Browns’ Newsome calls Northwestern hazing scandal ‘troubling’
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Greg Newsome II doesn’t typically hide his pride in his college alma mater. That’s even as Northwestern University has become the face of the biggest college scandal in the last month.
Multiple current and former Northwestern football players have alleged a culture of sexualized hazing and/or institutional racism in the football program, some going back decades. The school, which launched an independent investigation in December into the allegations, initially announced it had suspended coach Pat Fitzgerald on July 7 before changing course and firing him on July 10.
Newsome, who played at Northwestern from 2018-20 before being selected by the Browns at No. 26 overall in the first round of the 2021 draft, was asked about the scandal that has enveloped his school after Tuesday’s training camp practice at The Greenbrier.
“It’s definitely troubling,” Newsome said. “I had a great experience at Northwestern. I have respect for all those guys. But at the end of the day, Cleveland Browns is my team now and that’s what I’m focused on.”
Newsome is one of the more active Browns players on social media, which has led to some controversy in the offseason about his role on the defense under now-fired coordinator Joe Woods. He also had some words on Twitter about the situation involving Northwestern in a series of now-deleted tweets.
On July 10, prior to Fitzgerald being fired, Newsome said in a now-deleted tweet: “OK now this is getting out of hand. Coach Fitz is a great man. During my time at NU I have never felt belittled or treated any different for being Black or a minority. Stop it.”
Later, after Fitzgerald was fired that day, Newsome tweeted: “Nice knowing you Evanston won’t be seeing me NO more”
Newsome explained the reason for taking the tweets down on Tuesday.
“I mean, I’m an alum, so that’s always going to be my school for sure,” Newsome said Tuesday. “You’ve got to respect everyone, so I didn’t want to say anything that would come off as disrespectful to anyone. So I decided to delete it.”
Newsome did say he has reached out by text message to Fitzgerald, who was the school’s head coach since 2006 after having been an All-America player there in the mid-1990. He has not had a chance to speak with his former coach.
There have been five lawsuits filed on behalf of former Northwestern student athletes since the allegations emerged. Newsome would not talk about if he was the witness to any of the hazing during his time at the school.
“No, like I said, I had a great time at Northwestern,” Newsome said. “Nothing but respect for the coaches, but I’m just trying to focus on this journey right now.”