NU preps for season with anti-hazing program
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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg praised the school’s football players and coaches for displaying “collective resilience” in preparing for the season, including their participation in anti-hazing training last month.
Gragg, who will attend Sunday’s season opener against Rutgers alongside university president Michael Schill, told ESPN that the team has “done everything we’ve asked them to do” since the firing of longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald on July 10 in the wake of hazing allegations against the program.
Northwestern brought in Protection For All, a consulting firm run by former college athletes Mike McCall and Dan Beebe — also the former Big 12 commissioner — to conduct in-person training on Aug. 3, before the team’s first preseason practice.
The training, which all Northwestern teams will go through before the start of their seasons, covers physical and emotional harassment, discrimination, retaliation, bullying and sexual misconduct. Northwestern also had players meet with the Institute for Sport and Social Justice, which addressed topics such as inclusive leadership, bystander intervention and team culture.
The anti-hazing seminars were conducted in groups, starting with players only and then only with coaches.
In firing Fitzgerald, Schill said the Northwestern football culture had been partially “broken” by the hazing allegations, which were largely supported by a university-commissioned external investigation into the program.
“It was an intensive three-hour-session and [the consultants] said after about the first 10, 15 minutes, guys were relaxed, participating, understanding what they were supposed to do, and did everything that they were asked to do,” Gragg said. “I think everybody understands the importance of conducting themselves in a first-class manner, as it relates to being representatives of themselves, and their families and to this university.
“I think they took it very seriously.”
Beebe told ESPN that Northwestern is “committed to get to the right place,” and can benefit from learning about the consequences of hazing and other misconduct from people outside the program.
“You’ve got to put the cards on the table and recognize no matter what the issues are, people have different viewpoints, whether it’s hazing, sexual misconduct, all that,” Beebe said. “We’re risk managers and we’re here to tell you what the risks are going to be. Whether you agree or disagree, these are the issues that are going to come up when you have certain kind of conduct that’s going to degrade and humiliate other people.
“We’re there to explain what conduct you cannot engage in, or you’re going to have the risk of public scrutiny and legal action.”
No Northwestern players are facing discipline in the hazing scandal, as none were named in the school’s investigation or in any of the lawsuits filed by more than 10 former players against the university. Northwestern has looked into allegations involving Matt MacPherson, the team’s associate head coach and defensive backs coach, but he has continued to work and will coach in Sunday’s opener.
Gragg told ESPN that he does not anticipate further personnel changes with the program, although the university will investigate any specific claims against individuals if they surface. After a surge of lawsuits from former players in July and early August, none have been filed in the past few weeks.
Gragg commended interim coach David Braun and the staff for “keeping the team together.”
“They were committed to that from the start when we first convened a meeting with them back in July, and they’ve stayed true to that,” Gragg said. “They put in a great deal of work, not just obviously during camp, but for the last few months. I’ve been personally to many practices. I’ve watched them. The group seems spirited, they seem engaged, and I think they’re very well prepared and they’re well-organized. They’re ready to go.”
Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is conducting reviews of Northwestern’s overall athletics culture and the reporting systems for hazing and other misconduct. Gragg met virtually with Lynch for the first time Friday. Lynch’s reviews are likely to extend into 2024.
Lawsuits have been filed by a former volleyball player and by three former baseball staff members, alleging abuse. Northwestern has held several meetings with all of its sports’ head coaches since the hazing allegations came to light.
“The coaches, they want people to know that no one should be painted with a broad brush,” Gragg said. “We’ve had some challenges, but by and large, what they’ve built here collectively, especially at a school with high academic performance, is nothing short of amazing.”
In his first interview since Big Ten preseason media day, Gragg responded to an open letter sent Aug. 21 by 86 former Northwestern athletes, which criticized him and Schill for “a clear failure of unbiased and principled leadership” in how they handled Fitzgerald’s firing. The former players said Gragg’s repudiation of a T-shirt worn by players and coaches expressing support for Fitzgerald “worked to incite public opinion against his own program,” and that the athletic director “fosters an environment of uncertainty, distrust, and censorship” in the athletic department.
“When you’re in a position like this, leadership on this level, you have to come to expect scrutiny, criticism,” said Gragg, who was hired by Northwestern in 2021. “There’s a lot of emotion, again, a lot of relationships that are tied into this situation, and I understand that. … At the end of the day, whether people are supportive of the leadership or not, or the decisions that were made, I always go right back to the student-athletes.
“They really need our support right now. Their lives have changed dramatically.”
Gragg said Northwestern has avoided a large drop-off in season-ticket sales. (The team plays its home opener Sept. 9 against UTEP.) Northwestern’s plans to rebuild Ryan Field also remain on track, he said, as former board chair Pat Ryan and his family, who are largely funding the plan, are “still very interested in moving forward with the project.” Gragg said two of Ryan’s sons recently attended practice to meet Braun.
Northwestern will begin its search for Fitzgerald’s permanent successor later this fall, as Gragg said his focus remains on the current team.
“We’re just asking everybody, continue to support us, support the student-athletes,” he said. “We’re moving forward, we’re excited about this year, and we have a great deal of inner support. I’m excited about being the leader here.”
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Tom Luginbill, ESPN Analyst
While not as deep as recent classes, the future of college football is still in good hands (or arms) with the highly developed quarterback prospects in the 2025 class.
While the 2024 recruiting cycle featured an unprecedented number of dual-threat prospects, with two — D.J. Lagway and Julian Sayin — in the top 10, this class features two of the best pocket passers in the past several years.
The top of the ESPN 300 could come down to the wire for Julian Lewis and Bryce Underwood who sit No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Both pocket passers match up with best we have seen at the position and will compete at this week’s Elite 11 Final.
The Elite 11 Final is a showcase event featuring 20 top quarterback recruits that in past years has featured the likes of Matthew Stafford and Bryce Young.
Ahead of this QB showcase, we break down the top five dual-threat quarterbacks and the top five pocket passers in the 2025 class.
Jump to a section:
Pocket passers | Dual threats
Pocket passers
The 2024 NHL draft will take place on June 28 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) and June 29 (11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+) at the Sphere in Las Vegas. As usual, fans of teams at the top of the draft order are excited about the next great prospect their club will add.
Also, many of the top prospects available have last names that sound somewhat familiar.
Here’s a rundown of some of the more prominent players in this year’s draft class who have family ties in the NHL, including a handful who could go early in Round 1.
Macklin Celebrini
F, Boston University
Celebrini is the consensus No. 1 prospect available, with many mock drafts, including one from ESPN’s Rachel Doerrie, projecting him in that spot to the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini’s brother, Aiden Celebrini, was a sixth-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks (No. 171 overall) in 2023 and his father is the current vice president of player health and performance for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
Zeev Buium
D, University of Denver
Buium’s older brother, Shai Buium, was a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2021 (No. 36 overall), and the two siblings won the NCAA championship with Denver during the 2023-24 season.
Adam Jiricek
D, HC Plzen
A likely first-rounder, Jiricek is following in the skate strides of older brother David Jiricek, who was selected No. 6 overall in 2022 by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Berkly Catton
F, Spokane Chiefs
Remember Cory Sarich? He was a 1996 second-round pick (No. 27 overall) by the Buffalo Sabres, played more than 900 NHL games and won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024. Berkly Catton remembers Sarich quite well. He is a second cousin.
Tij Iginla
F, Kelowna Rockets
One of the easier familial connections to make this list, Tij is the son of Jarome Iginla, a Hockey Hall of Famer who played 20 seasons in the NHL and holds the Calgary Flames‘ franchise records for career goals and points.
Cole Eiserman
F, USNTDP
When Cole hears his name in the draft, he’ll be the second Eiserman to do so, as older brother Shane was a fourth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators (No. 100, 2014).
Ryder Ritchie
F, Prince Albert Raiders
Ritchie’s father, Byron Ritchie, was a seventh-round pick (No. 165) by the Hartford Whalers in 1995 and played in more than 300 NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Flames and Canucks.
Jacob Oster
G, Oshawa Generals
Though the last name might not lead you to this conclusion, Oster is a second cousin of Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk and Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.
Aatos Koivu
F, TPS
Aatos Koivu has two famous relatives who had lengthy NHL careers. His father, Saku Koivu, was a first-round pick (No. 21) by the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, who played 1,124 NHL games with the Habs and Anaheim Ducks. Aatos’ uncle, Mikko Koivu, was also a first-round pick (sixth overall in 2001 by the Minnesota Wild) and played 1,035 NHL games, split between the Wild and Blue Jackets.
Max Plante
F, USNTDP
Max is the son of Derek Plante, an eighth-round selection (No. 161, 1989) by the Buffalo Sabres, who played 450 NHL games, including a stint where he won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999. The elder Plante is an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Lukas Fischer
D, Sarnia Sting
This last name should be familiar to Red Wings fans, as Lukas’ father, Jiri Fischer, was a first-round pick (No. 25, 1998) of the Wings and won the Cup with them in 2002.
Carson Wetsch
F, Calgary Hitmen
The longest currently-serving member of the Edmonton Oilers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, is Wetsch’s cousin.
Miroslav Satan Jr.
F, HC Slovan Bratislava
Satan’s father skated 1,050 NHL games, including stints with the Oilers, Sabres, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.
Cole Hutson
D, USNTDP
Hutson’s brother, Lane Hutson, was a 2022 second-round pick (No. 62) by the Canadiens. After helping the U.S. win gold at the IIHF world junior championships, the older Hutson made his NHL debut near the end of the 2023-24 season.
William Samuelsson
F, Sodertalje
Mikael Samuelsson, William’s father, played 699 NHL games, in a career that saw him skate for the Sharks, New York Rangers, Penguins, Panthers, Red Wings and Canucks. He’s currently a development coach with Vancouver.
Noah Lapointe
D, USNTDP
Currently the director of player personnel and director of amateur scouting for the Canadiens, Martin Lapointe, Noah’s father, played in over 900 career NHL games.
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto was placed on the 15-day injured list before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals with tightness in the triceps of his pitching arm.
Manager Dave Roberts said Yamamoto, 25, would undergo testing Sunday to determine the severity of the injury and a recovery timeline.
“He’s a guy that we’re still trying to learn a lot about, and appreciate the fact that the most important time of the season is yet to come,” Roberts said. “His health is paramount. So for us to be proactive and put him on the IL seems like the smartest thing.”
Yamamoto, playing his first year in the majors after departing his native Japan and signing a record $325 million, 12-year contract, is 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA.
Yamamoto left Saturday’s loss to Kansas City after two innings. He said through an interpreter after the game that his scheduled start the previous Thursday against Texas had been pushed back because of the tightness.
He also said the tightness was gone for most of Saturday, but he started feeling it again when he was warming up before the game.
Yamamoto threw two-hit ball over seven innings at the New York Yankees on June 7. He tossed 106 pitches, the fourth straight time he had thrown more than 100.
Roberts said he has been mindful of Yamamoto’s pitch count, but also noted Yamamoto was used to throwing 120 pitches or more when he pitched in Japan.
With Bobby Miller returning to the rotation for Wednesday’s game at Colorado, the Dodgers will still have a five-man starting staff. Clayton Kershaw will also make his first rehab start this week.
Los Angeles’ rotation went into Sunday’s game with the majors’ seventh-lowest ERA at 3.49.
The Dodgers also placed right-hander Michael Grove on the IL with a right intercostal strain. Right-handers J.P. Feyereisen and Michael Petersen were called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. To make room for Petersen on the 40-man roster, right-hander Joe Kelly was transferred to the 60-day IL.
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