Big Ten Roundup (July 8): Pat Fitzgerald Suspended, Ohio State Lands 4-Star Recruit

Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald has been suspended for two weeks following an investigation of hazing within the football program, while Ohio State and Iowa picked up commitments from four-star Miles Lockhart and three-star Rashad Godfrey Jr.

The Northwestern football hazing investigation that started earlier this year has finally concluded, resulting in a two-week suspension of head coach Pat Fitzgerald without pay. 

In the recruiting sphere, Ohio State football added to its embarrassment of riches with the commitment of four-star cornerback Miles Lockhart, while Iowa picked up a commitment from a three-star cornerback in Rashad Godfrey Jr.

Here's everything you need to know in today's Big Ten Roundup:

Pat Fitzgerald Suspended

Things are only getting more bleak for Northwestern football following last year's disastrous 1-11 season. 

It was first reported by ESPN's Adam Rittenberg yesterday morning that Pat Fitzgerald would be suspended for two weeks while entering his 18th year at the helm of the Wildcats' football team. 

Coach Pat Fitzgerald will serve a two-week, unpaid suspension beginning today and other measures have been implemented, including no more off-campus practices in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the team trained in August for years.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) July 7, 2023

The University also released an investigation summary that can be found here. 

In the summary, Northwestern announced the following eight actions it will be taking as a result:

•  Head coach Fitzgerald has been placed on a two-week suspension without pay, beginning immediately.

• Football practices at “Camp Kenosha” in Wisconsin will be permanently discontinued (Camp Kenosha is where Northwestern football used to host its training camp). 

• The University will require monitoring of the football locker room by someone who doesn’t report to the football coaching staff.

• The University will create an online reporting tool specifically for student athletes to anonymously report incidents of potential hazing or hazing-related concerns.

• The University will provide and require annual mandatory anti-hazing training for all coaches, staff members and student-athletes, with an emphasis on reporting options, the duties to report, discipline for future violations and the fact that hazing is not acceptable regardless of consent.

• The University will form an internal working group comprising Northwestern leaders across various disciplines to create a report on policy development, organizational culture, communication, training and enforcement. The group will solicit input from external experts and will make their report open to the entire community.

• Northwestern Athletics will better utilize the annual student-athlete-survey process to ensure coaches are aware of and act on student concerns.

•  Northwestern Athletics will work with the NCAA and Big Ten Conference to ensure all processes and rules are followed.

The investigation into hazing within the Northwestern football program first opened on Jan. 11 and was conducted by Maggie Hickey of the ArentFox Schiff law firm. The eight actions to be taken were made in response to the recommendations of Hickey.  

Though no specific players or staff were cited, the investigation found the claims to be credible, and stated that the coaches on the football team had, "significant opportunities to discover and report [the hazing]."

“I was very disappointed when I heard about the allegations of hazing on our football team,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Northwestern football prides itself on producing not just athletes, but fine young men with character befitting the program and our University. We hold our student-athletes and our program to the highest standards; we will continue to work to exceed those standards moving forward.”

Additionally, Northwestern Athletic Director Derrick Gragg released a statement on the investigation. 

“Northwestern Athletics prides itself on providing a world-class student-athlete experience, which includes a safe and respectful environment for all of our students, coaches and staff,” said Gragg. "“We respect the courage of the individuals who came forward to make us aware of the issue, and we vow to do our part to create a more positive environment moving forward.”

Since the suspension is beginning immediately, Fitzgerald will not miss any games during Northwestern's impending 2023 football season. 

Miles Lockhart Commits to Ohio State

The rich just get richer in the Big Ten, as Ohio State added its 18th overall commit of its 2024 football recruiting class and 13th four-star commit this past week in Miles Lockhart. 

Lockhart hails from Chandler, Arizona, and is the Buckeyes' second four-star commit of the 2024 class alongside Bryce West. Ohio State currently has the second-overall ranked 2024 recruiting class in the country behind only defending national champion Georgia, according to 247 Sports. 

For more on the commitment of Lockhart, check out the full story on our sister site Buckeyes Now. 

Rashad Godfrey Jr. Commits to Iowa

The vaunted Iowa defense has added another weapon to its ranks with the commitment of the three-star cornerback from Florida, Rashad Godfrey Jr.

Godfrey Jr. is the Hawkeyes' 18th commit of the 2024 recruiting class, which ranks 31st-overall in the country according to both 247 Sports and the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. 

For more on the commitment of Godfrey Jr., check out the full story on our sister site Inside the Hawkeyes. 

Related Stories on Big Ten Football:

• 2023 INDIANA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: The Big Ten recently announced game times and TV designations for the first three weeks of the 2023 college football season, as well as the kickoff time for Indiana's homecoming game against Rutgers. Check out the full schedule. CLICK HERE
• B1G TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: Welcome to our Big Ten men's basketball transfer portal tracker, where we'll keep you updated on the latest incoming and outgoing transfer news for all 14 Big Ten teams this offseason. CLICK HERE
• B1G RECRUITING NEWS: Maryland picked up a four-star prospect to keep him in his home state, and Michigan State landed a commitment from a three-star cornerback. CLICK HERE