Northwestern Football Hazing/Pat Fitzgerald Let Go

[Ndaccountant]

It's really cold all winter and there's not much to do trapped inside. You can go crazy and kill your family then marry a scarecrow in Nebraska, ride the John Deere down to one of the 12,000 vibrating rubber dick stores in Wisconsin, or get real lonely in the ice fishing shed or hunting cabin and decide to try something different with your buddy if you live in the other upper midwestern states. Sort of The Shining meets B1G territory.

That, and they won't touch their cousins. Boundaries!

 

[Sea Turtle]

I was in a fraternity for a year in college. We got hazed, but nothing unacceptable, even by today's standards. They constantly sent us to the fridge for beer or across the street to the deli for a sandwich during the final minute of games on TV. We had one night, and one only, where they rubbed Vaseline in our hair (you just about cannot get it out), pulled our waistband out and dumped food down our pants, yelled at us like they were drill sergeants, and etc., but NEVER sexually or physically assaulted us, nor made us overdrink.

Maybe the worst thing was something I did to the next batch of pledges after my class. I had them come over one Sunday afternoon for a typical work detail: mow the grass, take out trash, etc., with their attendance required afterwards for a dinner I and a few others prepared. Corned beef, broccoli salad, baked beans, onion rings, pintos, boiled cabbage, and a couple of other REALLY gassy foods, all washed down by a couple of cases of Milwaukee's Best. Class attendance was mandatory the next day. We heard several stories from people we knew about how bad it was in class the next day. They were rather loud and uncontrolled gassy.

Wow. My cousin had to do the elephant walk, play Dookie Kong and was locked in a closet with a frog and was told it had to be gone in 15 minutes.

Lamba Chi Alpha, Ball State. Early 90's.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Big question: any ND coaches NW would look to replace Fitz

I could see an argument for Al Golden. Probably pretty safe to assume he is looking for a bigger position and he already has experience taking over a program after a scandal, though a very different type.

 

[Irish2155]

My college baseball coach if not happy would make us practice during the Super Bowl. Obvious crossing of that hazing line.

Probably the worst we had was the “Gauntlet” which pretty much run through to the other side and try your best not to get beat up too bad. That was upperclassmen organized and usually because the Frosh we’re getting in trouble or something…dui, fight in the dorms or Frat, caught with weed, shit like that…

I will say this, anyone tried this shit in our locker room back then, one of the Dominicans would literally kill somebody. This shit would not fly.

 

[Irish#1]

If the number of incidents is accurate, I find it hard to believe PF nor anyone on his staff didn't know or hear about these. I wouldn't be surprised if the AD or Prez had heard rumors about these at one time or another.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I wonder if we’d have the same situation/outcome if Fitzgerald had won 10 or more games last season.

Are you serious???

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I don't understand why anyone thinks Tommy Rees would make Northwestern, coming off of this situation, his first HC gig. I can't understand even further why anyone thinks that Northwestern would be the right fit for someone like Al Golden who is trying to revive his coaching career and potentially get another HC job and or an NFL DC or HC job.

Northwestern's next coaching staff is their own damned problem and I don't think we need to concern ourselves with the idea that any coaches from the ND staff are going to be headed there.

As far as the recruiting/transfer angle goes, we're talking about a program that has won 4 games in the last two years. How desperate does it get when a hazing scandal breaks out at a program coming off of a 1-11 season and the thought at the front of our minds is "let's go poach some players from them?"

None of it has anything to do with Notre Dame and I'd stay as far away from this fall out as possible.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I could see an argument for Al Golden. Probably pretty safe to assume he is looking for a bigger position and he already has experience taking over a program after a scandal, though a very different type.

I could see a lot of people put Al's name in the ring. The problem is Savvy Jack really wants to keep him as DC.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I don't understand why anyone thinks Tommy Rees would make Northwestern, coming off of this situation, his first HC gig. I can't understand even further why anyone thinks that Northwestern would be the right fit for someone like Al Golden who is trying to revive his coaching career and potentially get another HC job and or an NFL DC or HC job.

As far as the recruiting/transfer angle goes, we're talking about a program that has won 4 games in the last two years.

None of it has any benefit for Notre Dame and I'd stay as far away from this fall out as possible.

I will take a stab at the logic for both:

1. Rees: He is from the North Shore of Chicago. His father has worked in the AD's office of ND. He would understand the needs NU would have - which is to run a clean program with oversight. He would make more than being an OC and a couple years in he can move on and because its NU, expectations are low.

2. Golden: Veteran Coach. Previously coached at Miami which is always in Culture Turn-around mode. Would also get paid more than he has at ND as a DC. Can right the ship and move on. Again, what is there to lose when you are expected to not usually break-even in the Big1G?

Bill O'Brien moved onto the NFL after a stint at PSU after Paterno scandal. I think it might be a similar situation.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Who will replace Pat Fitzgerald? An NFL OC, Power 5 head coaches top Bruce Feldman's list

Would sitting head coaches like Mike Campbell and Dave Clawson be tempted to move to Evanston?

theathletic.com

And without delay, Bruce Feldman churns out an article suggesting candidates to replace Fitzgerald.

Tommy Rees is on it.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

On paper, Northwestern should be able to replicate what Stanford was under Harbaugh. Big, physical, tough and smart.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

If the number of incidents is accurate, I find it hard to believe PF nor anyone on his staff didn't know or hear about these. I wouldn't be surprised if the AD or Prez had heard rumors about these at one time or another.

The AD for most of that time is now the ACC commissioner. I wonder if some of the presidents are starting to question their choice.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

On paper, Northwestern should be able to replicate what Stanford was under Harbaugh. Big, physical, tough and smart.

Do that redshirt thing too while you're at it.

 

[MacIrish75]

I think the short list should at least include Al Golden, Garrard Parkour, and Al Washington.

 

[irishff1014]

Who will replace Pat Fitzgerald? An NFL OC, Power 5 head coaches top Bruce Feldman's list

Would sitting head coaches like Mike Campbell and Dave Clawson be tempted to move to Evanston?

theathletic.com

And without delay, Bruce Feldman churns out an article suggesting candidates to replace Fitzgerald.

Tommy Rees is on it.

Let him go suck there too.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I’m saddened that Fitzgerald’s 17-year run as the face of the program ended in scandal, but I agree with the decision to fire him. Whether he knew or didn’t know, he was the CEO of an organization that perpetuated disgusting, inexcusable systematic hazing, according to both a university-commissioned report and subsequent allegations and confirmations by former players and staffers. The head coach is responsible for the culture of his program, and the culture being described is horrific.

Stewart Mandel.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Please not Kafka.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Please not Kafka.

Dude, if he leaves the NYG OC job for Northwestern his Northwestern education was wasted on him. It would be a horribly foolish move.

 

[irishfan]

Dude, if he leaves the NYG OC job for Northwestern his Northwestern education was wasted on him. It would be a horribly foolish move.

Eh Bill O’Brien did similar and it worked out for him. If Kafka goes there and gets them to .500 by year 2 or 3 he’ll probably have NFL HC offers

 

[Irishdrunk]

Kafka makes sense. St Rita / NU Grad. NFL OC

 

[NorthDakota]

I have always wondered why "straight macho dudes" want to fucking get naked and touch or watch them.... big high school near me kids from a couple of years ago just got sentenced for burning freshman asses and sticking sparklers in their butts....wtf

That's kinda funny tho

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Eh Bill O’Brien did similar and it worked out for him. If Kafka goes there and gets them to .500 by year 2 or 3 he’ll probably have NFL HC offers

That was ten years ago. He took over a 9-4 team at a football school and was a Belichick lieutenant. This is Northwestern we're talking about. Kafka played there and is an easy name to throw on a clickbait article that Feldman churns out whenever a coach gets fired.

Kafka can get NFL HC offers by staying with Brian Daboll to coach Daniel Jones and winning NFL games. Money isn't an issue either.

The portal, NIL, the high academic standards at NU all have to be taken into consideration compared to what O'Brien faced going to PSU at that time. A lot of coaches are trying to get into the NFL now because of the portal and NIL. It would be a very puzzling move to make for a guy like Kafka whose trajectory is way up.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Kafka will get an NFL job after this year. But you never know, the hometown pull can’t be discounted.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Kafka will get an NFL job after this year. But you never know, the hometown pull can’t be discounted.

I don't understand why he'd do it for any other reason other than sentiment. It's crazy. He went from 2016 Northwestern GA to 2022 OC of the NY Giants. You've coached with Reid and Daboll, you've coached Pat Mahomes and won a Super Bowl.

From Northwestern's point of view, they need a clean start and have to hire outside their purple cabal.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Are you serious???

Am I serious that I wonder if the situation would be transpiring differently if Fitzgerald would have had great success by NW standards last year? For sure but then again, we’ll never know. I’ll throw you out this hypothetical…….do you wonder if the transgressions of a number of UGA players over the last few years would be creating more of an uproar over Kirby Smart’s lack of institutional control if UGA was coming off back to back 7 win seasons? I’m pretty confident the swirl around the culture would be much different. For the record, if the NW allegations are true then I certainly believe those in charge should be held accountable and it shouldn’t matter what the team‘s win/loss record has been.

 

[WildMan1]

Bet they were forced to play "Who's hand is it?" in the hot tub.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Pat Fitzgerald is a former all american player and is the winningest coach in school history. He has equity built up there. He may as well be bigger than the program itself. Northwestern has poured money into athletics in recent years and they've made their choice. Regardless of his recent record, they were going to suspend him two weeks and tried to bury this with a Friday news dump then backtracked on that punishment. I don't understand how doing that plays into the conspiracy that they wanted to cut him loose because of a couple of bad seasons after Covid. They have completely fumbled this situation, which leads me to believe they're nowhere near as clever as we're giving them credit for in terms of any possibility they're trying to force him out.

If that was the case, they don't try to bury this and then backtrack on a two week suspension, they go all the way last week and fire him.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Group of Northwestern faculty asks for delay in Ryan Field renovations due to hazing scandal

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired on Monday in the wake of the hazing scandal surrounding the football program.

wgntv.com

Here we go.

 

[ulukinatme]

Tommy Rees is a smart guy. I don't see him stepping into the Northwestern job. While expectations would be low considering the hazing scandal, it's also a surefire way to hurt your career. He went to Alabama to increase his prospects, and stepping into the Northwestern job would quite possibly derail his career. If the B1G were keeping divisions alive it might work given the fact the B1G West is a pretty weak division today (The addition of USC could have changed that perception). However with the B1G going division-less soon it basically ensures Northwestern remains a middling program at best and probably a doormat in the future. Recruiting will be more difficult following this hazing story, and while the last two seasons were awful under Fitz he was able to have two 1st place B1G West finishes since 2018 and three 10 win seasons in the last decade. Anytime you remove a steady coach and blow up the culture you're going to have some growing pains. So I can't see Rees or anyone else worth their weight taking the gamble.

I just saw this on Fitz's Wiki page

Also, live footage when Fitz received the news of the firing:

 

[notredomer23]

I've thought about this a bit and I'd argue its a self inflicted death penalty for Northwestern. Maybe I am wrong, but I foresee a mass exodus taking place shortly via the portal whether it is now or after the season. Additionally, they won't be able to replace those players via the portal because NU has similar restrictions to ND. In the last 3 classes, they've taken a total of 14 transfers. If they lose 15-20 transfers, they won't even be able to replace half of them. Whatever coach goes there will need at least 4 years before having an idea if he can coach or not.

Besides the football side of things, any fandom or support from the student body and alumni will now be indifference at best.