Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald makes appearance at Iowa vs. Michigan State game

Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was spotted at Saturday’s game between Iowa and Michigan State. Fitzgerald was seen on the field along with his two of his sons during pregame in Iowa City.

Two of Fitzgerald’s sons play high school football at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill. His middle son, Ryan, is a senior quarterback for the team while his youngest son is a freshman. Fitzgerald’s eldest son, Jack, walked on to play tight end at Northwestern this offseason.

He remains on the Wildcats roster, working as a student assistant.

Pat Fitzgerald here with his two sons. pic.twitter.com/5y9cZ9g0BN

— Tom Kakert (@HawkeyeReport) September 30, 2023

Fitzgerald was the coach at Northwestern for 17 seasons, leading them to a 110-101 record that included 5-5 in bowl games during that time. However, he was fired this offseason as the result of a hazing scandal.

Several former players have filed lawsuits against the university in wake of those allegations, with many of the lawsuits brought by players naming Fitzgerald as a defendant. The coach is currently working as a parent volunteer at Loyola Academy.

In the fallout of the football hazing scandal, alleged abusive cultures within other teams in the athletic department emerged. It has led the school to essentially try and audit the department, getting an outside review of the athletic department by former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Ex-Northwestern athletes sign letter criticizing school for ‘lack of due process’ in firing of Pat Fitzgerald

A group of former Northwestern athletes sent a letter to the administration criticizing the university for lack of due process for former football head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

In a letter obtained by ESPN, 86 former Northwestern athletes including several of Fitzgerald’s former teammates signed the letter criticizing administrators. It said it “left a welcome mat out for the weaponization of sexual harassment, hazing, and racism allegations.”

The letter was scathing towards the administration by describing a knee-jerk reaction to fire Fitzgerald.

“By willfully ignoring due process, Northwestern University’s administration has left a welcome mat out for the weaponization of sexual harassment, hazing, and racism accusations to run rampant at Northwestern University,” the letter read, via ESPN. “Any allegation, true or not, will be allowed to cancel anyone’s career and destroy their reputation depending upon popular opinion, while simultaneously allowing the censorship of free speech.

“The collective gains of Northwestern’s Athletic Department over the last three decades, along with Pat Fitzgerald’s legacy and character, have almost been wiped out without any proof of guilt or, much less, even a thorough and proper investigation.”