Former Northwestern players retain prominent civil rights attorney amid hazing scandal

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Eight former student-athletes from Northwestern University have retained prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump amid allegations of a hazing scandal that prompted the university to fire longtime head football coach Pat Fitzgerald last week.  

Crump and co-counsel Steven M. Levin announced Monday that they have spoken with several Northwestern student-athletes in regard to the hazing allegations surrounding the football program that surfaced earlier this month. 

Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald walks the sidelines during the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. (Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports)

"Whether the coaches at Northwestern approved or participated in the harassment of these players or not, they are responsible for allowing and enabling a toxic, disgusting, and damaging culture in their programs," Crump said. 

NORTHWESTERN'S PAT FITZGERALD 'ABSOLUTELY KNEW' ABOUT HAZING WITHIN FOOTBALL PROGRAM, FORMER PLAYER SAYS

"Sadly, our research suggests that this kind of abuse of student athletes may be far more common on college campuses than we know, because there is tremendous pressure to keep quiet. It’s time for a reckoning to protect young athletes."

Northwestern President Michael Schill announced in an open letter on July 10 that the decision to fire Fitzgerald after 17 seasons with the Wildcats came as a result of an independent investigation that found him at fault over his "failure to know and prevent significant hazing in the football program." 

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats team before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. (Jeffrey