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Northwestern athletic director blasts football staffers for ‘tone deaf’ shirts supporting Fitzgerald

Northwestern football players warm up during team's practice in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023.
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Northwestern football players warm up during team's practice in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023.
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Published 7:33 PM

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg criticized assistant football coaches and staff members for wearing shirts supporting fired coach Pat Fitzgerald at practice.

Gragg called the shirts “inappropriate, offensive and tone deaf” given the hazing and abuse scandal engulfing the football program and other teams.

Gragg says he and the university were unaware that the assistants and staff members owned the black shirts with “Cats Against the World” and Fitzgerald’s old number “51” in purple type or would wear them at practice.

He issued the statement after interim coach David Braun called it a free speech issue and said his focus was on supporting his players and staff.

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