The Athletic’s hit piece

[CatManTrue]

Wow. Even @NUCat320 would think this is a bit savage:

Hamilton: After a summer of scandal, Northwestern remains a program in search of something good

The relief, the Wildcats said, was playing football again. It's also Northwestern’s next problem.

theathletic.com

Some gems:

‘And, at some point, someone caught sight of the T-shirt. … It was truly, as they say, a choice. As purposeful as it was obtuse. By the time Braun sat down for his first on-campus news conference, questions about the shirt and why people wore the shirt and what he knew about the shirt were in everyone’s holster, and Braun responded by saying “It’s not my business to censor anyone’s free speech,” when, in fact, it was his business as the leader of a team at a private institution to tell the people he’s in charge of what they can and can’t do.’

‘In reality, there have been virtually no good decisions for David Braun to make from the moment they rolled this dumpster fire to his feet and wished him luck. The choices, mostly, have been between bad and less-bad.’

‘These are the dark times. And not just because so many people have their eyes closed. “We’re going to be a great team this year,” Northwestern linebacker Bryce Gallagher said after a 19-tackle day. “I know that. We have the people in that locker room and the coaches to do that. We’ll definitely get this thing going in the right direction.”

In fairness, there was nothing else to say Sunday, and certainly no begrudging a proud senior captain some blind optimism. Better to answer questions about bad football than bad behavior, after all.’

‘The relief, everyone said Sunday, was playing football again. It just also happens to be Northwestern’s next problem.’

 

[FeralFelidae]

On the bright side, @CatManTrue, you can look forward to watching your Dookies play Clemson today.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Brian Hamilton is a clown. He’s their CBB writer just looking to generate clicks with his sanctimonious take. He’s taken the torch from the Daily. Pathetic. I just cancelled my subscription to the Athletic.

 

[CatManTrue]

On the bright side, @CatManTrue, you can look forward to watching your Dookies play Clemson today.

My Dookies? I hate them and am undefeated against those savages from Durham. How dare you defame me so Blue Devilishly.

 

[CatManTrue]

Brian Hamilton is a clown. He’s their CBB writer just looking to generate clicks with his sanctimonious take. He’s taken the torch from the Daily. Pathetic. I just cancelled my subscription to the Athletic.

I signed up only to read their initial thorough reporting on the scandal, which was excellent & fair.

I will also be canceling after this. A total hit piece.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

I signed up only to read their initial thorough reporting on the scandal, which was excellent & fair.

I will also be canceling after this. A total hit piece.

Kalyn Kahler is an outstanding writer and her piece was phenomenal.

The guy who wrote this seems to be in the mold of those late 90s, early aughts Chicago blowhards. Not what the Athletic was supposed to be about.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Wow. Even @NUCat320 would think this is a bit savage:

Hamilton: After a summer of scandal, Northwestern remains a program in search of something good

The relief, the Wildcats said, was playing football again. It's also Northwestern’s next problem.

theathletic.com

Some gems:

‘And, at some point, someone caught sight of the T-shirt. … It was truly, as they say, a choice. As purposeful as it was obtuse. By the time Braun sat down for his first on-campus news conference, questions about the shirt and why people wore the shirt and what he knew about the shirt were in everyone’s holster, and Braun responded by saying “It’s not my business to censor anyone’s free speech,” when, in fact, it was his business as the leader of a team at a private institution to tell the people he’s in charge of what they can and can’t do.’

‘In reality, there have been virtually no good decisions for David Braun to make from the moment they rolled this dumpster fire to his feet and wished him luck. The choices, mostly, have been between bad and less-bad.’

‘These are the dark times. And not just because so many people have their eyes closed. “We’re going to be a great team this year,” Northwestern linebacker Bryce Gallagher said after a 19-tackle day. “I know that. We have the people in that locker room and the coaches to do that. We’ll definitely get this thing going in the right direction.”

In fairness, there was nothing else to say Sunday, and certainly no begrudging a proud senior captain some blind optimism. Better to answer questions about bad football than bad behavior, after all.’

‘The relief, everyone said Sunday, was playing football again. It just also happens to be Northwestern’s next problem.’

I know of at least one fan who was wearing that dreaded T-shirt. Was anyone on the team wearing them? Maybe the writer should’ve talked to the fan in the dreaded T-shirt to get his perspective on the whole situation.

[REDACTED]

[/REDACTED]

 

[phatcat]

I know of at least one fan who was wearing that dreaded T-shirt. Was anyone on the team wearing them? Maybe the writer should’ve talked to the fan in the dreaded T-shirt to get his perspective on the whole situation.

[REDACTED]

[/REDACTED]

A bunch of whippersnappers!

 

[jne381]

I don't have a subscription to The Athletic anymore, but Brian Hamilton sounds like a dick.

 

[CatManTrue]

I know of at least one fan who was wearing that dreaded T-shirt. Was anyone on the team wearing them? Maybe the writer should’ve talked to the fan in the dreaded T-shirt to get his perspective on the whole situation.

[REDACTED]

[/REDACTED]

Can @CoralSpringsCat or @SimpsonElmwood or anyone who was at the game share if they saw a lot of those t shirts?

Will they be allowed against UTEP?

 

[Catslash]

Can @CoralSpringsCat or @SimpsonElmwood or anyone who was at the game share if they saw a lot of those t shirts?

Will they be allowed against UTEP?

Have our shirts too bad if the NYT 's non union replacements for a sports department thinks otherwise.Which side are you on?

 

[CatManTrue]

Have our shirts too bad if the NYT 's non union replacements for a sports department thinks otherwise.Which side are you on?

 

[NUCat320]

I know of at least one fan who was wearing that dreaded T-shirt. Was anyone on the team wearing them? Maybe the writer should’ve talked to the fan in the dreaded T-shirt to get his perspective on the whole situation.

[REDACTED]

[/REDACTED]

I’m pretty sure that Hamilton has been around a long, long time. I think he covered ND for the Trib for a long time. He’s closer to sixty-something (seventy-something?) than twenty-something.

The shirts are dumb.

Braun is in the worst possible situation. A guy who wanted to be a DC with stability above him and a chance to grow — few DC hires anywhere probably had less short-term head coaching ambition than he did.

He was probably unaware of the shirts themselves — the shirts, after all, are a positive statement that nobody wants him in the role. And neither does he! But, geez, if the team wanted a ‘Cats against the world’ thing, the head coach probably should have been involved.

He answered the only thing he could answer, and Hamilton is a dumb dumb for writing it.

Braun, Skip, and the rest of the first-year coaches are the only ones at NU who weren’t somehow complicit.

Braun and family will definitely look back on this year as one of the least enjoyable of their lives.

 

[HailToPurple]

Can @CoralSpringsCat or @SimpsonElmwood or anyone who was at the game share if they saw a lot of those t shirts?

Will they be allowed against UTEP?

What do you mean "will they be allowed against UTEP"?

There is no possible way that they can be banned.

 

[fcmchi]

The Athletic article wasn’t a hit piece. The writer was symptomatic to Braun’s plight.

Here’s the full part about the t-shirts:

In reality, there have been virtually no good decisions for David Braun to make from the moment they rolled this dumpster fire to his feet and wished him luck. The choices, mostly, have been between bad and less-bad.

Say, for example, Braun upbraids the football staff and bans the T-shirts. It avoids the embarrassment of Aug. 9 and hides the fissure between the team and the administration. It also maybe means a staff fiercely loyal to Fitzgerald resents him, because who the hell is the new guy from North Dakota State to tell them how to live their lives, and chaos turns into mutiny. Or fast forward to Northwestern’s game-week media availability heading into the Rutgers game. Braun proclaimed that, with the opener looming, he and his players only wanted to talk about football. But also no players would be available to talk with the press. At all. It’s a funny way to convince everyone there’s nothing to see here. It’s also maybe a way to give an exhausted, frustrated and confused group one less thing to worry about, for one week. The planet did not tilt off its axis because a Northwestern football player did not break down Rutgers’ ability to stop the run.

 

[fcmchi]

And this part, that Fitz is mostly to blame for the sorry state of the team, is what many of us on this board have said before. If we think this article was anything but a frank assessment of NU football, we NU fans have become a bunch of snowflakes:

Northwestern looked unprepared and executed atrociously. It played a not-extremely-good team and got throttled. It’s arguable that a proper karmic retribution would have been Fitzgerald leading this group onto the field against Rutgers; a roster and team that will contend for the worst power conference team in the country is ultimately the sum of his poor choices and talent evaluations and stubbornness against evolution on many fronts.

 

[NUCat320]

Northwestern looked unprepared and executed atrociously. It played a not-extremely-good team and got throttled. It’s arguable that a proper karmic retribution would have been Fitzgerald leading this group onto the field against Rutgers; a roster and team that will contend for the worst power conference team in the country is ultimately the sum of his poor choices and talent evaluations and stubbornness against evolution on many fronts.

I’ve only read what’s been quoted here, and this is perfect.

Yesterday’s team sucked, and it’s because Fitz’s program sucked.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I’m pretty sure that Hamilton has been around a long, long time. I think he covered ND for the Trib for a long time. He’s closer to sixty-something (seventy-something?) than twenty-something.

The shirts are dumb.

Braun is in the worst possible situation. A guy who wanted to be a DC with stability above him and a chance to grow — few DC hires anywhere probably had less short-term head coaching ambition than he did.

He was probably unaware of the shirts themselves — the shirts, after all, are a positive statement that nobody wants him in the role. And neither does he! But, geez, if the team wanted a ‘Cats against the world’ thing, the head coach probably should have been involved.

He answered the only thing he could answer, and Hamilton is a dumb dumb for writing it.

Braun, Skip, and the rest of the first-year coaches are the only ones at NU who weren’t somehow complicit.

Braun and family will definitely look back on this year as one of the least enjoyable of their lives.

Agree that shirts are dumb.

But why bring it up again after game 1? Did the shirts distract the team and coaches, leaving them unprepared for mighty Rutgers?

The shirts were dumb, and the media response—perhaps obsession—to them was even dumber. Really just a nothing burger.

 

[TheC]

So, I’m confused. Are we allowed to start talking political crap on here now? Because I’m happy to tee off…..

 

[NUCat320]

Agree that shirts are dumb.

But why bring it up again after game 1? Did the shirts distract the team and coaches, leaving them unprepared for mighty Rutgers?

The shirts were dumb, and the media response—perhaps obsession—to them was even dumber. Really just a nothing burger.

I think he mostly wrote about the shirts because he’s going to be covering NU one time this year and the internet doesn’t have column-inches restrictions.

It’s good that NU was the one of the few Sunday games. Everyone who needed to cover NU this season did it this weekend, and now we can go back to hiding the rest of the season.

 

[curdog]

I know of at least one fan who was wearing that dreaded T-shirt. Was anyone on the team wearing them? Maybe the writer should’ve talked to the fan in the dreaded T-shirt to get his perspective on the whole situation.

[REDACTED]

[/REDACTED]

Old man yells at cloud.

Also, maybe an opinion piece about the NU football situation should mention something along the lines of “we don’t know all the facts.” Really tired of the pitchfork crowd opining on things they don’t know enough about.

 

[epicbret]

Brian Hamilton is a clown. He’s their CBB writer just looking to generate clicks with his sanctimonious take. He’s taken the torch from the Daily. Pathetic. I just cancelled my subscription to the Athletic.

Shame you had one to begin with

 

[Hungry Jack]

I think he mostly wrote about the shirts because he’s going to be covering NU one time this year and the internet doesn’t have column-inches restrictions.

Exactly where was the infamous t-shirt on Saturday? It must have been a terrible thing to see.

 

[CappyNU]

So, I’m confused. Are we allowed to start talking political crap on here now? Because I’m happy to tee off…..

No.

 

[NUCat320]

Old man yells at cloud.

Also, maybe an opinion piece about the NU football situation should mention something along the lines of “we don’t know all the facts.” Really tired of the pitchfork crowd opining on things they don’t know enough about.

What key facts aren’t known and how would those facts change things?

 

[curdog]

What key facts aren’t known and how would those facts change things?

Key fact that is known is that the school conducted a 6 month investigation and then decided the appropriate punishment was 2 week suspension!

Unknown facts that people would want to know
- how widespread was the activity (demos is on record saying he never heard of running)?
- were these activities forced participation or more horsing around?
- if these acts were so heinous that you fire the coach, why are the actual perpetrators still in the team?


There are others but this would be a good start

 

[Sheffielder]

First let me say...I am not inherently dubious of the media, and I sincerely feel that I've followed our situation with a reasonably objective eye.

But watching virtually every media outlet covering this story has been maddening. From the initial sensationalized headlines to some giving any stitch of credibility to a racist/white nationalist culture, using the simple reference to "watermelon eating contests" as being inherently racist, just despicable.

And then I was looking at Rittenberg's Tweets over the weekend marveling over how bad our on-the-field product was...he basically used the past two months to frame the set and then knock down all the pins like clockwork. I can actually picture his dry erase board calendar in his office mapping out 12-18 months of Northwestern stories he will produce, some of which he could already have partially written...just on autopilot...the story just happens to be juicier given Fitz's brand of being a boy scout.

See also: the 9,000 Dabo hot seat stories that will hit the internet today as the media fans the flames as fast and as hot as they can, all the way to his eventual outster where the media will say "see...we told you."

 

[curdog]

First let me say...I am not inherently dubious of the media, and I sincerely feel that I've followed our situation with a reasonably objective eye.

But watching virtually every media outlet covering this story has been maddening. From the initial sensationalized headlines to some giving any stitch of credibility to a racist/white nationalist culture, using the simple reference to "watermelon eating contests" as being inherently racist, just despicable.

And then I was looking at Rittenberg's Tweets over the weekend marveling over how bad our on-the-field product was...he basically used the past two months to frame the set and then knock down all the pins like clockwork. I can actually picture his dry erase board calendar in his office mapping out 12-18 months of Northwestern stories he will produce, some of which he could already have partially written...just on autopilot...the story just happens to be juicier given Fitz's brand of being a boy scout.

See also: the 9,000 Dabo hot seat stories that will hit the internet today as the media fans the flames as fast and as hot as they can, all the way to his eventual outster where the media will say "see...we told you."

Yeah, this story is red meat for many (Fitz’s holier than thou attitude makes it even juicer). I was in the camp that Fitz needed to be fired because it was clear he could not adapt to the changing landscape and was no longer an effective coach. What I am extremely disappointed in is everyone just forgetting all the positive accomplishments (non-football related) he had. The people comparing this to Paterno situation are the absolute worst.

Let’s get the full picture before we completely trash a good man’s reputation.

 

[NUCat320]

Fitz could have saved his reputation by being forthcoming and honest.

“I had thought we had built a strong culture and this was part of it. I realize that it had gotten out of hand and I will do better. I accept the four game suspension. Coach Genyk will act as head coach while I’m out. Go Cats” (Or even “I should have known and I accept my four-game suspension”.)

PR 101 is ‘control the narrative.’ Schill, Gragg, Fitz, and anyone else who was involved in this rollout failed more than just about anyone here has ever failed at anything in their work life.



Also, the racism stuff was terrible, terrible journalism.

 

[Sheffielder]

Fitz could have saved his reputation by being forthcoming and honest.

“I had thought we had built a strong culture and this was part of it. I realize that it had gotten out of hand and I will do better. I accept the four game suspension. Coach Genyk will act as head coach while I’m out. Go Cats” (Or even “I should have known and I accept my four-game suspension”.)

PR 101 is ‘control the narrative.’ Schill, Gragg, Fitz, and anyone else who was involved in this rollout failed more than just about anyone here has ever failed at anything in their work life.



Also, the racism stuff was terrible, terrible journalism.

In fairness to Fitz, he was told he'd be suspended for two weeks and that was the end of it...there wasn't a need to react in a "bigger" way.

And by the time there WAS a need, his only choice was to lawyer up and maintain "I had no knowledge..."

While I would have liked to have seen a more sincere statement, I would argue the timeline did not yield an opportunity where he could have made one in a way that made logical sense.

 

[peatymeanis]

In fairness to Fitz, he was told he'd be suspended for two weeks and that was the end of it...there wasn't a need to react in a "bigger" way.

What does the length of suspension have anything to do with his reaction? Isn't his whole schtick about accountability and pointing thumbs, not fingers? Why didn't he take accountability when the opportunity presented itself?

 

[FeralFelidae]

In fairness to Fitz, he was told he'd be suspended for two weeks and that was the end of it...there wasn't a need to react in a "bigger" way.

And by the time there WAS a need, his only choice was to lawyer up and maintain "I had no knowledge..."

While I would have liked to have seen a more sincere statement, I would argue the timeline did not yield an opportunity where he could have made one in a way that made logical sense.

Schill dealt with Fitz very dishonestly. When dealing with somebody like that, you have to protect yourself (lawyer up), because they will stab you in the back.

 

[curdog]

Fitz could have saved his reputation by being forthcoming and honest.

“I had thought we had built a strong culture and this was part of it. I realize that it had gotten out of hand and I will do better. I accept the four game suspension. Coach Genyk will act as head coach while I’m out. Go Cats” (Or even “I should have known and I accept my four-game suspension”.)

PR 101 is ‘control the narrative.’ Schill, Gragg, Fitz, and anyone else who was involved in this rollout failed more than just about anyone here has ever failed at anything in their work life.



Also, the racism stuff was terrible, terrible journalism.

Perhaps he was told by Schill not to make any statements. And again, we still don’t know what happened!!! The original punishment was 2
Weeks. After a 6 month investigation.

See my earlier post about questions that need to be answered before I take out my pitchfork.

 

[Sheffielder]

What does the length of suspension have anything to do with his reaction? Isn't his whole schtick about accountability and pointing thumbs, not fingers? Why didn't he take accountability when the opportunity presented itself?

The decision to announce his suspension on a Friday before a holiday weekend was a strategic one to bury the news. For him to make a grandiose statement would've been the equivalent of taking a sledgehammer to what appeared to be a nail at the time, and probably would have been out of step with what everyone agreed to...at the time.

And to be honest, the only official statement he's ever made on the matter was "I had no knowledge," so for all we know that was and is how he truly feels, period.

 

[Hungry Jack]

First let me say...I am not inherently dubious of the media, and I sincerely feel that I've followed our situation with a reasonably objective eye.

But watching virtually every media outlet covering this story has been maddening. From the initial sensationalized headlines to some giving any stitch of credibility to a racist/white nationalist culture, using the simple reference to "watermelon eating contests" as being inherently racist, just despicable.

And then I was looking at Rittenberg's Tweets over the weekend marveling over how bad our on-the-field product was...he basically used the past two months to frame the set and then knock down all the pins like clockwork. I can actually picture his dry erase board calendar in his office mapping out 12-18 months of Northwestern stories he will produce, some of which he could already have partially written...just on autopilot...the story just happens to be juicier given Fitz's brand of being a boy scout.

See also: the 9,000 Dabo hot seat stories that will hit the internet today as the media fans the flames as fast and as hot as they can, all the way to his eventual outster where the media will say "see...we told you."

One would think those t-shirts bore a Confederate flag or Swastika based on some media reactions to them.

I have yet to see any reports of players wearing them on Sunday. There were a few in the stands, I believe.

 

[peatymeanis]

And to be honest, the only official statement he's ever made on the matter was "I had no knowledge," so for all we know that was and is how he truly feels, period.

If that's the case then his whole schtick was a bunch of bs. Regardless of whether he had knowledge or not, he is responsible for something that was so embedded into the culture of the program.

 

[NUCat320]

In fairness to Fitz, he was told he'd be suspended for two weeks and that was the end of it...there wasn't a need to react in a "bigger" way.

And by the time there WAS a need, his only choice was to lawyer up and maintain "I had no knowledge..."

While I would have liked to have seen a more sincere statement, I would argue the timeline did not yield an opportunity where he could have made one in a way that made logical sense.

I find it very hard to believe that the suspension was “told”, and not “negotiated.” Fitz was the most powerful person in every room in Evanston, except when Pat Ryan or a surrogate was around. This includes Schill and Gragg.

Among so many things, we’ll never know whether Schill/ggarG came in with a starting position (four? eight? the season?) and Fitz came in with ‘nothingburger press release’ and they settled on nothingburger suspension.

It’s not worth relitigating here, again — there’ll be plenty of litigating elsewhere — but Fitz had seven months to take responsibility, whether that was in “I should have known” form or “I didn’t realize how it had escalated” form. He chose to say the exact opposite of “It’s on me.”

The sheer stupidity of anyone involved in burying the story on a Friday morning (why not 4:55 if you’re truly burying!?) remains mind-boggling. And they really should have done it on July 3 anyway.

Take the world, lay the points.

 

[TheC]

One would think those t-shirts bore a Confederate flag or Swastika based on some media reactions to them.

I have yet to see any reports of players wearing them on Sunday. There were a few in the stands, I believe.

The shirts themselves don't seem like that big a deal. The players were bummed they lost their coach and this was their way to show they still support him. However, the fact that they wore them to an organized, official NU practice is basically a message to the NU administration saying Go Fuc& Yourself!

You may agree with the sentiment, but you also would have to know this would piss off the administration.

 

[NUCat320]

The shirts themselves don't seem like that big a deal. They are bummed they lost their coach and still support him. However, the fact that they wore them to an organized, official NU practice is basically a message to the NU administration saying Go Fuc& Yourself!

You may agree with the sentiment, but you also would have to know this would piss off the administration.

And also a f*ck you to their current coach, who we can infer neither has a shirt nor was involved in their planning.

 

[TheC]

And also a f*ck you to their current coach, who we can infer neither has a shirt nor was involved in their planning.

I don't take it that way. The guy was already on staff and was elevated to the position. I don't see it as the players dissing him. I doubt any of the players blame Braun for anything.