Embattled advertisement: ‘There’s no place for hazing’ at NU

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterJul 26, 2023, 11:36 AM ET

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  • College football press reporter.
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.INDIANAPOLIS– Northwestern’s

athletic groups will begin participating in necessary, in-person anti-hazing workshops conducted by outdoors groups, starting with the football team, as athletic director Derrick Gragg stated he is dedicated toward making certain that “nothing like this ever occurs once again. “In his first interview since football coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired on July 10, Gragg informed ESPN that he is identified to get rid of any hazing from the school’s athletic teams while also supporting athletes in a program that has actually drawn widespread criticism this month. “This whole circumstance, it’s traumatic,”Gragg informed ESPN.”My heart goes out to everyone who’s included– victims, naturally– but I likewise wish to stress that we have many student-athletes who do the best thing and have actually constantly done the right thing, and coaches and staff too. As the scenario progresses, we’re really serious about removing anything that’s incorrect, the president and the university.”Not only removing it, however likewise trying to ensure, to the highest levels, that nothing like this ever happens again.”Editor’s Picks 2 Related Northwestern is facing four claims from previous football players over hazing and mistreatment within the program,

and another from a previous beach ball player. Gragg likewise fired baseball coach Jim Foster on July 13, following an examination into bullying and mistreatment. Attorneys have actually also pointed out possible claims including Northwestern’s softball and soccer programs.Gragg stated Northwestern will examine any claims or proof of hazing including its athletic programs.In addition to the anti-hazing workshops, Gragg stated Northwestern is guaranteeing that its system for anonymously reporting hazing or other mistreatment is working correctly.

He likewise prepares to form a committee of experts on hazing and other misconduct, and”improve our education”in those locations.”In some cases people try to possibly scale things, however we need to make sure that student-athletes are properly bonding and that no one feels forced or pressured to do anything that they don’t wish to do,” Gragg said.

“There’s no location for that. There’s no location for hazing. There’s no place for misbehavior. If you’re going to continue to construct a positive culture, you need to remove it.”Both Gragg and university president Michael Schill, who chose to fire Fitzgerald 3 days after announcing a two-week, unsettled suspension for the coach, have actually drawn criticism for not holding a press conference to deal with the situation. Gragg stated he has invested the past 2 weeks meeting athletes, coaches, staff, trustees and others around the program.” There are a great deal of concerns, a lot of sensitivities around legalities, so I wanted to make sure that I remained in total lockstep with the university,”Gragg said” You have actually seen the president has been more outward-facing. I undoubtedly never wanted to do anything to preempt him or remain in front of him. So I have focused 100%on internal messaging, first off with the student-athletes and everyone connected with our program. “Schill backed Gragg in an interview Monday with The Daily Northwestern, stating there’s”no discussion”about Gragg’s work status. “My background as a former student-athlete and a leader, it remains in times like these … where I’m most efficient, to be truthful,”

Gragg stated. “It begins with internal interaction and making certain that our internal systems are in place and that we’re communicating

how we’re going to move forward.”Northwestern released an external examination into hazing within the football program soon after getting allegations from a player on Nov. 30. Gragg, who has actually seen the full examination however stated he can not go over information, informed ESPN that he got”a fair

amount of info”as the investigation progressed, and was part of a small group that notified Fitzgerald of the two-week suspension and other restorative actions for the program, including say goodbye to off-campus preseason practices and a locker space display. Quickly after, Gragg went overseas for a pre-planned trip to commemorate his anniversary.The university revealed Fitzgerald’s two-week suspension July 7. As details of the hazing accusations emerged in a July 8 report from The Daily Northwestern and Schill began to reconsider Fitzgerald’s penalties, Gragg stayed in routine contact with the president and other school

leaders. Gragg stated he and the school mutually decided that he needs to stay in place rather than danger losing the ability to interact while traveling back to the United States.Gragg participated in the call to notify Fitzgerald that he had been fired, however he would not expose details of that call to ESPN. Gragg likewise attended to players through Zoom throughout a team conference on the night of July 10. Several players revealed disappointment on social networks that Gragg and Schill were not present at the conference, which Gragg did not take questions.

“It was very hard, “Gragg said.”Confronted with the choices that we had and only being able to deliver news, by means of Zoom, of this magnitude was certainly not optimum, which is why I took every procedure I perhaps might to be back.

… No one in this circumstance would ever choose to need to provide that type of news from afar.”Gragg returned to school early on July 11 and stated he has been fulfilling routinely with football players, consisting of Northwestern’s management council. He stated he never noticed players did not want to go forward with the season, which starts Sept. 3 at Rutgers, and believes the group is handling the circumstance”as best as they perhaps can.” He also told ESPN that he acknowledges the frustration felt by alumni and others about what has actually been revealed in current weeks. A College Football Hall of Popularity player at Northwestern, Fitzgerald led the team for 17 years and is the school’s all-time winningest coach.”It’s impactful across the whole university, even if of what he has suggested to so many individuals”Gragg said.”I compare it to when I was at Arkansas, when [basketball coach] Nolan

Richardson was alleviated of his responsibilities. It’s on that scale. So my heart heads out to everybody who’s been involved with this, and I understand the angst of the choices.”Defensive organizer David Braun was called interim head football coach, and all other assistants and staff have actually been retained

for the 2023 season– although Northwestern is reviewing accusations from a suit filed by previous player Lloyd Yates that protective backs coach Matt MacPherson experienced numerous hazing incidents.Big 10 commissioner Tony Petitti said he has actually spoken a number of times with Gragg in current weeks about the scenario. Petitti likewise has actually talked to Braun.” The examinations will yield results about what has actually taken place,”

Petitti said.”I think there’s a dedication to understand what’s anticipated [of them] moving forward.”No players were named in Northwestern’s external investigation or in any of the claims submitted so far. Yates on Monday said he thinks about all players”victims”of what he described as a hazardous hazing culture,

even those who led the alleged hazing activities.”No current players were called in any of the allegations, however undoubtedly if anyone’s name appears or we get more claims from more teams or whatever, we’ll ensure that they are examined, “Gragg said.Hired by Northwestern in June 2021, Gragg said he’s responsible for the decision to hire Foster. Although accusations around Foster appeared in late 2022, Foster coached the whole season.Asked why it took so long to fire the baseball coach, Gragg noted that”everyone’s paid for due process.”