I think Northwestern has found a solid replacement for their head coach, Pat Fitzgerald. David Braun, he's young, energetic and they are playing a solid defense against a dynamic Utah team.
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I am just shocked N is even in a bowl game. Coach should get Coach of Year for that accomplishment considering what they went through.
Can someone give me a quick readers digest version on what happened with Fitzgerald at NW, not in a "Fitz said, NW said" way, but rather the firmly established facts. If I looked it up I'd get a long "Fitz said, NW said" article.I think Northwestern has found a solid replacement for their head coach, Pat Fitzgerald. David Braun, he's young, energetic and they are playing a solid defense against a dynamic Utah team.
I agree - the full story has not been told. But NW has deep pockets so I am guessing that a lot of money was paid to someone to keep everything quiet.Can someone give me a quick readers digest version on what happened with Fitzgerald at NW, not in a "Fitz said, NW said" way, but rather the firmly established facts. If I looked it up I'd get a long "Fitz said, NW said" article.
A few players reported that they were hazed. NW hired a third party to investigate. That investigation came back that there may have been hazing but Fitz was unaware and did not condone it. NW and Fitz agreed to a suspension, IIRC a couple of games. Once the media found out the new NW president (?) couldn’t stand the heat so fired Fitz. Fitz has since sued. The current players backed Fitz.Can someone give me a quick readers digest version on what happened with Fitzgerald at NW, not in a "Fitz said, NW said" way, but rather the firmly established facts. If I looked it up I'd get a long "Fitz said, NW said" article.
Serious allegations of hazing…Fitz said he didn’t know about it. NW fired him because they felt ignorance wasn’t ok in this situation (even if he didn’t know about it).Can someone give me a quick readers digest version on what happened with Fitzgerald at NW, not in a "Fitz said, NW said" way, but rather the firmly established facts. If I looked it up I'd get a long "Fitz said, NW said" article.
NW and Fitz agreed to a suspension,
I just stated the facts of the case above. But it really looked like a hit on Fitz to be honest. I'll bet some sort of "hazing" that goes on in every locker room in America. That isn't to say it should be condoned, but if the coach isn't made aware of it how is he supposed to do anything? Not a single assistant coach was fired or suspended.I think they agreed to a 2 week suspension over the summer before fall camp even started.
Didn’t a lot of players transfer out after Fitz got canned?A few players reported that they were hazed. NW hired a third party to investigate. That investigation came back that there may have been hazing but Fitz was unaware and did not condone it. NW and Fitz agreed to a suspension, IIRC a couple of games. Once the media found out the new NW president (?) couldn’t stand the heat so fired Fitz. Fitz has since sued. The current players backed Fitz.
It is worth noting Fitz was a college football HoF player at NW and often turned down better offers to stay at his Alma mater. PSU was probably one of those offers (at least feeler)
I think they said only 5Didn’t a lot of players transfer out after Fitz got canned?
Five at that late point is pretty bad. Especially if they were starters.I think they said only 5
The announcers suggested that the losses were not consequential and gave credit to a player who kept the team together (ala Mauti). They also said almost the entire staff knew they were going to be let go as the new head coach, who was to be in his first year as DC under Fitz, was going to put in his own staff. So interesting that they stayed as well.Five at that late point is pretty bad. Especially if they were starters.
I wish all of the portal / transfer nonsense could open after the bowl season.The announcers suggested that the losses were not consequential and gave credit to a player who kept the team together (ala Mauti). They also said almost the entire staff knew they were going to be let go as the new head coach, who was to be in his first year as DC under Fitz, was going to put in his own staff. So interesting that they stayed as well.
We should also recognize that Utah had a lot of kids injured, kids portal out and a couple of kids didn't play in prep for the NFL draft. At one point, they were on a fourth-string lineman after the starter opted to not play, the second-teamer got hurt and the third-teamer who replaced him got hurt in the same series. In fact, the starting QB is in the Portal because Rising is coming back next year and he's already been told he'll be benched. But the third string kid just isn't ready so they played the kid in the portal.
This portal stuff is making the bowls crazy.
But were some of the ones playing this year the ones performing the hazing? Did they get rid of the "bad apples" or simply change the basket?The announcers suggested that the losses were not consequential and gave credit to a player who kept the team together (ala Mauti). They also said almost the entire staff knew they were going to be let go as the new head coach, who was to be in his first year as DC under Fitz, was going to put in his own staff. So interesting that they stayed as well.
We should also recognize that Utah had a lot of kids injured, kids portal out and a couple of kids didn't play in prep for the NFL draft. At one point, they were on a fourth-string lineman after the starter opted to not play, the second-teamer got hurt and the third-teamer who replaced him got hurt in the same series. In fact, the starting QB is in the Portal because Rising is coming back next year and he's already been told he'll be benched. But the third string kid just isn't ready so they played the kid in the portal.
This portal stuff is making the bowls crazy.
UM started his own fight in the locker room with Mike Vrabel and lost. Heard it from someone who was there (former OSU Player).I just stated the facts of the case above. But it really looked like a hit on Fitz to be honest. I'll bet some sort of "hazing" that goes on in every locker room in America. That isn't to say it should be condoned, but if the coach isn't made aware of it how is he supposed to do anything? Not a single assistant coach was fired or suspended.
In Ohio, there has been a lot of conversation that Day's Ohio State team is "too soft" to beat Michigan. My guess is that it was "leaked" that Meyer used to instigate fights between players and then let them have at it. The notion being that Day, in today's day (pardon the pun), couldn't get away with that. It was a hot topic on sports radio talk a few days after UM's win over tOSU.
The only other thing I’d add is the hazing details are largely “he said, she said”. It’s possible they were exaggerated, overblown or even just made up by some people with grievances. Or they could have been accurately portrayed and some in the program just tried to downplay.Thanks for the replies, you save me probably 25 minutes because so many times media just blathers instead of getting to the point.
I played rugby in Boston on one of 9 Minutemen club teams for 4 years. I hooked and we were all about 30 or older on my 15. There some very nasty guys. 1 or 2 had criminal records as d8d one of my props. If someone would have hazed, a captain or leader would have intervened. We played teams in NYC, Toronto, the Boston area and NE universities. I was short and slow but had very quick feet to hook at the center of the scrum.The announcers suggested that the losses were not consequential and gave credit to a player who kept the team together (ala Mauti). They also said almost the entire staff knew they were going to be let go as the new head coach, who was to be in his first year as DC under Fitz, was going to put in his own staff. So interesting that they stayed as well.
We should also recognize that Utah had a lot of kids injured, kids portal out and a couple of kids didn't play in prep for the NFL draft. At one point, they were on a fourth-string lineman after the starter opted to not play, the second-teamer got hurt and the third-teamer who replaced him got hurt in the same series. In fact, the starting QB is in the Portal because Rising is coming back next year and he's already been told he'll be benched. But the third string kid just isn't ready so they played the kid in the portal.
This portal stuff is making the bowls crazy.
Unless the team captains were performing the hazingI played rugby in Boston on one of 9 Minutemen club teams for 4 years. I hooked and we were all about 30 or older on my 15. There some very nasty guys. 1 or 2 had criminal records as d8d one of my props. If someone would have hazed, a captain or leader would have intervened. We played teams in NYC, Toronto, the Boston area and NE universities. I was short and slow but had very quick feet to hook at the center of the scrum.
IMHO team captains would never permit severe hazing, especially at NW where the players' intelligence is so high. I call bullshit on the victims and investigators. I hope Fitz gets $20+ million from the dirt bags libs.
Even then it's not good. Players can switch for more NIL money. Schools have to recruit them all over every year. That doesn't exist in professional sports.I wish all of the portal / transfer nonsense could open after the bowl season.
Perhaps unionization is the only answer to bring stability to college sports. It won’t impact NIL but it could setup contracts with consistency and guarantees for all parties. You are right that this nonsense does not happen in the pros.Even then it's not good. Players can switch for more NIL money. Schools have to recruit them all over every year. That doesn't exist in professional sports.
Transferring doesn't just impact sports. It has to be very disruptive to education (as if that matters).
Since it's now essentially professional football, contracts are the only solution going forward.Even then it's not good. Players can switch for more NIL money. Schools have to recruit them all over every year. That doesn't exist in professional sports.
Transferring doesn't just impact sports. It has to be very disruptive to education (as if that matters).
Scholarships used to be considered contracts.Since it's now essentially professional football, contracts are the only solution going forward.
LMAOROFL that about $200,000 in tuition, room, board and spending money are not valued as "paid in full."Scholarships used to be considered contracts.