CFB Media Reacts to Northwestern Reportedly Firing Pat Fitzgerald Amid Hazing Allegations

Northwestern and head football coach Pat Fitzgerald reportedly parted ways on Monday amid the ongoing hazing allegations surrounding the program.

The university initially handed Fitzgerald a two-week unpaid suspension after a university-commissioned investigation into the allegations made against the football program. One day after the suspension was announced, Northwestern president Michael Schill admitted he “may have erred in weighing the appropriate sanction” for the university’s head football coach.

On Monday, after three former players came forth with allegations of racism within the football program, the university parted ways with Fitzgerald, who had been the Wildcats’ head coach since 2006.

The college football world had plenty of reactions to Northwestern’s decision to fire Fitzgerald, with various media members chiming in on the situation.

Wow. Northwestern fires Pat Fitzgerald.

Just 2 days ago, Northwestern suspended Fitzgerald for 2-weeks... during July which is an off-month for football coaches.

Just 48 hours later, he's fired.

A lot can change in 2 days. pic.twitter.com/o3ALPeaYqw
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) July 10, 2023

I hate this. Pat Fitzgerald is a good human who cared about his players deeply. He ran his program the right way and has a stellar reputation. I have never heard anyone have a bad thing to say about him. This feels wrong.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) July 10, 2023

This Pat Fitzgerald story is why we need to applaud top journalism schools like Northwestern, Ohio State, Syracuse and North Carolina who have never had years of unreported scandals on their campuses
— Ben Swain (@TheBenSwain) July 10, 2023

a byproduct, no doubt, of the fearless reporting by the students at the @thedailynu

college newspapers and the students who run them are so, so important and valuable https://t.co/uCUIRnAQTg
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 10, 2023

Stunning turn of events the last few days.

Northwestern administration looks incredibly incompetent too—running an investigation that led to a news-dumped, two-week suspension positioned when all college coaches are on vacation, only to have to fire the guy. https://t.co/YguhqXfV8D
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 10, 2023

Quite frankly, it was hard to envision the university keeping Fitzgerald in light of the news that had spread in the last few days.

Fitzgerald is arguably the best player and coach in NU history, but leaves behind a legacy that is more than complicated. https://t.co/ir59U7p0SB
— Bradley Locker (@Bradley_Locker) July 10, 2023