Ex-Northwestern player information hazing occurrences

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

• Senior Citizen WriterJul 8, 2023, 04:18 PM ET Close College football reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.A previous Northwestern football

player on Saturday in-depth several hazing incidents within the program to The Daily Northwestern, with some including sexualized acts led by upperclassmen to punish younger players for making errors in practices and games.The former player, who asked to stay anonymous, informed The Daily Northwestern that sexualized hazing activities occurred in the group’s locker space. One typical practice, called”running,” involved a more youthful player being restrained while 8 to 10 older players engaged in a sexualized act in the locker room. Variations of “running”happened throughout certain portions of the year, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. “It’s a stunning experience as a freshman to see your fellow freshman colleagues

get ran, however then you see everyone bystanding in the locker space, “the previous player told The Daily Northwestern.”It’s just an actually abrasive and barbaric culture that has penetrated throughout that program for several years on end now.”Editor’s Picks According to the paper, the former player reported his claims to the school in late 2022, and he talked to detectives during a six-month, university-commissioned probe whose findings were launched Friday.Northwestern pointed out an “anonymous whistleblower “in its executive report of the investigation.The school said the hazing claims could be”mainly supported”and that”there had actually been considerable chances to discover and report”what had taken place, however private investigators did not find sufficient proof to prove coaches learnt about the activities. Private investigators also got different perspectives on the conduct following interviews with present and former players.Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was suspended Friday for two weeks without pay, one of numerous actions executed in Northwestern’s reaction. Other measures consisted of no more preseason practices off school in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where a few of the supposed hazing occurred, and a new football locker space monitor who will not

report to Fitzgerald or his staff.Northwestern on Saturday said in a statement to ESPN that it will not comment about the examination beyond what it launched Friday. Sources with direct understanding told ESPN that detectives were already aware of the accusations described by the previous player.” Our very first top priority is to support and secure our students, including the boy who brought these matters to our attention and all student-athletes who had the guts to come forward in this independent examination,”Northwestern said in Saturday’s statement.”That is why the university right away opened this examination upon knowing of the claims and why we took decisive action once we ascertained the realities.”Fitzgerald, a decorated alum who has coached Northwestern since 2006, stated in a declaration Friday that he was extremely dissatisfied to hear about the hazing accusations and had no anticipation of the occurrences.” Northwestern football prides itself on producing not just professional athletes, but great young men with character befitting the program and our university,”Fitzgerald said in his statement. “We hold our student-athletes and our program to the greatest standards; we will continue to work to go beyond those requirements moving forward.”