Unanswerable question

[xxxbobxxx]

Assume for the moment that CR had not been the whistleblower. Assume one of the John Does, identity (though not CR) still unknown. Could be a lesser player, could be an otherwise previously admired player - you simply don’t know. Rest plays out as it has on both sides. Diaz, Demos, Hank, etc.

Does that change the landscape for any of you? (I will bet heavy that the enablers will not respond. They can’t. If you think about the options, speaks volumes for the discourse. This may draw attention of phat and 320 - but ppd, gcg, feral - among the rest will ignore this thread as though the question was never asked…)

 

[Hail To Purple]

It doesn't change a thing. The issue is not who was the whistleblower, but whether there was even anything to "blow the whistle" about to begin with. A lot of people here think there wasn't.

 

[JimStarr777]

Hope Fitz gets every last penny in his lawsuit.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Assume for the moment that CR had not been the whistleblower. Assume one of the John Does, identity (though not CR) still unknown. Could be a lesser player, could be an otherwise previously admired player - you simply don’t know. Rest plays out as it has on both sides. Diaz, Demos, Hank, etc.

Does that change the landscape for any of you? (I will bet heavy that the enablers will not respond. They can’t. If you think about the options, speaks volumes for the discourse. This may draw attention of phat and 320 - but ppd, gcg, feral - among the rest will ignore this thread as though the question was never asked…)

Will we go round in circles? Will we fly high like a bird up in the sky?

I didn’t know that I was required to respond to ever post you make Bob with the same thoughts I had said multiple times. Have a nice day.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Other than not thinking so poorly of Richardson, it would not change a thing.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

I don't care who was the whistle blower. It's the hidden behavior behind the scandal that is disgraceful

 

[EvanstonCat]

Assume for the moment that CR had not been the whistleblower. Assume one of the John Does, identity (though not CR) still unknown. Could be a lesser player, could be an otherwise previously admired player - you simply don’t know. Rest plays out as it has on both sides. Diaz, Demos, Hank, etc.

Does that change the landscape for any of you? (I will bet heavy that the enablers will not respond. They can’t. If you think about the options, speaks volumes for the discourse. This may draw attention of phat and 320 - but ppd, gcg, feral - among the rest will ignore this thread as though the question was never asked…)

Changes it for me. Right now I just believe this was largely a stupid and evil kid with an axe to grind and a bunch of other kids and lawyers looking for a money grab. Oh and plus one pathetic kid journalist and a rag of a student newspaper that had no desire to look into the facts or find the truth, or consider balance or objectivity in their obsession to get the scoop, the sensational the better (in that I suppose Medill is preparing these young shrills very aptly for our modern media, but I digress). From what it sounded like to me, any shenanigans as gay and sick as they may be were entirely voluntary. Many players came out and said they just walked away from it with no repurcussions. And the way the team stuck together (except the freshman and commits, the only ones who didn’t know the truth for themselves, but who probably got scared about the false stories of hazing) says it all to me. If it were true, if hazing happened and it was that traumatic as we were led to believe, I would have expected this team to have a lot more attrition. My definition of hazing includes the element of coercion and there seems to be none here and as disgusted as I am with the notion of car washes and running, who am I to tell adults what they should or shouldn’t do when given the choice? Richardson is caught on tape scheming his crime and the motivation is clear. He’s clearly a very untalented QB who shouldn’t have been given a scholarship (thanks Jake) in the first place, and should be thankful he saw the field at all when he can’t even get off the bench at UW Platteville (which think about it for a moment, underscores our pathetic record of QB recruiting since McCall left and why I hope for better days ahead when Jake is finally canned and we have a new regime in place). Any John Doe’s with the balls to step forward (and if you don’t have those balls you’re even less believable) include kids who stayed 5 years and who also praised the program and Fitz years after. But, we are supposed to believe that they didn’t just see the money bags.

The eternal optimist that I am, I think there is a silver lining in all this that we have a better chance to move on from mediocrity, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think Fitz got jobbed or that the University effed this up big time.

 

[Curdog7]

Assume for the moment that CR had not been the whistleblower. Assume one of the John Does, identity (though not CR) still unknown. Could be a lesser player, could be an otherwise previously admired player - you simply don’t know. Rest plays out as it has on both sides. Diaz, Demos, Hank, etc.

Does that change the landscape for any of you? (I will bet heavy that the enablers will not respond. They can’t. If you think about the options, speaks volumes for the discourse. This may draw attention of phat and 320 - but ppd, gcg, feral - among the rest will ignore this thread as though the question was never asked…)

Not really worth replying to but it’s a slow day here. Who the whistleblower is/was doesn’t matter. How the school handled the situation is the high crime here.

As an aside, I saw Schill at homecoming event last weekend. He looks like more of a weasel in person

 

[EvanstonCat]

It doesn't change a thing. The issue is not who was the whistleblower, but whether there was even anything to "blow the whistle" about to begin with. A lot of people here think there wasn't.

Well to be fair, while I agree a lot of people here think there wasn’t (me being one of them), if it weren’t for Carl not only having such an obvious axe to grind but being caught on tape outlining his scheme clearly and unequivocally, maybe some of us might be more inclined to believe this wasn’t a hatchet job and money grab (and poor and unethical journalism to boot). And then Gragg and Shill’s actions might not be seen as so obviously incompetent. This having all been said, the OP presents a strawman, because I don’t believe anyone but Richardson would have done this (to wit nobody else has in 17+ years was evil enough nor vengeful enough to create this fabrication that there was forced hazing) as the others are just clearly in it for the money. Otherwise why didn’t they come forward earlier?

Speaking of which, and permit me this rant, the one guy that actually comes forward in 17+ years of alleged hazing happens to be caught on tape admitting his evil scheme. While throughout those years, NU had the lowest transfer ratio of almost any school. Fitz is beloved and praised by his players (including some of the money grabbers). And so we are supposed to believe Carl and then all these other guys (none of whom are particularly wealthy and those who are named are all on the record saying how great Fitz was in their lives or stayed in this program for 5 years even after they had earned their undergraduate degree) who come out with lawyers looking for a payday? So in short, if it wasn’t Carl and it wasn’t a guy caught on tape saying he was going to make up something to get Fitz fired, then maybe I wouldn’t think those who think there was any coerced hazing aren’t idiots.

I would ask OMM or A&O or whoever the defendants have hired for the lawsuits to write me a check for laying out their opening statement, but I can’t charge them for the obvious now can I.

 

[NUCat320]

It doesn't change a thing. The issue is not who was the whistleblower, but whether there was even anything to "blow the whistle" about to begin with. A lot of people here think there wasn't.

Boys will be boys.

@EvanstonCat
Where’s the recording? Is it on YouTube? Is it legendary? Can I hear it?

It is ironic that NU was brought down by its inability to recruit a QB. While the retrograde offense and incompetent WR coaching weren’t enough to get Fitz fired, the actions of someone who clearly was not good enough for the B1G were.

 

[Jaguar 88]

The whole thing was well, kind of pathetic. The conspiracy theorist in me still says it was allowed to proceed to blow up to get rid of Fitz, as it was clear to anyone that the football program wasn't going anywhere soon, plus the fact that Ryan and the small fish donors gave a ton of mullah for that sports complex to win. The past 3 out of 4 seasons have been embarrassing due to bad coaching and not so hot recruiting overall. It is funny that Ryan has been mum throughout this whole thing. Wasn't Fitz his boy?

 

[CSCatFan1]

The whole thing was well, kind of pathetic. The conspiracy theorist in me still says it was allowed to proceed to blow up to get rid of Fitz, as it was clear to anyone that the football program wasn't going anywhere soon, plus the fact that Ryan and the small fish donors gave a ton of mullah for that sports complex to win. The past 3 out of 4 seasons have been embarrassing due to bad coaching and not so hot recruiting overall. It is funny that Ryan has been mum throughout this whole thing. Wasn't Fitz his boy?

You’re clueless.

 

[stpaulcat]

Changes it for me. Right now I just believe this was largely a stupid and evil kid with an axe to grind and a bunch of other kids and lawyers looking for a money grab. Oh and plus one pathetic kid journalist and a rag of a student newspaper that had no desire to look into the facts or find the truth, or consider balance or objectivity in their obsession to get the scoop, the sensational the better (in that I suppose Medill is preparing these young shrills very aptly for our modern media, but I digress). From what it sounded like to me, any shenanigans as gay and sick as they may be were entirely voluntary. Many players came out and said they just walked away from it with no repurcussions. And the way the team stuck together (except the freshman and commits, the only ones who didn’t know the truth for themselves, but who probably got scared about the false stories of hazing) says it all to me. If it were true, if hazing happened and it was that traumatic as we were led to believe, I would have expected this team to have a lot more attrition. My definition of hazing includes the element of coercion and there seems to be none here and as disgusted as I am with the notion of car washes and running, who am I to tell adults what they should or shouldn’t do when given the choice? Richardson is caught on tape scheming his crime and the motivation is clear. He’s clearly a very untalented QB who shouldn’t have been given a scholarship (thanks Jake) in the first place, and should be thankful he saw the field at all when he can’t even get off the bench at UW Platteville (which think about it for a moment, underscores our pathetic record of QB recruiting since McCall left and why I hope for better days ahead when Jake is finally canned and we have a new regime in place). Any John Doe’s with the balls to step forward (and if you don’t have those balls you’re even less believable) include kids who stayed 5 years and who also praised the program and Fitz years after. But, we are supposed to believe that they didn’t just see the money bags.

The eternal optimist that I am, I think there is a silver lining in all this that we have a better chance to move on from mediocrity, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think Fitz got jobbed or that the University effed this up big time.

Excellent post ECat. However, your eternal optimism, while admirable, is questionable. At times you seem to have lost hope. Hang in there guy, I believe this will work out as you predict.

 

[Jaguar 88]

You’re clueless.

Well, the evidence seemed well somewhat circumstantial at the time and they canned Fitz rather quickly. Going from a two week suspension to getting canned before any inquest should raise some eyebrows.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Changes it for me. Right now I just believe this was largely a stupid and evil kid with an axe to grind and a bunch of other kids and lawyers looking for a money grab. Oh and plus one pathetic kid journalist and a rag of a student newspaper that had no desire to look into the facts or find the truth, or consider balance or objectivity in their obsession to get the scoop, the sensational the better (in that I suppose Medill is preparing these young shrills very aptly for our modern media, but I digress). From what it sounded like to me, any shenanigans as gay and sick as they may be were entirely voluntary. Many players came out and said they just walked away from it with no repurcussions. And the way the team stuck together (except the freshman and commits, the only ones who didn’t know the truth for themselves, but who probably got scared about the false stories of hazing) says it all to me. If it were true, if hazing happened and it was that traumatic as we were led to believe, I would have expected this team to have a lot more attrition. My definition of hazing includes the element of coercion and there seems to be none here and as disgusted as I am with the notion of car washes and running, who am I to tell adults what they should or shouldn’t do when given the choice? Richardson is caught on tape scheming his crime and the motivation is clear. He’s clearly a very untalented QB who shouldn’t have been given a scholarship (thanks Jake) in the first place, and should be thankful he saw the field at all when he can’t even get off the bench at UW Platteville (which think about it for a moment, underscores our pathetic record of QB recruiting since McCall left and why I hope for better days ahead when Jake is finally canned and we have a new regime in place). Any John Doe’s with the balls to step forward (and if you don’t have those balls you’re even less believable) include kids who stayed 5 years and who also praised the program and Fitz years after. But, we are supposed to believe that they didn’t just see the money bags.

The eternal optimist that I am, I think there is a silver lining in all this that we have a better chance to move on from mediocrity, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think Fitz got jobbed or that the University effed this up big time.

Thank you for the response.

So then, we can set CR aside and simply point to those John Doe complaints and be upset about the program. CR may have been whatever, but others stepped up and revealed the problems. Perhaps we focus on those problems.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Well, the evidence seemed well somewhat circumstantial at the time and they canned Fitz rather quickly. Going from a two week suspension to getting canned before any inquest should raise some eyebrows.

Consider the source before you respond and consider the attack a badge of honor. Those extremists have little left to grab on to.

 

[Jaguar 88]

Consider the source before you respond and consider the attack a badge of honor. Those extremists have little left to grab on to.

Don't worry, I have thick skin. Besides nobody on here will know what really happened or what really went down so it boils down to individual theories, etc, so in a way I could very well be clueless. It is just my experience that pretty much most everything boils down to money, thus my belief that there might have been some in high places that wanted Fitz gone. The odds of him bringing the program back without an overhaul of the offensive system were very low, etc. This scandal gave them their opening to act.

 

[Bwm57]

“Enablers?”

 

[xxxbobxxx]

“Enablers?”

The folks that empowered PF and glossed over any flaw or error so that he believed he was the god they believe him to be. From simpletons like folks around here to Pat Ryan. PF is a product of his environment - which created a demigod from a simple human that played great FB and was in the right place when tragedy struck the program.

 

[Hail To Purple]

The folks that empowered PF and glossed over any flaw or error so that he believed he was the god they believe him to be. From simpletons like folks around here to Pat Ryan. PF is a product of his environment - which created a demigod from a simple human that played great FB and was in the right place when tragedy struck the program.

While what you are saying about the timing of Fitz's appointment to head coach is true it really doesn't tell the whole story at all. After a rather slow start for a few years, which is exactly what would be expected from someone with no head coaching experience, Fitz turned into a very successful head coach.

With an overall record of 110-101 and a 10 Bowl record of 5-5 he did as well as many Div I coaches and much better than a lot of them who no longer have jobs.

I wonder if you or anyone else was complaining about him during all the time he was so successful or is this something that now you can suddenly jump on. Maybe just so you have something to write about so that you are not IGNORED.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

While what you are saying about the timing of Fitz's appointment to head coach is true it really doesn't tell the whole story at all. After a rather slow start for a few years, which is exactly what would be expected from someone with no head coaching experience, Fitz turned into a very successful head coach.

With an overall record of 110-101 and a 10 Bowl record of 5-5 he did as well as many Div I coaches and much better than a lot of them who no longer have jobs.

I wonder if you or anyone else was complaining about him during all the time he was so successful or is this something that now you can suddenly jump on. Maybe just so you have something to write about so that you are not IGNORED.

I have long stated that I believed PF was a very good recruiter and faceman. But the team’s success and failures were more a result of whatever coaches were in play. When parts of the team began to founder, PF also was too loyal and held back the team potential by not identifying and replacing those assistants.

It’s why several on this board despise me. It grew from my criticism of PF - despite also stating that I believed PF would be much better in the AD office and should have been moved to Asst AD and probably been in Gragg’s seat.

It has also driven me nuts that he has such blindly loyal followers that truly believe the man is flawless, a modern version of JC.

 

[hdhntr1]

I have long stated that I believed PF was a very good recruiter and faceman. But the team’s success and failures were more a result of whatever coaches were in play. When parts of the team began to founder, PF also was too loyal and held back the team potential by not identifying and replacing those assistants.

It’s why several on this board despise me. It grew from my criticism of PF - despite also stating that I believed PF would be much better in the AD office and should have been moved to Asst AD and probably been in Gragg’s seat.

It has also driven me nuts that he has such blindly loyal followers that truly believe the man is flawless, a modern version of JC.

I do not think there is anyone here that thinks he is flawless. But he has done plenty for the program and for the most part a solid if not the best alternative for NU. He was also pretty important to fundraising. And he did voluntarily move on from a couple of those assistants this year

 

[EvanstonCat]

Thank you for the response.

So then, we can set CR aside and simply point to those John Doe complaints and be upset about the program. CR may have been whatever, but others stepped up and revealed the problems. Perhaps we focus on those problems.

No. Those others include players that stuck with the program for 5 years. And players who praise Fitz and NU Years after they graduated. None were particularly well off. Obvious money grab.

 

[EvanstonCat]

I have long stated that I believed PF was a very good recruiter and faceman. But the team’s success and failures were more a result of whatever coaches were in play. When parts of the team began to founder, PF also was too loyal and held back the team potential by not identifying and replacing those assistants.

It’s why several on this board despise me. It grew from my criticism of PF - despite also stating that I believed PF would be much better in the AD office and should have been moved to Asst AD and probably been in Gragg’s seat.

It has also driven me nuts that he has such blindly loyal followers that truly believe the man is flawless, a modern version of JC.

Far from flawless. Not a very good recruiter and a mediocre coach who had his moments when he could ride Mike Hankwitz but was fatally flawed in his judgment of coordinators (or at least consistency in that department as he did hire Hank and Braun). And way too loyal and accepting of incompetence including his own. His offensive philosophy was laughable as was his aversion to returning pints, playing freshmen, hitting the portal more aggressively and figuring out NIL. I liked his aggressiveness on 4th down though.

But, he made a huge contribution to the program in getting the facilities and the stadium funded and wasn’t complicit in running a program steeped with forced hazing.

 

[Overly_Invested_Cat]

Let's just say that you were repeatedly the victim of "running" being dry-humped by naked teammates, forced to access the showers through a gauntlet of naked linemen, and coerced into taking naked snaps from a naked center in front of your teammates, wouldn't you be pissed off and have an axe to grind?

Was nobody on this board ever bullied? Were none of you hazed? Were none of you ever intentionally humiliated in front of your peers? If so, how did it make you feel? Didn't you want revenge against the perpetrators? And if you had an opportunity to exact revenge wouldn't you take it?

The summary report shows that multiple current and former players were similarly bullied, so why are so many of you so intent on shaming the lead whistleblower? Would you have preferred that these practices continued in Fitz's program?

 

[xxxbobxxx]

I do not think there is anyone here that thinks he is flawless.

Have you met corbi and CSC as exhibits A and B

 

[xxxbobxxx]

No. Those others include players that stuck with the program for 5 years. And players who praise Fitz and NU Years after they graduated. None were particularly well off. Obvious money grab.

How do you know who the John Does are? Have they been revealed?

 

[xxxbobxxx]

That’s a big part of the crux of the argument. Other players have reported that they could “opt out” of those kind of situations, which may not technically meet the definition of “hazing” even if they were uncomfortable situations.

Weird that everyone wouldn’t opt out. So you believe some masochists voluntarily participated and then reneged and complained? Wow - interested in buying a bridge?

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Let's just say that you were repeatedly the victim of "running" being dry-humped by naked teammates, forced to access the showers through a gauntlet of naked linemen, and coerced into taking naked snaps from a naked center in front of your teammates, wouldn't you be pissed off and have an axe to grind?

Was nobody on this board ever bullied? Were none of you hazed? Were none of you ever intentionally humiliated in front of your peers? If so, how did it make you feel? Didn't you want revenge against the perpetrators? And if you had an opportunity to exact revenge wouldn't you take it?

The summary report shows that multiple current and former players were similarly bullied, so why are so many of you so intent on shaming the lead whistleblower? Would you have preferred that these practices continued in Fitz's program?

The Whistleblower is two faced. Everything I heard is the team couldn’t stand him. Why would a teammate tape him? Do as I say not as I do as shown by his own dry humping tape. He apparently thought it was funny. It kills me that some completely take these allegations at face value. Again once and for all please tell me who was dry humped and where, and how it happened. Please confirm that you know this was forced against their will. These players ALL had multiple opportunities to report this and remain anonymous, yet we have zero evidence thst any did? I will reserve the right to change my opinion is some actual variable information is released. Until then I am withholding condemnation of the program!

 

[Curdog7]

Let's just say that you were repeatedly the victim of "running" being dry-humped by naked teammates, forced to access the showers through a gauntlet of naked linemen, and coerced into taking naked snaps from a naked center in front of your teammates, wouldn't you be pissed off and have an axe to grind?

Was nobody on this board ever bullied? Were none of you hazed? Were none of you ever intentionally humiliated in front of your peers? If so, how did it make you feel? Didn't you want revenge against the perpetrators? And if you had an opportunity to exact revenge wouldn't you take it?

The summary report shows that multiple current and former players were similarly bullied, so why are so many of you so intent on shaming the lead whistleblower? Would you have preferred that these practices continued in Fitz's program?

So you have read the report? Please do share.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Weird that everyone wouldn’t opt out. So you believe some masochists voluntarily participated and then reneged and complained? Wow - interested in buying a bridge?

No. I’m saying the situation is a lot more complex and nuanced than most of the dialogue around here.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

The Whistleblower is two faced. Everything I heard is the team couldn’t stand him. Why would a teammate tape him? Do as I say not as I do as shown by his own dry humping tape. He apparently thought it was funny. It kills me that some completely take these allegations at face value. Again once and for all please tell me who was dry humped and where, and how it happened. Please confirm that you know this was forced against their will. These players ALL had multiple opportunities to report this and remain anonymous, yet we have zero evidence thst any did? I will reserve the right to change my opinion is some actual variable information is released. Until then I am withholding condemnation of the program!

You are right - none of it happened. Only occurrences were among the various alpha males that chose to be dry humped and not opt out. Those team managers, Lou’s source, the dozen of player sources are a bunch of liars. And all those players that backed up PFs character simply and collectively forgot to deny the acts occurred. And all those other players that have remained silent are simply very busy.

You interested in a bridge?

 

[xxxbobxxx]

No. I’m saying the situation is a lot more complex and nuanced than most of the dialogue around here.

Must have missed the nuance clause in the University rules on hazing. And don’t seem to remember PF saying zero tolerance except…

But you got your demigod and no amount of reason, logic or rational will stop you from taking extreme reaches, interpretations and assumptions to cover his errors.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

And still nobody refuted the national media would have run with the story if the daily didn’t break it. So, once again, another red herring to bash the daily.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Was nobody on this board ever bullied? Were none of you hazed? Were none of you ever intentionally humiliated in front of your peers? If so, how did it make you feel? Didn't you want revenge against the perpetrators? And if you had an opportunity to exact revenge wouldn't you take it?

Almost everyone is hazed / bullied at some point in their path to adulthood.
How you respond says a lot about how you are wired, how you were raised, how you feel about yourself.
Families deal with that stuff all the time.

On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is infuriating, I'd put the alleged Northwestern bullying at about a 3 - Which probably explains why no player has been disciplined as far as I know.

 

[Curdog7]

You are right - none of it happened. Only occurrences were among the various alpha males that chose to be dry humped and not opt out. Those team managers, Lou’s source, the dozen of player sources are a bunch of liars. And all those players that backed up PFs character simply and collectively forgot to deny the acts occurred. And all those other players that have remained silent are simply very busy.

You interested in a bridge?

Must have missed the nuance clause in the University rules on hazing. And don’t seem to remember PF saying zero tolerance except…

But you got your demigod and no amount of reason, logic or rational will stop you from taking extreme reaches, interpretations and assumptions to cover his errors.

So is your outrage sated with just the Fitzgerald firing? What about the other coaches? How about the players who perpetrated the hazing? Why is the media silent about the people who committed the hazing/crimes?

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

You are right - none of it happened. Only occurrences were among the various alpha males that chose to be dry humped and not opt out. Those team managers, Lou’s source, the dozen of player sources are a bunch of liars. And all those players that backed up PFs character simply and collectively forgot to deny the acts occurred. And all those other players that have remained silent are simply very busy.

You interested in a bridge?

Thanks for coming around Bob.

 

[Gocatsgo2003]

Must have missed the nuance clause in the University rules on hazing. And don’t seem to remember PF saying zero tolerance except…

But you got your demigod and no amount of reason, logic or rational will stop you from taking extreme reaches, interpretations and assumptions to cover his errors.

Why did the Whistleblower not make a contemporaneous report if he thought he was hazed? Fitz’s complaint claims that Richardson said in his own post-spring meeting that NU “undersold how great the older players were when the alleged Whistleblower was being recruited to play football at Northwestern.” Obviously that’s just one side of the story, but I’m assuming that was noted by Fitz contemporaneously if he’s willing to include direct reference in his own compliant. If that was Richardson’s position in spring 2021, what changed?

That’s just a single example of why the whole situation isn’t nearly as cut-and-dried as most of the discussion on these boards would indicate. There are plenty more such examples.

I’ve also not been one to cover Fitz’s errors, frankly. I was calling for many position coaches and coordinators to get fired for many years, also publicly stating that Fitz’s leash was getting tighter and tighter as the on-field product deteriorated. But I probably don’t have to tell you that, considering your expertise in utilizing the search/archive function.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

So is your outrage sated with just the Fitzgerald firing? What about the other coaches? How about the players who perpetrated the hazing? Why is the media silent about the people who committed the hazing/crimes?

Media is terrible in this country. Have been for at least 15 years. I agree - hate the mainstream media - you got my support. But hating on student paper that got a chance to break a national story - that would be broke regardless - is simply ignorant.

I agree also that we are missing the evil player side. I suspect that is why nobody is talking about the events. I suspect some names we have championed participated - and are now trying to keep their heads low.

I’m as disappointed in Hank as PF. He too had a chance to own it, even if only to say that he should have known. Haven’t heard statements from other coaches - probably more head low.

I want discovery. I want trials. I want things out under penalty of perjury.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Why did the Whistleblower not make a contemporaneous report if he thought he was hazed? Fitz’s complaint claims that Richardson said in his own post-spring meeting that NU “undersold how great the older players were when the alleged Whistleblower was being recruited to play football at Northwestern.” Obviously that’s just one side of the story, but I’m assuming that was noted by Fitz contemporaneously if he’s willing to include direct reference in his own compliant. If that was Richardson’s position in spring 2021, what changed?

That’s just a single example of why the whole situation isn’t nearly as cut-and-dried as most of the discussion on these boards would indicate. There are plenty more such examples.

I’ve also not been one to cover Fitz’s errors, frankly. I was calling for many position coaches and coordinators to get fired for many years, also publicly stating that Fitz’s leash was getting tighter and tighter as the on-field product deteriorated. But I probably don’t have to tell you that, considering your expertise in utilizing the search/archive function.

I don’t deny that CR has an axe to grind. Nor do I champion him as a person.

But you have a dozen former players that acknowledge the hazing, former team managers, Lou’s source. Too much for coincidence.

Guilty people lie all the time. Much rarer for groups of people to coordinate a lie to attack someone, particularly a very popular person. It’s not like PF was DJT.

So combine those accusations with the lack of denials across the thousands of former players and personnel (some speak to PF character but fail to deny the accusations) - that is pretty convincing. That will when every jury that I have ever paneled. So better hope PF has some fantastic defense because he won’t have a jury of apostles.