Northwestern AD Expresses Disappointment in ‘Tone Deaf’ Shirts Worn by Coaching Staff

Wildcats football staffers appeared to honor former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired amid a hazing scandal within the program.

Hours after Northwestern football coaches were seen at Wednesday’s practice wearing shirts that appeared to honor fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald, athletic director Derrick Gragg has released a statement calling the shirts “inappropriate, offensive and tone deaf.”

Multiple staffers arrived at the facility on Wednesday wearing shirts that read “Cats Against the World” on them and included the No. 51, which is the jersey number that Fitzgerald wore during his Hall of Fame playing career at Northwestern.

“I am extremely disappointed that a few members of our football program decided to wear ‘Cats Against the World’ T-shirts. Neither I nor the university was aware that they owned or would wear these shirts day,” Gragg’s statement read, per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “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.”

When asked about the shirts by reporters, interim head coach David Braun deflected, saying his staff had the right to their opinions.

“It’s not my business to censor anyone’s free speech,” he said, according to ESPN.

Fitzgerald was fired July 10 after the university investigated the football program—and others at the school—for widespread incidents of hazing. Fitzgerald has maintained that he was unaware of such practices but faces multiple lawsuits relating to the matter.