Northwestern has been accused of being tone deaf as more accusations arise in the school’s hazing scandal.
Their choice of gear won’t help matters.
Several Wildcats players and coaches were spotted wearing shirts bearing the message “Cats against the World” and the number 51. Fired coach Pat Fitzgerald wore No. 51 when he played for Northwestern in the 1990s.
When asked about the shirts, interim head coach David Braun said, “It certainly isn’t my business to censor anyone’s free speech.”
A clear shot of the "Cats Against the World" shirt that some Northwestern coaches/staff members were wearing at practice, with Pat Fitzgerald's old jersey #51 on them (as @Bradley_Locker first noted)@cbschicago pic.twitter.com/3fvnc0GEND
— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) August 9, 2023
The shirts didn’t go over well with athletic director Derrick Gragg.
“I am extremely disappointed that a few members of our football program staff decided to wear “Cats Against the World” t-shirts,” Gragg said in a statement. “Neither I nor the University was aware that they owned or would wear these shirts today. The shirts are inappropriate, offensive and tone deaf.”
Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg releases a statement expressing disappointment in the “tone deaf” T-shirts worn by coaches at today’s practice. pic.twitter.com/A6Rrc4FcrU
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 9, 2023
The shirts come after Gragg announced last month that the school will institute mandatory anti-hazing seminars for all sports teams.
Several former Northwestern athletes have said they were victims of hazing while at the school. The university is currently facing several lawsuits related to the hazing allegations. Fitzgerald has said he was unaware of any hazing in the football program.