Northwestern football players won't be at Big Ten media days - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — Northwestern football players Bryce Gallagher, Rod Heard II and Bryce Kirtz will not attend Big Ten media days on Wednesday because of the increased attention on the program's hazing scandal.

In a joint statement, the three Wildcat juniors said they decided not to participate in the events after speaking with their families, teammates and interim coach David Braun, who will attend Wednesday. Northwestern players have not spoken to the media since the July 10 firing of coach Pat Fitzgerald. University leaders have not held any news conferences, although president Michael Schill spoke Monday to The Daily Northwestern, the student newspaper.

«This was very difficult since we were excited about the opportunity to participate in this great Big Ten tradition, and to talk about the game we love and the season ahead,» Gallagher, Heard and Kirtz said in their statement. «But given the recent events involving the Northwestern football program, we did not want our participation to be dominated by the hazing issue and steal the focus away from football and the upcoming season. We are proud members of the NU football program and want our on-field performance and off-field conduct to always reflect the values of the university and our fans.»

Braun said he supports the players' choice to not attend.

«The decision from our players to forgo Big Ten Media Day was entirely theirs, and they approached it with a great deal of maturity and thoughtfulness,» Braun said. «I'm fully supportive of both their reasoning and the decision itself, and I look forward to attending the event.»

Northwestern is facing four lawsuits from former football players alleging widespread hazing and abusive behavior in the program. Fitzgerald is the