The head coach was suspended for two weeks
According to a report from The Daily Northwestern, there are allegations of hazing within the Northwestern football program, which resulted in the suspension of head coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks by the school on Friday.
A former player disclosed to the outlet that the incidents involved acts of sexual misconduct, along with other acts of “absolutely egregious, vile, and inhumane behavior.”
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The player stated that during a practice ritual called “running,” primarily targeted towards freshmen, several upperclassmen wearing masks resembling those from the movie “The Purge” would engage in simulated sexual acts, commonly referred to as “dry-humping.” Players would be subjected to this treatment if they made mistakes during practice.
The player stated that if other team members clapped their hands above their heads near a player, it signified that he had to be “ran.” Pat Fitzgerald, despite denying knowledge of the allegations, supposedly made the same signal during practices, thereby encouraging the continuation of the hazing.
“It’s a shocking experience as a freshman to witness your fellow freshman teammates being subjected to being ‘ran,’ but then you observe everyone else merely standing by in the locker room,” expressed the player. “It creates an extremely abrasive and barbaric culture that has persisted within the program for years on end.”
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“Whenever that action occurred, everyone would exchange glances, mutually acknowledging that Fitz is aware of this,” the player added. “Everyone joins in because he’s the head coach.”
“It’s disguised as team bonding, but in reality, it constitutes sexual abuse,” stated the player.
According to the player, team members were coerced into stripping naked and performing various acts, such as bear-crawling and slingshotting themselves across the floor using exercise bands. In one instance, a freshman quarterback had to take a snap from a freshman center while both were unclothed.
Another alleged incident involved the “Gatorade shake challenge,” where players were required to consume as many Gatorade shakes as possible within a 10-minute timeframe. The player asserted that he has never witnessed anyone refrain from vomiting as a consequence.
Pat Fitzgerald, expressed his “deep disappointment” upon learning of the allegations.
“When we heard about the allegations, it was truly disheartening,” he stated. “Northwestern football places great emphasis not only on developing athletes but also on nurturing exceptional young men whose character reflects the values of our program and university. We hold ourselves and our student-athletes to the highest standards, and we remain dedicated to surpassing those standards in the future.”
“Northwestern Athletics prides itself on delivering a world-class experience for our student-athletes, ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, including our students, coaches, and staff,” remarked athletic director Derrick Gragg. “We admire the courage of those who stepped forward to bring this issue to our attention, and we are committed to playing our part in fostering a more positive environment moving forward.”
The school said it requires annual anti-hazing training for coaches, staff members, and athletes, emphasizing reporting options and reporting responsibility as well as discipline.