Former and current Northwestern Wildcats football players offer contrasting narratives about hazing allegations against head coach Pat Fitzgerald. A former player alleges Fitzgerald was aware of the hazing, detailing disturbing incidents to university president Michael Schill. This former player expressed to ESPN that Fitzgerald's inaction warranted his removal as head coach, emphasizing the severity of the alleged abuse and its potential violation of Title IX. The former player detailed rituals involving forced sexualized behavior and physical restraint, describing a culture of abuse he believes falls squarely on Fitzgerald's shoulders.
Conversely, a current player defends Fitzgerald, asserting to ESPN that the allegations are fabricated and intended to damage the program and coaching staff. This player denies the occurrence of such incidents within the team's locker room.
The former player's stated aim is to expose the alleged illegal activities and remove them from the program. He described specific hazing practices, including a “Shrek’s List” of trials involving “naked slingshot” and “naked bear crawls.” The current player, however, claims never to have heard of “Shrek’s List.”
The Northwestern football team released a statement denying the hazing allegations and supporting Fitzgerald. The players characterized the accusations as exaggerated lies meant to harm the program's reputation. They emphasized their commitment to a supportive environment and highlighted the six-month independent investigation, which they say involved interviews with players and staff. While the investigation didn't find sufficient evidence that the coaching staff knew about the hazing, it did note "significant opportunities" for them to have learned about it.
University president Michael Schill acknowledged in an open letter that the initial response focused too much on what Fitzgerald didn't know rather than what he should have known. Schill expressed his intent to consult with university leadership to determine appropriate next steps. He emphasized Fitzgerald's responsibility for the program's environment and acknowledged the coach's failure to uphold the university's commitment to student well-being.
The university initiated an investigation after learning of the allegations in late 2022. The investigation report, while largely supporting the claims based on evidence, couldn't definitively determine whether the coaching staff was aware of the hazing. Fitzgerald was initially suspended for two weeks, and several measures were implemented, including discontinuing preseason camps in Wisconsin, locker room monitoring, an anonymous reporting tool for hazing, mandatory anti-hazing training, and the formation of a group to review policies and culture.
