The Northwestern football team may have dug itself into a deeper hole.
Following former head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s firing last month due to hazing allegations within the program, team staffers showed up to Wednesday’s practice wearing T-shirts that appeared to support Fitzgerald.
“Cats Against the World,” the T-shirts read with the No. 51 printed on top.
Fitzgerald, who was the head coach for 17 seasons at Northwestern, wore No. 51 while a star linebacker for the Wildcats during the mid-1990s.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian was among the group that wore the shirts.
“I am extremely disappointed that a few members of our football program staff decided to wear ‘Cats Against the World’ T-shirts,” Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg said in a statement. “Neither I nor the University was aware that they owned or would wear these shirts today.
“The shirts are inappropriate, offensive and tone-deaf. Let me be crystal clear: hazing has no place at Northwestern, and we are committed to do whatever is necessary to address hazing-related issues, including thoroughly investigating any incidents or allegations of hazing or any other misconduct.”
In addition to the hazing accusations from a month-long investigation, Fitzgerald was also accused of having a “culture of enabling racism” in the program.
Northwestern president Michael H. Schill said the hazing included “forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature, in clear violation of Northwestern policies and values.”
Fitzgerald has maintained that he was unaware of the hazing.
Interim head coach David Braun was asked about the shirts on Wednesday after practice.
“All my energy and intention is to go in to make sure this staff and these players have a head coach that has their best interests at the forefront of his mind,” Braun said, according to CBS News.
“I have not put any of that energy into considering the potential of censoring somebody’s free speech.”
Senior wide receiver Bryce Kirtz said the shirts are a memento for the squad sticking together amidst the controversy that has followed the football program this summer.
“Coach Braun, he’s been preaching that we should stick together, especially during a time like this, so the shirts are really a reminder to really allow us to stick together. It’s just a reminder,” Kirtz said.
Northwestern opens the 2023 season on Sept. 3 against Rutgers.
