Random: but does anyone know what the hell is happening at northwestern
- Thread starter Dontworryboutit23
- Start date
This is what's out there right now. Most sites saying about the same thing.
Northwestern football’s shocking hazing scandal, explained
Northwestern football is the middle of a massive scandal after stunning allegations of hazing throughout the program.
www.sbnation.com
So stupid frat stuffThis is what's out there right now. Most sites saying about the same thing.
Northwestern football’s shocking hazing scandal, explained
Northwestern football is the middle of a massive scandal after stunning allegations of hazing throughout the program.
I didn’t help that three of the past four seasons were 3-9, 3-9, and 1-11.
The accusations about racism are serious and seem to be substantiated.
He was about to start year 3 of a 10 year contract as well. Their alumni have been putting up some big money. Facilities are considered top 10. New stadium proposed. Ferentz survived similar accusations last year, but he didn't lose 11 games either.
The racist stuff at the moment seems legitimate. No need to downplay it.
Loved by many of his players. Portal exit QB evidently was the whistleblower. Some say he exaggerated the situation greatly.
Tommy Rees, former ND OC and current Alabama OC, being mentioned as a replacement. Would be tough for Saban to replace an OC a month before fall practice begins.
Apparently ex-LSU coach Ed Ogeron is interested too.
Apparently ex-LSU coach Ed Ogeron is interested too.
Surprised there wasn't more of an investigation before firing but must've heard from enough politicians/admins/donors they wanted him gone regardless.
Seems if he or other players corroborated the seriousness of the allegations, that would've already been released.
Many former players corroborated his claims. There was also visual evidence from photos taken by the whistleblower.
Let's be realistic for a second on this situation.
1. All signs point to a disgruntled transfer from Northwestern started this issue....which is fine. But to be fair...a transfer does have motive to overexagerate things potentially.
2. THe sexual stuff is goofy and I get it's a different world and you have to be careful. But dudes running around naked, forcing players to take snaps like a QB with both being naked, dry humping dudes, etc... It's all cringy and I get the push back.
3. Other hazing stuff like drinking as much gatorade in 10 minutes till it makes you sick....stupid stuff but not a big deal to me.
4. The racist stuff.....I don't buy the white kids all on offense and minorities on defense. Their skills guys at RB and WR are basically all black dudes and the Oline/QB white dudes (but they do have a NFL tackles that is black). The cinco de mayo hazing on latin kid...does sound like college goofing off and could be inensitive.
The bigger issue is Northwestern was fine with suspending 2 game and moving on iwth Fitzgerald. But now trying to fire him with cause....they don't want to pay up on the $42M they owe him....and he's going to fight to get all that money...to which I don't blame him.
There was a fairly extensive investigation that Northwestern initiated last fall. ESPN first reported on the investigation back in January (see link below).
Northwestern’s investigation found evidence supporting the hazing allegations, but they didn’t find evidence that Fitzgerald knew about them. They were only able to conclude that Fitzgerald had opportunities to discover and report them.
When they announced Fitzgerald’s suspension, they didn’t provide any details on the hazing events. That prompted the Northwestern player to speak with the school newspaper who published the specifics.
It would seem to me that what may have happened here is that Northwestern is a private institution (i.e., not subject to open records laws) and leadership believed they could keep the details under wraps and that this would ultimately blow over. When the player shared the specifics, that blew things up.
What also seems to be clear, is that the hazing did in fact occur. Both Northwestern’s own investigation and others have corroborated this and have evidence to back up the allegations. I also believe hazing is a crime in Illinois, so the details coming out may have helped spur things based on that as well.
Northwestern probing allegation of football hazing
Northwestern has initiated an investigation into an allegation of hazing within its football program, the school said in a statement to ESPN.
The fact that he’s loved by his players is irrelevant as to whether or not allegations are true. What matters is whether or not there is evidence and/or corroborating witnessing that support the allegations.
And in this instance, there is both evidence and corroboration that supports the allegations.
Not exactly true. The fact that he is loved by his players is relevant and evidence as to the seriousness of the allegations, even though I never suggested anything contrary to what you posted. You surmised that.
What in my post is not accurate?
There was a fairly extensive investigation that Northwestern initiated last fall. ESPN first reported on the investigation back in January (see link below).
Northwestern’s investigation found evidence supporting the hazing allegations, but they didn’t find evidence that Fitzgerald knew about them. They were only able to conclude that Fitzgerald had opportunities to discover and report them.
When they announced Fitzgerald’s suspension, they didn’t provide any details on the hazing events. That prompted the Northwestern player to speak with the school newspaper who published the specifics.
It would seem to me that what may have happened here is that Northwestern is a private institution (i.e., not subject to open records laws) and leadership believed they could keep the details under wraps and that this would ultimately blow over. When the player shared the specifics, that blew things up.
What also seems to be clear, is that the hazing did in fact occur. Both Northwestern’s own investigation and others have corroborated this and have evidence to back up the allegations. I also believe hazing is a crime in Illinois, so the details coming out may have helped spur things based on that as well.
Northwestern probing allegation of football hazing
Northwestern has initiated an investigation into an allegation of hazing within its football program, the school said in a statement to ESPN.www.espn.com
I don't think anyone argued that hazing didn't occur. Only that the claims were exaggerated. I don't see anything that corroborated the severity. Seems the severity was the issue. Then add in the fact their investigation told them the coach didn't know and this seems like a major overreaction.
Jmo but if they wanted it to blow over, then they should've stood firm when the allegations resurfaced. Now by firing their coach, potentially unfairly, it will keep this fiasco in the news a few more days at least and expose them to potential litigation.
They stipulated to a two week suspension. I suspect that was because the university’s third-party investigation demonstrated no evidence that the coach was aware. And, then, they fired him, seemingly without any new evidence or information.
I know a player who played for him. I have yet to ask him his opinion, but I know some current players are upset with the firing.
I know a player who played for him. I have yet to ask him his opinion, but I know some current players are upset with the firing.
I agree with you that the stuff about white players on offense and blacks on defense doesn't make sense. Former players seemed to be much more upset about racist and racially insensitive comments from coaches and also policies about hair styles. I think the sexualized hazing accusations are disturbing and really kind of baffling. I wouldn't expect macho football players to act that way. Many former players have corroborated the accusations.
It is obvious that the administrators at the school didn't take the accusations as seriously as they should have. They finally realized that they have a pr disaster on their hands. They should have dismissed the whole football staff. The whole situation is a huge mess now.
The article I read said 11 former and current players acknowledged hazing within the program. That may or may not be corroboration of specific acts or may be corroboration of the allegation of hazing.
Looks like NW is about to get sued by Fitzgerald, if it does not come to an agreement.
Looks like NW is about to get sued by Fitzgerald, if it does not come to an agreement.
He was head coach since 2006, 85 players on a team every yr, probably 20-25 graduate & a new 20-25 recruits a yr.
The tiny numbers of accusers coming forward of a coaches tenure that was 17 yrs oldwith so many hundreds of players is just not impressive. Nor the lack.of this being an issue until now, 2023. Obviously this is going to be decided how much he is responsible for in court. I bet it is settled and he gets most of that $42M.
They will be coached by an interim for 2023, no perm hire until Dec. With the Big 10 tv money they can do ALOT better than Reese.
The tiny numbers of accusers coming forward of a coaches tenure that was 17 yrs oldwith so many hundreds of players is just not impressive. Nor the lack.of this being an issue until now, 2023. Obviously this is going to be decided how much he is responsible for in court. I bet it is settled and he gets most of that $42M.
They will be coached by an interim for 2023, no perm hire until Dec. With the Big 10 tv money they can do ALOT better than Reese.
??????
How smart does someone have to be to know this ish went out the window about 1963?
The gay sounding stuff . . . well, that was clearly frowned upon with the Sandusky saga (and yes that was far worse) about ten years ago.
Former players are complaining about recent incidents. Not incidents from 60 years ago.
Well, all of the guys doing the hazing throughout the years aren't going to tell on themselves...
It was just reported that NW fired their baseball coach for bullying and a toxic environment.
That was my point.
“How smart does a person have to be to know this ish went out the window in 1963?”
Not very, is my implication, and these people were dumber than that!
I can simplify: “How big of a Dumb F@&k do you have to be not to know this ish . . . .”
Read the book Meat on The Hoof. Hazing has gone on for decades. The players were always aware of it. You either were ok with it or you went somewhere else. Same as a Fraternity. I am not speaking of individual sexual assaults.
I had a great looking six inch 'Fro and was told the first day of practice to cut my hair at UK in 1978 because it was too long. I cut it. I guess I should have filed a lawsuit? But then again I was a walk-on white guy with a natural hair type trying to make the team and it was all about discipline to be part of the team, just like it would be today if some people were not looking to be racially offended at all times.
My question about dreadlocks is, how can you get a football helmet to fit properly with all of that stuffed up inside your helmet? Seriously. Have they made some type of innovation that protects the player?
This hair crap has gone too far. I can not dictate hair length in my industry, yet I can cite PLENTY of examples of people losing arms because of loose fitting clothing, loosing heads because of chains and being scalped because of long hair around equipment. I am ok with it at this point, I can't be more concerned than my employees about their safety and stay free of frivolous lawsuits, but I expect to see lawsuits against helmet manufacturers soon from players with dreadlocks receiving head injuries.
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