This year’s Big Ten Media Days will only feature players from 13 Big Ten schools.
Amid a hazing scandal that led to the ouster of former head coach Pat Fitzgerald earlier this month, Northwestern’s players who were scheduled to make the trip to Indianapolis – linebacker Bryce Gallagher, defensive back Rod Heard II and wide receiver Bryce Kirtz – announced Tuesday that they would not attend media days.
The players said they made the decision after consulting with parents, teammates and Northwestern interim coach David Braun, who will still be in attendance as scheduled on Wednesday. They opted not to participate because they “did not want our participation to be dominated by the hazing issue and steal the focus away from football and the upcoming season.”
A statement from our student-athlete representatives regarding Big Ten Media Day: pic.twitter.com/er6vCO3iRH
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) July 25, 2023
Their announcement comes in the wake of multiple former Northwestern players filing lawsuits against the university alleging that hazing and sexual abuse were rampant within the program and that the university failed to protect them.
Braun, who took over as interim head coach following Fitzgerald’s firing, will still be attending Big Ten Media Days as the lone Northwestern representative who will meet with the media Wednesday.
Statement from Interim Head Football Coach David Braun pic.twitter.com/DKyCORBgi6
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) July 25, 2023
