Because of so many reasons. Because they were traumatized and they just wanted it all to be done and to move on with their lives. Because who would have believed them? Because people see that coach as a saint. Because everyone would have called the athletes whiners or worse for speaking up. Because every time they applied for a job, their (unbelieved) accusations would be the first thing listed if their employers did a Google search.
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I’m not sure why them being “big, powerful, worldly kids” makes a difference. Also not sure I’d call them “worldly”.
This is abuse and victims often feel deep shame.
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I said worldly because they are at NU although admittedly I don’t know who they admit for football or the backgrounds.
I guess I have a hard time believing that 300 pound guys who could squash me would allow this or let it go on without speaking up.
I see all the reasons everyone is saying and I totally get it - and I think @fiftyfifty1 did a nice summary - so I’m not diminishing it.
I’m just thinking out loud.
And I do hope that due process is allowed but if one is wrong, they are wrong and should be punished appropriately.
And if it’s happening here - then where else (surely, there is a where else).
Why again is it a good idea that colleges act as the NFL’s minor leagues?
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$$$$$ - til it’s all gone in lawsuits.
$500 mil fro Michigan State? Did they have to hit up taxpayers or raise tuition?
Unfortunately, everything is about $$. Football and UFC should be banned quite frankly - but that’s a different argument and the $$ would say otherwise.
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In addition to what other posters have pointed out…there is a time-honored Code of Silence in many men’s sports.
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300 pound guys are exactly the ones who don’t speak up… because people can’t believe it would happen to them. They are victims no matter how big or strong they may be.
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I would be interested to find out who the actual author of this letter is and under what counsel he/she drafted the letter.
Situation is snowballing…former players accusing Coach Fitzgerald of racist behavior: Northwestern hazing scandal: What we know about claims of racism
Also in NU sports news today…not player to player hazing, but NU also conducted an investigation of Jim Foster, the baseball coach, this past winter/spring and found “sufficient evidence” that Foster “engaged in bullying and abusive behavior”. The team reported many instances of this behavior to NU leadership. The team was 10-40 this past year, several coaches left, and a number of players are in the transfer portal.
Local radio station the Score on the baseball sitch, click for audio playback. Amazing that someone with a long history of poor behavior could still be hired: Parkins Spiegel Show - Mon-Fri: 2-6 p.m. | 670 The Score
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And he’s gone.
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NU President Schill’s statement on the firing:
Dear Northwestern community,
This afternoon, I informed Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald that he was being relieved of his duties effective immediately.
The decision comes after a difficult and complex evaluation of my original discipline decision imposed last week on Coach Fitzgerald for his failure to know and prevent significant hazing in the football program. Over the last 72 hours, I have spent a great deal of time in thought and in discussions with people who love our University — the Chair and members of our Board of Trustees, faculty leadership, students, alumni and Coach Fitzgerald himself. I have also received many phone calls, text messages and emails from those I know, and those I don’t, sharing their thoughts. While I am appreciative of the feedback and considered it in my decision-making, ultimately, the decision to originally suspend Coach Fitzgerald was mine and mine alone, as is the decision to part ways with him.
While the independent investigative report will remain confidential, it is important for our community to know the facts.
- During the investigation, eleven current or former football student-athletes acknowledged that hazing has been ongoing within the football program. In new media reporting today, still more former Northwestern football student-athletes confirmed that hazing was systemic dating back many years. This has never been about one former student-athlete and his motives; this is much bigger than that.
- The hazing included forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature, in clear violation of Northwestern policies and values. I am grateful that — to my knowledge — no student suffered physical injury as a result of these behaviors.
- While some student-athletes believed the hazing was in jest and not harmful, others viewed it as causing significant harm with long-term consequences.
- The hazing was well-known by many in the program, though the investigator failed to find any credible evidence that Coach Fitzgerald himself knew about it.
- As the entire six-month independent investigation was confidential, I only recently learned many of the details, including the complainant’s identity. I spoke with his parents on Friday and the student on Sunday.
Since Friday, I have kept going back to what we should reasonably expect from our head coaches, our faculty and our campus leaders. And that is what led me to make this decision. The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team. The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening. Either way, the culture in Northwestern Football, while incredible in some ways, was broken in others.
There is no doubt that Coach Fitzgerald has had a tremendous impact on our institution, well beyond the football field. For nearly thirty years, he has given himself to Northwestern as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach, and he has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. His players have almost all graduated and represented the University with distinction. Over the last two days, I have received hundreds and hundreds of emails describing how he has transformed the lives of current and former student-athletes. However, as much as Coach Fitzgerald has meant to our institution and our student-athletes, we have an obligation — in fact a responsibility — to live by our values, even when it means making difficult and painful decisions such as this one. We must move forward.
I recognize that my decision will not be universally applauded, and there will be those in our community who may vehemently disagree with it. Ultimately, I am charged with acting in the best interests of the entire University, and this decision is reflective of that. The damage done to our institution is significant, as is the harm to some of our students.
In the days ahead, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Derrick Gragg will announce the leadership for this upcoming football season, and I encourage all of you to rally around the young men in our football program as they take the field this fall. As always, the welfare of our students is paramount and we will move forward expeditiously to make the reforms I outlined in my letter, dated July 8.
Over my ten months serving as your President, I have found the Northwestern University community to be proud, to be passionate, to be supportive, and yes, to be demanding. While today is a difficult day, I take solace in knowing that what we stand for endures. Finally, I am grateful for the partnership and support of the Board of Trustees and Chair Peter Barris.
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Hazing is pervasive in many athletic teams and activities at the college level…I am not sure how to stop it other than teams, greek organizations, marching bands etc. being sanctions by the universities or the laws.
I was an athlete many years ago, have been a coach for decades and from my own personal experience it seems as if the athletic teams and programs with the least success on the field/rink/court etc. are then ones with the worst issues surrounding hazing. Clearly I don’t know about how every team or school works, but it seems as if hazing creates less unity and buy in amongst team members.
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I hope the president thanked this athlete when he spoke to him. And he should have thanked him openly in this statement. This athlete put himself at risk to report this.
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I hope the president thanked the student journalists. They were/are very brave.
On a side note, I wish teams, organizations, schools etc would embrace The Richmond Way. (The world could use more Ted Lasso!)
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They just got themselves full time jobs!!!
Of course, journalism of this sort is a dying art. Today it’s about entertainment.
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