Just because I like to imagine alternative scenarios to the common perception, here goes...
"This is for entertainment purposes only."
Gragg was brought to Northwestern to get rid of the highest paid coaches. Why? I'm not sure - some group of Trustees wanted this to happen.
Maybe there's a big money-laundering operation involved... doesn't matter - there's a reason.
Gragg seems like a simple sort of person, apparently easily controlled, makes NU look good on the "minorities in positions of authority" ledger....
But in reality he turns out to be an assassin, a conniving, capable operator - willing to do whatever is necessary, by any means available.
The sinister forces on the Board of Trustees have been fuming about Fitzgerald's contract since the day it was signed and Collins just ain't cutting it with the run of terrible seasons...
Coaches who play by the rules have no place in NCAA athletics...
Gragg decides to go after Collins first.
After a disappointing basketball season he puts CCC on public notice, makes it very clear that he doesn't care about Collins and fully expects to be firing him after another terrible year...
But Collins makes an astute hire and Barnhizer, Nicholson and the rest of the team wreck that plan.
Gragg is forced to sign Collins to an extension and the trustees are fuming...
Gragg knows he has to take out Fitzgerald...
"Get rid of him and make sure we don't have to pay him."
A player complains about what he calls hazing.
A new bookworm has just taken the reins as university president.
This shill knows nothing about sports, has never even played darts, much less something that involves teammates and a locker room.
Gragg tells the trustees to start a long investigation, making sure Schill gets the report as soon as he starts at NU.
Knowing Schill will follow the advice of paid consultants, Gragg tells the evil trustees to go light on Fitzgerald and Schill falls in line, as expected.
The trustees immediately leak the report to the Daily Northwestern and start fanning the flames of social media.
As the mastermind of the hit on Fitzgerald, Gragg knows he needs to be unavailable and nowhere near the scene of the crime.
He takes the family to Europe.
An uproar ensues and Schill does what Gragg expects - folds helplessly.
Knowing almost nothing about Northwestern, much less the athletics department, Schill fires Fitzgerald under pressure from the board of trustees members who are already washing their hands.
Gragg pretends to be searching for a new football coach. And he is laughing.
"This is for entertainment purposes only."
Gragg was brought to Northwestern to get rid of the highest paid coaches. Why? I'm not sure - some group of Trustees wanted this to happen.
Maybe there's a big money-laundering operation involved... doesn't matter - there's a reason.
Gragg seems like a simple sort of person, apparently easily controlled, makes NU look good on the "minorities in positions of authority" ledger....
But in reality he turns out to be an assassin, a conniving, capable operator - willing to do whatever is necessary, by any means available.
The sinister forces on the Board of Trustees have been fuming about Fitzgerald's contract since the day it was signed and Collins just ain't cutting it with the run of terrible seasons...
Coaches who play by the rules have no place in NCAA athletics...
Gragg decides to go after Collins first.
After a disappointing basketball season he puts CCC on public notice, makes it very clear that he doesn't care about Collins and fully expects to be firing him after another terrible year...
But Collins makes an astute hire and Barnhizer, Nicholson and the rest of the team wreck that plan.
Gragg is forced to sign Collins to an extension and the trustees are fuming...
Gragg knows he has to take out Fitzgerald...
"Get rid of him and make sure we don't have to pay him."
A player complains about what he calls hazing.
A new bookworm has just taken the reins as university president.
This shill knows nothing about sports, has never even played darts, much less something that involves teammates and a locker room.
Gragg tells the trustees to start a long investigation, making sure Schill gets the report as soon as he starts at NU.
Knowing Schill will follow the advice of paid consultants, Gragg tells the evil trustees to go light on Fitzgerald and Schill falls in line, as expected.
The trustees immediately leak the report to the Daily Northwestern and start fanning the flames of social media.
As the mastermind of the hit on Fitzgerald, Gragg knows he needs to be unavailable and nowhere near the scene of the crime.
He takes the family to Europe.
An uproar ensues and Schill does what Gragg expects - folds helplessly.
Knowing almost nothing about Northwestern, much less the athletics department, Schill fires Fitzgerald under pressure from the board of trustees members who are already washing their hands.
Gragg pretends to be searching for a new football coach. And he is laughing.
