Yates

[Sheffielder]

Trib breaking a story quoting Lloyd Yates.

‘Degrading, dehumanizing, embarrassing:’ former Northwestern football player first to open up about alleged hazing ahead of planned lawsuit

Lloyd Yates hasn’t watched a football game in years. Friends and family always thought that was strange. After all, Yates was a “sports junkie” growing up, a star quarterback at Oak Park River Forest High School who made…

www.chicagotribune.com

(I think a subscription is required to read)

My question: Do we think Yates is the "other" corroborating former player that has been previously referenced from the start, or do we think he is a newly-quoted party in this situation? I'm not discounting the merit of his statements either way, but I'm trying to discern if this is new news or a re-hashing of previously known information, since the media is fine with letting us just assume the worst of everything.

EDIT: Also references incidents at Kenosha, which would seem to align with the first round of details from the report.

 

[Medill '03]

Trib breaking a story quoting Lloyd Yates.

‘Degrading, dehumanizing, embarrassing:’ former Northwestern football player first to open up about alleged hazing ahead of planned lawsuit

Lloyd Yates hasn’t watched a football game in years. Friends and family always thought that was strange. After all, Yates was a “sports junkie” growing up, a star quarterback at Oak Park River Forest High School who made…

www.chicagotribune.com

(I think a subscription is required to read)

My question: Do we think Yates is the "other" corroborating former player that has been previously referenced from the start, or do we think he is a newly-quoted party in this situation? I'm not discounting the merit of his statements either way, but I'm trying to discern if this is new news or a re-hashing of previously known information, since the media is fine with letting us just assume the worst of everything.

EDIT: Also references incidents at Kenosha, which would seem to align with the first round of details from the report.

It seemed like QBs might be Fitz’s undoing. I just had no idea it would be this way.

 

[villox]

You can view an archived version here

 

[KramerCat91]

What is the running referred to in the article?

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

What is the running referred to in the article?

Laps.

 

[kaTNap]

It's so d--n frustrating cheering for this program. As hard as it is to win at NU, then they pile this cr*p on top of it. Should Fitz have been fired? Hell, everyone from the AD down to the custodian should have been fired. Maybe twice. It's just unconscionable.

 

[corbi2961]

Trib breaking a story quoting Lloyd Yates.

‘Degrading, dehumanizing, embarrassing:’ former Northwestern football player first to open up about alleged hazing ahead of planned lawsuit

Lloyd Yates hasn’t watched a football game in years. Friends and family always thought that was strange. After all, Yates was a “sports junkie” growing up, a star quarterback at Oak Park River Forest High School who made…

www.chicagotribune.com

(I think a subscription is required to read)

My question: Do we think Yates is the "other" corroborating former player that has been previously referenced from the start, or do we think he is a newly-quoted party in this situation? I'm not discounting the merit of his statements either way, but I'm trying to discern if this is new news or a re-hashing of previously known information, since the media is fine with letting us just assume the worst of everything.

EDIT: Also references incidents at Kenosha, which would seem to align with the first round of details from the report.

NO, he is not the corroborater.

 

[peatymeanis]

It seemed like QBs might be Fitz’s undoing. I just had no idea it would be this way.

Maybe this stuff had something to do with why QBs under Fitz never developed after Thorson left.

 

[Sheffielder]

NO, he is not the corroborater.

Ugh...that makes this even worse.

 

[loyolacat]

I give LLoyd Yates some credit for being upfront...we are headed down a dark alley..and the light at the end of the tunnel will be reached when we have the whole truth and deal with it ......by the end of the lawsuits (how many years will that be ?) hopefully we have no more unanswered questions. My gut still tells me that Pat Fitzgerald will take the high road and acknowledge his mistakes even if he was not aware or gave direction for the actions (my hope) and apologizes to the players harmed.

 

[villox]

Folks, I don’t know about you, but my opinion just solidified. I don’t see why Yates would be making this up. And I think we’ll find out that Fitz was aware to some extent (maybe not how bad it was, but still).

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

Folks, I don’t know about you, but my opinion just solidified. I don’t see why Yates would be making this up. And I think we’ll find out that Fitz was aware to some extent (maybe not how bad it was, but still).

"Yates, who graduated in 2018, is one of a dozen former Northwestern players who have signed on as clients of attorneys Ben Crump and Steve Levin They told the Tribune they plan to file suit against the school in the wake of a snowballing hazing scandal which felled the university’s head football coach Pat Fitzgerald."

...

"Levin said the legal team intends to file a lawsuit against Northwestern that will 'seek an end to this sort of behavior, and that will seek compensatory and potentially punitive damages' for the former players."

 

[Sheffielder]

Folks, I don’t know about you, but my opinion just solidified. I don’t see why Yates would be making this up. And I think we’ll find out that Fitz was aware to some extent (maybe not how bad it was, but still).

First of all, I believe Yates and believe hazing was happening. It's really not that difficult to believe; as a fan I admit to being blissfully ignorant and maybe sorta hoping it was mostly playful in nature and mostly harmless ribbing. In my defense and in defense of most others reading this, we had no meaningful reason to assume otherwise.

That being said...we're now in the lawyer-up zone...where Fitz will vehemently deny even the slightest tiny little bit of culpability which he may have been otherwise willing to acknowledge in time.

Likewise, all players suing will now present the most extreme (but still "technically true") version of their experiences, because quite literally...no combatants are interested in the truth when the adversarial process is in play.

One of the issues with Yates and Richardson now as named accusers: they were mediocre players. In a weird way, I hope more successful players come forward who maybe aren't suing, who will speak mostly favorably of their time at NU but who will also acknowledge "stuff happened that probably shouldn't have."

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

First of all, I believe Yates and believe hazing was happening. It's really not that difficult to believe; as a fan I admit to being blissfully ignorant and maybe sorta hoping it was mostly playful in nature and mostly harmless ribbing. In my defense and in defense of most others reading this, we had no meaningful reason to assume otherwise.

That being said...we're now in the lawyer-up zone...where Fitz will vehemently deny even the slightest tiny little bit of culpability which he may have been otherwise willing to acknowledge in time.

Likewise, all players suing will now present the most extreme (but still "technically true") version of their experiences, because quite literally...no combatants are interested in the truth when the adversarial process is in play.

One of the issues with Yates and Richardson now as named accusers: they were mediocre players. In a weird way, I hope more successful players come forward who maybe aren't suing, who will speak mostly favorably of their time at NU but who will also acknowledge "stuff happened that probably shouldn't have."

Mediocre players?

 

[Sheffielder]

Mediocre players?

Yes, mediocre, and that will always be the first thing that skeptics bring up - bitter former players who had less-than-stellar careers on the field and now have an axe to grind - which may be the case, but that doesn't mean they're lying or those things didn't happen.

 

[villox]

First of all, I believe Yates and believe hazing was happening. It's really not that difficult to believe; as a fan I admit to being blissfully ignorant and maybe sorta hoping it was mostly playful in nature and mostly harmless ribbing. In my defense and in defense of most others reading this, we had no meaningful reason to assume otherwise.

That being said...we're now in the lawyer-up zone...where Fitz will vehemently deny even the slightest tiny little bit of culpability which he may have been otherwise willing to acknowledge in time.

Likewise, all players suing will now present the most extreme (but still "technically true") version of their experiences, because quite literally...no combatants are interested in the truth when the adversarial process is in play.

One of the issues with Yates and Richardson now as named accusers: they were mediocre players. In a weird way, I hope more successful players come forward who maybe aren't suing, who will speak mostly favorably of their time at NU but who will also acknowledge "stuff happened that probably shouldn't have."

There are a lot of players on the team. Most are mediocre. Don’t think that has any bearing or relevance as to their validity as victims. Indeed the power dynamics might indicate it was the lesser or “mediocre” status that allowed them to be victimized in the first place.

 

[peatymeanis]

There are a lot of players on the team. Most are mediocre. Don’t think that has any bearing or relevance as to their validity as victims. Indeed the power dynamics might indicate it was the lesser or “mediocre” status that allowed them to be victimized in the first place.

Yeah, I doubt anyone is hazing a dude like Dan Vitale or JJTBC

 

[Sheffielder]

There are a lot of players on the team. Most are mediocre. Don’t think that has any bearing or relevance as to their validity as victims. Indeed the power dynamics might indicate it was the lesser or “mediocre” status that allowed them to be victimized in the first place.

To be very clear here, I 100% agree. I'm saying...it would be nice if more successful players might also come forward to put this particular criticism to rest. I'm inclined to believe this was less about one's position on the team and more about being a freshman.

 

[ohiovalleycat]

Will any of the players who did the hazing be identified and charged and/or sued?

 

[NJCat]

Will any of the players who did the hazing be identified and charged and/or sued?

That is the big point no one seems to want to address. There were a number of players who were bad dudes and should be punished. Yet somehow they are being made out to be victims in this I don't get it.

 

[CSCatFan1]

Mediocre players?

Mediocre is being generous. Neither Yates nor Richardson were division 1 players, neither should have ever been offered by NU. Both were desperation takes at QB. Their lack of skills became apparent early on. Neither had a chance of getting on the field and both ultimately transferred to D3 programs.

 

[julescat]

Neither Yates nor Richardson were division 1 players, neither should have ever been offered by NU. Both were desperation takes at QB. Their lack of skills became apparent early on. Neither had a chance of getting on the field and both ultimately transferred to D3 programs.

And whose dumbass fault (I guess) is it that they were offered? Fitz Inc became a failure. In all ways.

 

[nu greek]

Mediocre players?

Yates and Richardson excuse me were not even marginal scholarship players and because they didn't play this is all sour grapes BS. The only thing I give Yates credit for is using his name. The kid would be 3rd string at North Central.

 

[CSCatFan1]

And whose dumbass fault (I guess) is it that they were offered? Fitz Inc became a failure. In all ways.

McCall offered Yates. Bajakian offered Richardson.

 

[CSCatFan1]

https://www.insidenu.com/2017/4/22/...eceiver-and-entrepreneur-tilford-ties-chicago

 

[julescat]

McCall offered Yates. Bajakian offered Richardson.

Fitz offered them. And then I guess he did (or allowed to have been done) his Fitz thing to get them out of the program. Very bad..

 

[CSCatFan1]

https://olinblog.wustl.edu/2021/12/...-lloyd-yates-startup-from-vintage-ties-to-ai/

 

[CSCatFan1]

Fitz offered them. And then I guess he did (or allowed to have been done) his Fitz thing to get them out of the program. Very bad..

Guess again.

 

[julescat]

Guess again.

Ok

 

[xxxbobxxx]

McCall offered Yates. Bajakian offered Richardson.

Both hires and retained by PF, the CEO. Where does the buck stop? Maybe the OCs are given complete autonomy to make all recruiting decisions. Sounds like more great oversight decisions.

Again, this defense does not support keeping his job, rather more evidence the guy didn’t do his job.

 

[NUCat320]

Yes, mediocre, and that will always be the first thing that skeptics bring up - bitter former players who had less-than-stellar careers on the field and now have an axe to grind - which may be the case, but that doesn't mean they're lying or those things didn't happen.

I suspect ‘hazing’ was more like ‘bullying with sexual abuse and forced nudity’.

I’d imagine freshmen on the depth chart never had to worry. I’d suspect sophomores not on the depth chart always had to worry.

I wonder if Richardson got it for three years.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

I suspect ‘hazing’ was more like ‘bullying with sexual abuse and forced nudity’.

I’d imagine freshmen on the depth chart never had to worry. I’d suspect sophomores not on the depth chart always had to worry.

I wonder if Richardson got it for three years.

That's a definite possibility. College students are definitely capable of bullying.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Both hires and retained by PF, the CEO. Where does the buck stop? Maybe the OCs are given complete autonomy to make all recruiting decisions. Sounds like more great oversight decisions.

Again, this defense does not support keeping his job, rather more evidence the guy didn’t do his job.

Where have you been Bob? Was worried something happened to you.

 

[peatymeanis]

I suspect ‘hazing’ was more like ‘bullying with sexual abuse and forced nudity’.

I’d imagine freshmen on the depth chart never had to worry. I’d suspect sophomores not on the depth chart always had to worry.

I wonder if Richardson got it for three years.

Given how hard the defense was carrying the team, and how underwhelming our QBs have been, I guess it's not surprising that frustrations were perhaps taken out on those seen as not carrying their weight. I don't think that it's a coincidence that the two known complaints are from underperforming recruits in the QB room.

 

[corbi2961]

Will any of the players who did the hazing be identified and charged and/or sued?

Charged with what? With being childish pricks? Don't be ridiculous.

 

[NUCat320]

Charged with what? With being childish pricks? Don't be ridiculous.

For horseplay!

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Given how hard the defense was carrying the team, and how underwhelming our QBs have been, I guess it's not surprising that frustrations were perhaps taken out on those seen as not carrying their weight. I don't think that it's a coincidence that the two known complaints are from underperforming recruits in the QB room.

Then you will be surprised when other names come out.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Where have you been Bob? Was worried something happened to you.

Cuba for about two weeks. Mostly on a sailboat. Internet not a thing down there.

 

[ohiovalleycat]

Charged with what? With being childish pricks? Don't be ridiculous.

There's absolutely nothing ridiculous about the question. If people are being sued for not stopping something bad, then you don't go after the people who actually did the wrong-doing, that's what is ridiculous. It makes no sense foundationally to skip going after the people who did the alleged abuse, but to jump in and go after others who were supposed responsible for oversight but weren't actually there when the alleged abuse occurred. Where there actual abusers or not? At the minimum, the alleged abusers should be added to the lawsuit too, if it supposedly happened. If there is accountability in this whole hazing situation, then who were the abusers? At Penn State, we know it was Jerry Sandusky. At Michigan State, we know it was Larry Nassar? They are not alleging that Pat Fitzgerald actually did the hazing, so who did? If you're the boss, then how are they going to hold you accountable for workplace harassment if they are not even willing to name who the harasser is ?

 

[corbi2961]

There's absolutely nothing ridiculous about the question. If people are being sued for not stopping something bad, then you don't go after the people who actually did the wrong-doing, that's what is ridiculous. It makes no sense foundationally to skip going after the people who did the alleged abuse, but to jump in and go after others who were supposed responsible for oversight but weren't actually there when the alleged abuse occurred. Where there actual abusers or not? At the minimum, the alleged abusers should be added to the lawsuit too, if it supposedly happened. If there is accountability in this whole hazing situation, then who were the abusers? At Penn State, we know it was Jerry Sandusky. At Michigan State, we know it was Larry Nassar? They are not alleging that Pat Fitzgerald actually did the hazing, so who did? If you're the boss, then how are they going to hold you accountable for workplace harassment if they are not even willing to name who the harasser is ?

The lawsuits are ridiculous in my opinion but unfortunately people bring forth ridiculous lawsuits all the time. That’s a reflection of the times we live in. There is a big difference however between a civil lawsuit and criminal charges. Nothing criminal transpired at NU. Not even close.