Another day, another set of twists and turns in the ongoing saga at Northwestern.
After Pat Fitzgerald was fired as the program's football coach, just days after being handed a two-week suspension in the wake of the institution's internal investigation into hazing allegations, lawsuits have sprouted forth and Fitzgerald retained a lawyer to "protect his rights."
Monday, another layer was added when noted attorney Ben Crump, on behalf of former Northwestern quarterback Lloyd Yates, filed suit in Illinois against Northwestern University.
Webb's entire statement is included below, but perhaps what's most noteworthy is how Webb made certain to articulate that Fitzgerald was not mentioned anywhere in the state court lawsuit:
"With regard to our client, Coach Pat Fitzgerald, it is important to note that this complaint (and, we assume, the 30 others that plaintiffs' lawyers say they will file) does not name our client as a defendant.
"In addition, while the complaint makes detailed, factual allegations about student athletes' behavior, it fails to show that our client, Coach Fitzgerald, had actual, contemporaneous knowledge of the behaviors described in the complaint."
Webb then goes into further defense of Fitzgerald, the famed former Wildcats star linebacker who served atop his alma mater for 17 seasons, won 110 games and advanced the program to 10 postseason appearances.
"Neither Mr. Crump's latest press conference nor the filed complaint succeed in rebutting the in-depth, time-sensitive and investigation led by ArentFox Schiff attorney Maggie Hickey -- namely, that Coach Fitzgerald had no knowledge whatsoever of any form of hazing within the Northwestern Football Program."
Earlier Monday, Crump filed the lawsuit on behalf of Yates -- with the plaintiff asserting that a "brainwashing culture" of hazing had become the norm within the Wildcats's program.
