Because it is so difficult to differentiate between allegations, claims, facts, opinions and theories, I thought I'd try a different approach.
I would very much like to know the facts.
Hopefully folks will contribute other facts to help establish the truth.
Fact set #1. Northwestern investigated misconduct in the football program after backup quarterback Carl Richardson made allegations to the university. The investigation was conducted by an outside firm and took place over approximately 6 months from January 2023 to June 2023. The player's identity was kept confidential and Fitzgerald did not know the source of the allegations. After making his allegations and being informed of the investigation, Richardson entered the transfer portal in February of 2023.
Fact set #2. Northwestern officials read the report and suspended head coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks without pay. Northwestern put forward a plan to mitigate the (alleged) problematic behavior. Fitzgerald agreed to the mitigation plan. Fitzgerald denied knowledge of hazing in the football program. Northwestern made a public announcement on Friday July 7th, announcing the results of the investigation.
Fact set #3. After learning of the two week suspension for Fitzgerald, Richardson immediately took his allegations to the Daily Northwestern, who published the allegations on July 8th.
Fact set #4. Some people who were not part of the 6 month investigation read the allegations in the Daily Northwestern and pressured Northwestern president Michael Schill to punish Fitzgerald more severely. Schill has been associated with Northwestern for approximately 9 months. He is regarded as a legal scholar. He was inaugurated as the university president on June 2, 2023. On July 10th, Schill put out a statement saying "I may have erred in weighing the appropriate sanction. In determining an appropriate penalty for the head coach, I focused too much on what the report concluded he didn't know and not enough on what he should have known."
Fact set #5. Schill terminated Fitzgerald "for cause" on July 11th. Fitzgerald has stated that his last contact with Schill was on or before July 7th, when he was informed of his suspension and the mitigation plan. Schill has not denied that.
Fact set #6. Northwestern informed each assistant on the football coaching staff that he would be retained. Northwestern also stated that head coach Fitzgerald was fired because he should have known about "widespread hazing" within the program and should have acted to protect the players. "The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team," Northwestern President Michael Schill wrote in an open letter to the university community. "The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening."
I understand that some people don't really care about facts. For those who do, I'm hoping that we can add them here and establish a reasonable representation of the truth, without the clutter of outraged opinion. I would appreciate your help!
I would very much like to know the facts.
Hopefully folks will contribute other facts to help establish the truth.
Fact set #1. Northwestern investigated misconduct in the football program after backup quarterback Carl Richardson made allegations to the university. The investigation was conducted by an outside firm and took place over approximately 6 months from January 2023 to June 2023. The player's identity was kept confidential and Fitzgerald did not know the source of the allegations. After making his allegations and being informed of the investigation, Richardson entered the transfer portal in February of 2023.
Fact set #2. Northwestern officials read the report and suspended head coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks without pay. Northwestern put forward a plan to mitigate the (alleged) problematic behavior. Fitzgerald agreed to the mitigation plan. Fitzgerald denied knowledge of hazing in the football program. Northwestern made a public announcement on Friday July 7th, announcing the results of the investigation.
Fact set #3. After learning of the two week suspension for Fitzgerald, Richardson immediately took his allegations to the Daily Northwestern, who published the allegations on July 8th.
Fact set #4. Some people who were not part of the 6 month investigation read the allegations in the Daily Northwestern and pressured Northwestern president Michael Schill to punish Fitzgerald more severely. Schill has been associated with Northwestern for approximately 9 months. He is regarded as a legal scholar. He was inaugurated as the university president on June 2, 2023. On July 10th, Schill put out a statement saying "I may have erred in weighing the appropriate sanction. In determining an appropriate penalty for the head coach, I focused too much on what the report concluded he didn't know and not enough on what he should have known."
Fact set #5. Schill terminated Fitzgerald "for cause" on July 11th. Fitzgerald has stated that his last contact with Schill was on or before July 7th, when he was informed of his suspension and the mitigation plan. Schill has not denied that.
Fact set #6. Northwestern informed each assistant on the football coaching staff that he would be retained. Northwestern also stated that head coach Fitzgerald was fired because he should have known about "widespread hazing" within the program and should have acted to protect the players. "The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team," Northwestern President Michael Schill wrote in an open letter to the university community. "The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening."
I understand that some people don't really care about facts. For those who do, I'm hoping that we can add them here and establish a reasonable representation of the truth, without the clutter of outraged opinion. I would appreciate your help!