If I was given 100 guesses as to what college football program would face a major scandal just a few weeks before Fall camp opened up, Northwestern wouldn’t be on the list. But here we are. College Football strikes again. You never know what you’ll get or when and from whom.
Regardless of whether you believe all allegations made against the program recently or you think they are exaggerated, one thing everyone can agree on is that this is a PR nightmare for Northwestern. They are already facing battles with Evanston over their $800 million renovation plan and its effects on the city, a cheerleader scandal, this football issue, and now an emerging baseball scandal as well. Things are not going well. Given his recent job change, Jim Phillips must feel like the luckiest man alive.
So what comes next for Northwestern? They are going to have to hire a head coach. This is a tricky dynamic. The University is in a world of trouble right now, but long term, they are still a Big Ten school with lots of money and resources. So who’s a good fit? They may prefer an experienced coach to navigate the present shaky culture out of the abyss. But will a proven elder entity want to take on all of these issues he didn’t cause? Good luck recruiting with the pitch of “We went 1-11 and can no longer push to you the wholesome program narrative Fitz lived on for decades”.
Let’s explore another path Northwestern could choose. Hiring Tommy Rees. Hear me out.