The ultimate athletic scenario for a university president is to have a successful coach who is an alum of the school and will stay there for the long haul, winning big while declining overtures elsewhere. That dream scenario takes a problematic twist when controversies arise and a power struggle ensues.
Presidents Gordon Gee of West Virginia and Michael Schill of Northwestern have been living through the problematic twist segment of the job. Gee is dealing with a truly obnoxious power play from former men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, while Schill is trying to navigate a freshly public hazing scandal in Pat Fitzgerald’s football program.
The details of Schill’s situation came to light over the weekend, thanks largely to some strong reporting by the Daily Northwestern student newspaper. The paper, via two anonymous players, detailed disturbing allegations of ritual hazing of freshmen by upperclassmen. The hazing was said to be sexual in nature and described as an ingrained tradition within the program. “It’s just absolutely egregious and vile and inhumane behavior,” one of the anonymous players told the Daily.
