north-west and head football coach Pat Fitzgerald reportedly parted ways Monday amid ongoing hazing allegations surrounding the program.
The university initially handed Fitzgerald a two-week unpaid suspension following a university-commissioned investigation into allegations made against the football program. A day after the suspension was announced, Northwestern president Michael Schill admitted he “may have misjudged the appropriate punishment” for the university’s head football coach.
On Monday, after three former players came forward with allegations of racism within the football program, the university parted ways with Fitzgerald, who had been the Wildcats’ head coach since 2006.
The college football world had many reactions to Northwestern’s decision to fire Fitzgerald, with various members of the media taking umbrage at the situation.
wow Northwestern fires Pat Fitzgerald.
Just 2 days ago, Northwestern suspended Fitzgerald for 2 weeks… during July which is an off-month for football coaches.
Just 48 hours later, he was fired.
A lot can change in 2 days. pic.twitter.com/o3ALPeaYqw
– Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) July 10, 2023
I don’t like it. Pat Fitzgerald is a great man who cares deeply about his players. He runs his program properly and has a good reputation. I have never heard anything bad said about him. It feels wrong.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) July 10, 2023
This Pat Fitzgerald story is why we should applaud top journalism schools like Northwestern, Ohio State, Syracuse and North Carolina that haven’t gone years without reported scandals on their campuses.
– Ben Swain (@TheBenSwain) July 10, 2023
a byproduct, no doubt, of the students’ fearless reporting of @thedailynu
college newspapers and the students who run them are incredibly important and valuable https://t.co/uCUIRnAQTg
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 10, 2023
Amazing turn of events in the last few days.
Northwestern’s administration also looked incompetent — running an investigation that led to a throwaway news, two-week suspension placed when all college coaches were on vacation, the man had to be fired. . https://t.co/YguhqXfV8D
– Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 10, 2023
Frankly, it’s hard to imagine the university keeping Fitzgerald in light of the news that has spread over the past few days.
Fitzgerald was arguably the best player and coach in NU history, but left a legacy that is far more complex. https://t.co/ir59U7p0SB
– Bradley Locker (@Bradley_Locker) July 10, 2023
wow Just an amazing ending to his Northwestern career. https://t.co/SAEiQ7FV6G
– Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) July 10, 2023
A dramatic decision by Northwestern. https://t.co/vBJSuMUVid
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 10, 2023
