Some Northwestern fans are ditching their tickets
Florida A&M suspends all football activities
CHICAGO — The day Northwestern University fired head football coach Pat Fitzgerald in response to the team’s hazing scandal, alums Jim Nugent and Vicki Olivera Nugent immediately decided to cancel their football season tickets and requested a refund in protest.
“We simply believe the president of the university caved in to political correctness and wrongly fired a distinguished leader on the Northwestern campus without cause,” Jim Nugent said.
The couple from north suburban Glenview said they had paid roughly $800 for tickets this season, and have been season ticket holders for several years. They said they contacted Northwestern’s ticket office and were told the refund would be processed “but to be patient, because a lot of people are canceling tickets,” Olivera Nugent recalled.
“I completely understand your decision,” a Northwestern official responded via email to Jim Nugent’s request to cancel. “I will put down your request, and the operations team will process that refund for you. They will be able to process that refund early next week, and if there are any questions feel free to reach out.”
As the university endures continued fallout from recent football player hazing revelations, some fans are grappling with whether they’ll continue attending football games or ditch their tickets for the upcoming season. The first home game is Sept. 9 against the UTEP, after the season opener Sept. 3 against Rutgers in New Jersey.
Social media posts indicate the prestigious Big Ten school has come under fire from multiple angles, with some fans expressing anger over the alleged mistreatment of football players and others in an uproar over Fitzgerald’s dismissal.
University President Michael Schill in a statement earlier this month said 11 current or former football players admitted hazing has been ongoing and systemic in the football program, including “forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature.” A few days later, the university also fired its head baseball coach amid allegations of bullying and creating a toxic culture.
Several Northwestern football recruits have decommitted from the program. Former players have begun filing lawsuits against Fitzgerald, Schill and other university administrators; attorneys have indicated more legal action is pending.
“We lived in fear,” one former player said at a news conference Wednesday. “Don’t live in fear . ... Don’t be silent. There is a support system here for you. We hear you and we love you.”
It’s unclear how many fans have tried to cancel their football tickets in the wake of the scandal: University officials did not respond to Chicago Tribune questions about recent football ticket sales and refund requests.
One alum went on Facebook to express outrage at the hazing of football players, adding that he couldn’t support “that culture,” but “if they clean it up I may be back.”
“On Monday morning, I canceled my Northwestern season football tickets,” the July 11 post said. “After three emails with the ticket agent, it finally got done, but not before they begged me to reconsider until I ‘had all of the facts.’ ”
The alum added that he planned to donate part of the ticket reimbursement to The Daily Northwestern, the student newspaper that first revealed details of the nature of the hazing.
“I have the facts, thanks to The Daily Northwestern,” the Facebook post continued. “With the work they’ve done, they deserve the support.”
Another alum went on Twitter to share her mixed feelings after the hazing news broke.
“I’ve never been prouder to be a Medill and Daily Northwestern alumna,” the post said. “I’ve never been sadder to be an NU alumna. I’ve never been more embarrassed and angry to be a NU football season ticket holder. Yes all these feelings can exist at once.”
FLORIDA A&M: In Tallahassee, Fla., Florida A&M has banned its players from the team’s facilities after a rap video featuring some Rattlers was shot in their locker room without proper permission being granted.
Coach Willie Simmons told The Associated Press on Saturday that the team facility, weight room and access to the stadium field were off-limits to all players until he and the administration could sort out who was involved in the video shoot.
The only exception is players who need medical treatment from doctors and athletic trainers, he said.
Simmons said they planned to meet with players who were visible in the video over the weekend and a team meeting is scheduled for Monday. The players were not immediately identified.
“We’ll determine at that point if more severe penalties need to be handed down,” Simmons told the AP.
The rapper in the video is Real Boston Richey, who is from Tallahassee, where Florida A&M’s campus is located. Richey, whose real name is Jalen Foster, performed at Florida A&M’s homecoming game last season.
Simmons said he was alerted Friday by the FAMU administration to the video posted on social media. He later announced the suspension of team activities with a tweet.
Simmons said in the post that while he is proponent of free speech and all forms of musical expressions, the team has a responsibility to protect the university’s image.
“The video contained graphic language that is not consistent with Florida A&M’s core values, principles, and beliefs, and an internal investigation is underway to determine who authorized the use of not only the athletic facility at Galimore-Powell, but also licensed apparel that potentially violates university branding and licensing agreements,” Simmons wrote.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference will hold its football media day for its 12 members on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama. Simmons said Florida A&M still plans to attend.
FAMU athletic department spokesman Josh Padilla said quarterback Jeremy Moussa and defensive back Javan Morgan are expected to take part in SWAC media day and don’t appear to have been involved in the unauthorized filming of the video in the locker room.
The Rattlers are scheduled to have their first practice on Aug. 4. They open the season at home against Jackson State on Sept. 3.
Simmons has posted a 33-12 record since taking over in December 2017, including three straight nine-win seasons.