Northwestern University will reportedly reconsider its discipline for head coach Pat Fitzgerald following new detailed allegations of hazing by the Wildcats football team.
Fitzgerald, one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, received an unpaid, two-week suspension following a university investigation into hazing allegations made by someone inside the program.
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Wildcats’ officials announced on July 7 that Fitzgerald was suspended for two weeks this summer and the program would make numerous changes after an internal investigation found validity to a whistleblower’s claims of hazing carried out by members of the football team against teammates.
Northwestern’s investigation found that there was no sufficient evidence to suggest the Wildcats’ coaching staff knew about the hazing. However, new allegations from former players suggest many in the program allegedly were either complicit in allowing the hazing to happen or actively encouraged it.
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Details of Northwestern hazing allegations
The Daily Northwestern, the university’s student-run newspaper, spoke to multiple former Wildcats’ players who shed light on the culture inside the football program. Detailing the alleged hazing by teammates, former players describe the ‘vile and inhumane’ treatment that they witnessed or received, including alleged sexual misconduct.
“I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and it’s just absolutely egregious and vile and inhumane behavior,”
Anonymous former Northwestern football player on the alleged hazing
In interviews with The Daily Northwestern, former players detailed what was described as “running” in the program. In “running” a group of 8-10 upperclassmen would allegedly dress in “Purge-like” masks and then proceed to “dry hump” the victim of the hazing in a dark locker room.
The Daily received images of whiteboards labeled “Runsgiving” and “Shrek’s List”, two terms that were heavily tied into the hazing culture. According to one former player, some players and coaches would identify a player for “running” by clapping their hands above their heads around that player, which was known as “the Shrek clap.”
According to the former Wildcats player, the hazing ritual was very common during training camp and around Thanksgiving and Christmas, when the team called it “Runsgiving” and “Runsman”. The Daily was also provided with a video of a player clapping his hands during a game, the signal that the anonymous player identified as calling for a “running” on a player.
One player who spoke with The Daily said that Fitzgerald made the clapping gesture on several occasions during practice, using it when his players made a mistake and most often with a freshman athlete.
“Everyone would just be looking at each other and be like ‘bro, Fitz knows about this,’ because you wouldn’t take that action otherwise. Everyone joins in, because he’s the head coach.”
Former Northwestern football player on Pat Fitzgerald’s alleged knowledge of “running”
Northwestern hired an independent law firm to review the allegations brought forth by the whistleblower. Lead investigator Maggie Hickey interviewed coaches, staff and both current and former players. In the university’s news release, it announced that the claims brought forth by the whistleblower were “largely supported by evidence”. Hickey’s investigation also found that participation in the hazing was “widespread” across the team.
Northwestern Football team responds to hazing allegations
Originally, Fitzgerald’s unpaid two-week suspension began Friday and the Wildcats also terminated future off-campus practices in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where they held preseason training for several years.
- Pat Fitzgerald coaching record: 110-101, 5-5 in bowl games
In addition, Northwestern announced that it planned to have someone not affiliated with Fitzgerald or the staff monitor the behavior of the football locker room. Now, the university is reconsidering its initial discipline.
The Northwestern football team released a statement on Saturday, denying that Fitzgerald had any knowledge of the alleged hazing and saying the recent accusations are exaggerated.
“The recent allegations brought forth are exaggerated and twisted. It is disheartening to see that the allegations brought forth against our team have been exaggerated and twisted into lies. These fabrications have been made with the intention of harming our program and tarnish the reputation of our dedicated players and coaching staff. We firmly deny the validity of these accusations and stand united in our assertion that they do not reflect the true character of our team.
It is crucial to note that our Head Coach, Pat Fitzgerald, was not involved in any of the alleged incidents in any way, shape, or form. Coach Fitzgerald had no knowledge of these allegations until they were brought to his attention during the investigation. Throughout his tenure, Coach Fitzgerald has consistently prioritized the well-being and development of his players, and we stand behind him in his unwavering commitment to our team.”
Statement from Northwester football team on hazing allegations
In a statement to ESPN on Saturday, university officials said they wouldn’t comment on the allegations released by The Daily. However, sources involved in the investigation told ESPN that investigators knew of the allegations made by the former player.
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Fitzgerald, an Illinois native and Northwestern alum, played for the Wildcats from 1993-’96 then returned as an assistant coach in 2001. He was hired as the Wildcats’ head coach in 2006 and signed a 10-year contract extension in 2021. In a statement, Fitzgerald said he had no prior knowledge of the alleged hazing incidents.