So you don’t think that getting gang dry-humped by a group naked masked teammates or having to walk through a naked man turnstile to get to the shower sexual abuse?
So no discussion about Fitzgerald?
- Thread starter Woodpecker
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Do you think that is what happened at Northwestern? That led to Fitz being fired?
What are you questioning here? Whether the incidents actually happened? Or whether these incidents are what led to the firing as opposed to media attention/public response to it?
What happened between Friday the 7th (2 week suspension) and Monday the 10th (fired)? Wouldn't one, if they were trying to decipher "what went down", be naturally curious?
Maybe not. But I would be. I don't care enough about NW to be personally over-concerned, but that would be the first issue I would look at if I was.
It’s curious for sure. If what happened is legit, then a two week suspension (in the summer) was a poor choice of discipline to begin with.
Regardless of what happened and the appropriate punishment, this situation was poorly handled. Guess Schill didn't read Spanier's book. On second thought, maybe he did.
I think that we’re all being misled as to the actual cause of his dismissal by the media frenzy, as is their function in these things. If one looks deeper I believe we’ll find, money, power struggles and some bruised egos of very influential people. If Fitz had knowledge of what they’re reporting (and I’m not denying that they happened) then he just lit a simmering fuse and did their job for them.
I brought this up in a convo yesterday. NW is an academic institution and I bet many power players HATED that football had grown into a reasonably successful (and expensive) program. I think this gave that group the ammunition it wanted.
Hmm. Interesting take by some. I have no details of what happened and I’m guessing outside of what is being reported, neither do most/all here either, but many sure are certain that Fitz is getting hosed. Maybe we let everything play out before we rush to judgement?
We'll never know the full details unless this goes to trial, which is unlikely.
The only sport we do around here is jumping to conclusions.
Correct. Which means, assuming things on our end is pretty ignorant or conspiracy theorist of us.
Where did the money come from for their expensive football facility upgrades? I’m sure wealthy alums had a hand in it, which means there are some who are expecting success in football (ROI). Maybe some of those putting up the money for football felt Northwestern deserved better than Fitzgerald.
Does this whole thing precipitate the movement of NW football out of D1? Or cancel FB altogether like university of Chicago years ago?
Well I agree that there's the real story behind the one we’re being fed. However I might disagree with your premise (that’s assuming that we are still allowed to reasonably disagree). It might just be that well heeled alums that are footing the bill don’t feel that they were getting an adequate return on their investment with Fitz in charge. Either thought process maybe right, but I’m positive no one’s going to own up either way.
If that’s true it highlights the difference in time. 378 years ago when the U of Chicago dropped football they just quietly went away. Today we have to blow up a program in a National scandal to prove our point.
It might. I am not going to say it will "kill" NW football but it might send them back to their Pre-1993 days where 2 wins was standard and 4 was fantastic. They were one of the Schools that I thought got much better (yea I know relative) after we joined the B1G
Possible. The general chaos around this gives the impression it wasn’t deliberate or focused. And those around the program were clearly split on appropriate outcome.
I spoke with the VP I used to report to. She’s a NW alum still living in Chicago and quite active in that community. Sources at the university she trusts are saying this is bad for Fitz and he should be worried about his legal exposure. Then again, I wouldn’t expect to hear otherwise after yesterday.
Wealthy alums paid for all of it.
All I will say is to focus on three things - the school, the accuser, & the Head Coach. I won’t say more because the best of people can ultimately let you down and you can be surprised. This likely will go to Court because Fitz will be forever synonymous with this event and it will impact him in a profession he loves. A settlement with NW and being given a gag order as a condition of settlement doesn’t get it done for Fitz long term.
Could what is being reported actually be true, yes it could. But what I was told from within the locker room paints a very different picture. We will see but I’ve been told that there is a “smoking gun” that if true will conclude the matter. Let’s see.
Could what is being reported actually be true, yes it could. But what I was told from within the locker room paints a very different picture. We will see but I’ve been told that there is a “smoking gun” that if true will conclude the matter. Let’s see.
Fitzgerald lawyer cites contract breach in firing
Northwestern fired coach Pat Fitzgerald for cause, his attorney told ESPN. The attorney is researching legal strategies, citing "two different major breach of contract claims" with Northwestern as well as significant reputational damage.
www.espn.com
In a related story the BTN has been editing Fitz out of their 60 minute highlight Northwestern games. They call it "Getting Paterno'd"
I just like whenever it's someone else's turn in the barrel.
BAD, BAD, BAD.....RO
Still hits me in the chest like a sucker punch.
Hoping to see this resolved in the near future.
To be fair, does that also cloud OUR judgement on the culpability of the coach and culture of the team?
it looks like PF not only head to roll at NW... baseball coach is a train wreck. Not sure how the AD and his leadership survive as well. GoT level bloodbath
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It didn't save Urban.
As society has evolved, Urban Meyer hasn't
If this is it for Urban Meyer at Ohio State, his downfall will be traced back to his time at Florida, when a different set of rules applied to title-winning coaches.
www.espn.com
What's next for Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern's players and the Wildcats' program?
On Monday, Northwestern fired Fitzgerald, the face of its football program, in the wake of a hazing investigation. A look at the next steps.
www.espn.com
I would argue the opposite though. I think as a society we look to tear down those who are successful, while being less critical of those who may not be. For example, the reaction on here was that Fitz is getting fleeced, but when you posted the UGA headline my first reaction was that they were running an out of control program. If everything that Fitz’s program is accused of is true though, then it was just a matter of time before he got canned, despite any level of success. That type of off the field nonsense just isn’t tolerated and it shouldn’t be.It didn't save Urban.
As society has evolved, Urban Meyer hasn't
If this is it for Urban Meyer at Ohio State, his downfall will be traced back to his time at Florida, when a different set of rules applied to title-winning coaches.
That is a fairly recent phenomenon. That being said, it appears the NW deal was an inside job.
IDK, the football team, the baseball team, the cheerleading squad. Seems their "culture" is a mess. I mean I know I've heard that term used before.
So has the beotch Christine Brennan made a statement yet? She should have known, she is on their BOTS. She sure had a lot to say about us. Funny how that shoe works.
FWIW, a couple weeks ago, BTN showed the Citrus Bowl game vs. LSU. They showed Joe and very little of Les Miles. So, maybe they were "Paterno'ing" Les Miles?
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