Former Northwestern All-American Safety Brandon Joseph to Enter Transfer Portal
Dec 30, 2021
Northwestern Wildcats safety Brandon Joseph (16) defends during the second half of an NCAA football game against Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
One of the best safeties in the country is reportedly headed to the transfer portal.
According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph will enter the portal after playing the last three seasons for the Wildcats. Joseph was at his best during the 2020 campaign when he was a consensus All-American.
Joseph arrived at Northwestern as a 3-star prospect in the class of 2019, per 247Sports' composite rankings. The Texas native surpassed all realistic expectations and became the leader of a Wildcats defense that reached the Big Ten Championship Game during a shortened season in his second year on campus.
He tallied 46 tackles, six interceptions and two passes defended in eight games for Northwestern and was a major reason the program not only reached the conference title game but also challenged Ohio State with that Big Ten championship on the line.
In fact, Joseph had an interception against the Buckeyes to go with two picks each in games against Wisconsin and Iowa.
The 6'1", 192-pounder's ability to come through in the biggest games put him under the spotlight for 2021, and he responded with 79 tackles, four passes defended, three interceptions, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Max Olson of The Athletic suggested "Brandon Joseph instantly becomes one of the best players in the portal. Everybody's gonna want him."
Joseph is a veteran who can cover receivers downfield, come up and make plays against the run, and deliver in the most important games. Whichever team lands him will immediately upgrade its secondary and improve its ceiling as a contender.
No. 6 Michigan Cruises Past Northwestern, Improves to 7-0
Oct 23, 2021
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 23: Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a first half touchdown with teammates while playing the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
For the second time in the Jim Harbaugh era, the Michigan Wolverines are off to a 7-0 start after their 33-7victory over Northwestern on Saturday at the Big House.
The Wolverines have had some close calls this season, but they have been able to make the necessary plays to come out on top. Their defense has been mauling opponents, allowing just 15.5 points per game entering Saturday's matchup with the Wildcats.
Northwestern has been trying to find week-to-week consistency all season. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald's team has now alternated wins and losses through the first seven games.
Michigan did get off to a slow start, holding a 10-7 lead at halftime. The third quarter is when the Wolverines were able to pull away. They scored 17 points thanks to rushing touchdowns by Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins.
The rushing attack carried Michigan's offense in the win. It had 294 yards on 54carries. Corum and Haskins both had two rushing touchdowns.
The Wolverines defense continued their stellar play. They only allowed 233 yards and 10first downs.
Saturday was a perfect encapsulation of what has made Michigan so successful to start the 2021 season.
The defense stormed out of the gate on fire. Northwestern's first three drives combined to take 16 plays and gained 38 yards. Ryan Hilinski did get 29 yards on his first throw, but his next 10 passes went for a grand total of 16 yards.
Michigan's defense has been applying pressure aplenty in the early going, the biggest positive for UM thus far.
There was a brief moment late in the second quarter and early in the third quarter when it looked like Northwestern had found a soft belly in the defense.
Not counting two rushing plays to run out the clock for halftime, the Wildcats had back-to-back drives that gained 124 yards. Evan Hull gained 75 yards on one play with a touchdown run with 2:16 remaining before halftime.
After those two drives, though, Michigan's defense was able to tighten things back up. It didn't face a drive of more than nineplays for the rest of the game.
Harbaugh and his staff also made adjustments on the offensive end to blow the game open. Their first drive of the second half went 74 yards on seven plays, culminating with Corum's touchdown run.
Special teams also helped the Wolverines pull away. Cornelius Johnson blocked a punt midway through the third quarter to help set up Haskins' touchdown from 13 yards out three plays later.
There are still aspects of this Michigan team that show up each week and suggest this group might struggle against better competition.
The passing game was virtually non-existent against Northwestern. Cade McNamara remains a very limited passer. He only averaged 4.8 yards per attempt on Saturday, his second-lowest mark of the season (2.9 vs. Washington).
Harbaugh did get freshman J.J. McCarthy in the game during the fourth quarter when the result was well in hand.
Listen, I’m sorry to be that guy…but you have to let 9 play. He is so much more dynamic. He brings so much more to the table. This Michigan offense is so limited with McNamara.
Cade is a great kid. He has done a fine job. But McCarthy can be a difference maker.
McCarthy only threw five passes, so it's hard to make any grand proclamations about his skill set from this game.
At some point, though, the Wolverines will need to throw the ball to win a game. For now, they can celebrate being 7-0 heading into a marquee matchup against Michigan State next week.
Northwestern Still Seeking Answers at QB
Among the most significant problems facing Northwestern and head coach Pat Fitzgerald right now is what to do at quarterback.
Fitzgerald has clearly recognized that with the way he has handled the position so far this season. Ryan Hilinski, Hunter Johnson and Andrew Marty had all thrown at least 16 passes coming into Saturday.
Johnson looked impressive in the season opener against Michigan State. The senior went 30-of-43 for 283 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-21 loss. He was a mess in the next two games, however, going a combined 15-of-32 with one touchdown and four interceptions.
After Johnson threw three of those interceptions against Duke, Hilinski was elevated to No. 1 on the depth chart. He had his best game of the year last week with 267 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-7 win over Rutgers.
Things came crashing back down to earth for Hilinski against Michigan, though. The sophomore signal-caller had just 114 yards and one interception on 29 pass attempts.
Ryan Hilinski's first interception of the year goes to E.J. Turner off a circus catch that the corner also returned to the Northwestern 15-yard line. Just a brutal showing from the offense today.
The issues at quarterback have derailed the rest of the offense, which has a lot of promising talent that is playing well. Hull has 643 yards and five rushing touchdowns on 101 carries this season after Saturday's loss.
Malik Washington, who caught six passes against Michigan, has three consecutive games with one catch of at least 29 yards.
Fitzgerald apparently saw enough out of Hilinski late in the game that he turned to Carl Richardson for the team's final two possessions. It's hard to evaluate a player on three pass attempts in a blowout, but everything should be on the table moving forward.
Northwestern still has five games left to turn things around. Next week's matchup against a good Minnesota team will likely go a long way toward showing whether or not the Wildcats can salvage a bowl appearance this season.
What's Next?
Northwestern will return home to host Minnesota next Saturday. Michigan will travel to East Lansing to take on No. 9 Michigan State on Oct. 30.
Mike Polisky Resigns as Northwestern AD Amid Former Cheerleader's Lawsuit
May 13, 2021
EVANSTON, II - NOVEMBER 12: The Northwestern Wildcats logo on the floor during a college basketball game against the American University Eagles at the Welsh-Ryan Arena on November 12, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Northwestern athletic director Mike Polisky announced his resignation Wednesday following protests and pushback from the university community following his hire amid a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Northwestern cheerleader Hayden Richardson.
Polisky, who was promoted from his role as Northwestern's deputy athletic director of external affairs on May 3, is one of the defendants named in Richardson's lawsuit.
Drew Schott, sports editor for the Daily Northwestern, provided more information on the lawsuit after Polisky's promotion became official:
Richardson alleges NU did not properly handle complaints she and other cheerleaders raised around sexual harassment. In the lawsuit, Richardson said Polisky accused her of 'fabricating evidence' and did not allow her to meet with Phillips.
Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune reported that while 'some on the search committee urged caution and some were against hiring Polisky' because of the lawsuit, others favored him because of his role in helping Phillips turn Northwestern's athletic department into one of the best in the nation.
Vi Nguyen of NBC Chicago also added more information:
Back in February, Hayden Richardson filed a federal lawsuit against the university, Polisky and three other administrators. She alleged she was sexually harassed and exploited at school events and brought her complaints to school officials but they did not take her complaints seriously.
Richardson said: "I filed it because I can't allow other individuals and women that come after me to be subjected to the same thing."
Northwestern filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, with university president Morton Owen Schapiro stating in a letter addressed to the NU community that "there is no information to suggest that Mike engaged in any conduct that is a violation of policy" upon the initial inquiry portion of an independent investigation.
Former cheer coach Pam Bonnevier, who was also named in the lawsuit, stopped working for NU in October 2020.
Polisky's hire elicited backlash from the Northwestern community.
Per Yunkyo Kim and Jacob Fulton of the Daily Northwestern, six university professors penned an open letter to Provost Kathleen Hagerty criticizing the move, with History Prof. Amy Stanley notably saying the hire was a "slap in the face."
According to Kim and Sophia Scanlan of the Daily Northwestern, former NU cheerleader Erika Carter started a petition with hundreds of signatures demanding an independent investigation into Polisky's Northwestern tenure.
Last Saturday, over 200 members of the Northwestern community protested in front of Schapiro's house, according to Kim and Nick Francis of the Daily Northwestern.
Polisky has his backers, including Darren Rovell of the Action Network and Teddy Greenstein of PointsBet:
A long list of the prestigious athletes, alumni and executives at Northwestern have written a letter to the Board of Trustees in support of their new athletic director Mike Polisky.
I'd like to sign as well in support of Mike Polisky. Does a tweet count? https://t.co/mBtIbFxVQs
— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) May 12, 2021
Others in the media criticized the hire, including Stewart Mandel of The Athletic and Kevin B. Blackistone of the Washington Post:
Northwestern's AD search:
-- Took 4 months -- Promoted someone named as a defendant in a cheerleader's discrimination lawsuit. -- No introductory press conference -- Mass student protest. -- Resigns.
Now, a linguistics professor is temporarily running a B1G athletic department.
One other note: Kudos to the student media at @DailyNU_Sports and @insidenu who held the school accountable. @Lassimak in particular with her reporting.
"But I do know this: The hiring was insulting to Richardson and her former teammates who corroborated her claims," Blackistone wrote.
It was embarrassing to alumni such as me who, like proud alums of any school anywhere, have developed a fanaticism for our school that we express most fervently by cheering for its teams.
It was infuriating to faculty, from whose ranks six women wrote an open letter of protest to provost Kathleen Hagerty on Wednesday.
And it was not surprising.
Polisky had served as Northwestern's deputy athletic director of external affairs since 2010 before his promotion.
Northwestern linguistics professor Robert Gundlach, who serves as the university's faculty athletics representative to the Big Ten conference as well as the NCAA, will be serving as the school's interim AD.
The school's athletic director search committee recommended four people for the job, per Schott.
The other three candidates were former Northwestern basketball player and former New York Knicks executive Anucha Browne, Duke senior deputy director of athletics/administration of legal affairs Nina King and Northwestern deputy athletic director for administration and policy Janna Blais, who was the school's interim AD before Polisky's hire.
Polisky was hired to replace James J. Phillips, who served as Northwestern's AD from 2008 to 2020 before leaving last December to become the ACC's new commissioner.
Northwestern Cheerleader Hayden Richardson Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Jan 29, 2021
Northwestern helmets seen on the field before an NCAA college football game against Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
A Northwestern University cheerleader filed a federal Title IX lawsuit saying the school attempted to cover up complaints of sexual harassment stemming from a requirement that women on the team mingle with drunken fans and alumni without school supervision.Â
In a 58-page complaint, senior Hayden Richardson reported multiple, detailed occasions where former cheerleading coach Pam Bonnevier instructed women to interact with the school's donors for financial gain, sending members of the team to a private area for "elite" ticketholders where they were groped and verbally abused. According to the complaint, no male members of the team were ever asked to do so.
Women on the team reportedly asked if they could pair up when making their rounds through the tailgate lots and donor events but were denied by Bonnevier.
“It became clear to [Richardson] that the cheerleaders were being presented as sex objects to titillate the men that funded the majority of Northwestern’s athletics programs,” the lawsuit alleges (h/t Chicago Tribune's Elyssa Cherney). “After all, the happier these men were, the more money the university would receive from them.”
It took more than a year before the school opened an official investigation of Richardson's complaints through the Title IX compliance office, a probe that allegedly began after an associate athletic director asked for additional testimonials from team members then accused Richardson of forging the statements.Â
The lawsuit further alleges the university violated Richardson's Title IX rights by failing to inform her of the school's findings.Â
Richardson, who earned nearly $10,000 in scholarships through the team, would be forced to pay back all expenses incurred from travel, equipment and practice as a member of the team should she quit or be dismissed from the program. A school contract provided by Richardson's attorney to the Chicago Tribune noted the senior would have to pay back between $2,000-$4,000 if she left the team.
Bonnevier and the associate AD are both listed as defendants in the lawsuit, though Bonnevier is no longer employed by the school.Â
Per Cherney:
"To date, Richardson hasn’t seen the findings of that probe, the lawsuit states. Though her reports helped trigger the investigation, she was listed as a 'witness' and not the complainant since she requested anonymity. As a result, she was not entitled 'to be informed of the outcome of the investigation or opportunity to appeal any findings or sanction,' the lawsuit says."
“This is not the highlight, by any means, of my life or time at Northwestern but it is certainly the most impactful,” Richardson told Cherney. “While there have been extreme detriments and times where I was very sad and hurt by the actions of the university, I am here, I am bringing the lawsuit forward and I’m going to do what is necessary to ensure other young women don’t experience the same thing that I did.”
The suit seeks damages for emotional distress and lost career and learning opportunities.Â
Northwestern issued a statement reiterating its commitment to "fostering an environment in which all members of our community are safe, secure and free from discrimination or harassment of any form" but declined to comment or confirm details on any harassment reports it may have received, citing the privacy of individuals involved.Â
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Agree on 10-Year Contract amid NFL Rumors
Jan 27, 2021
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald calls out a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Massachusetts, in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern underwent quite a transformation last season, and it sure wasn't the kind the Wildcats welcomed. They became the first team to go from playing in the Big Ten championship game to finishing last in the division the following year. They're looking for a quick turnaround. (AP Photo/Jim Young, File)
After flirting with NFL teams this offseason, Pat Fitzgerald has reached an agreement on a new long-term extension with Northwestern.
Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips announced a 10-year extension with Fitzgerald that keeps him with the school through 2030.
Fitzgerald included a statement in the announcement:
"From the moment I stepped on campus as an undergraduate, I have believed this is the finest University in the country, with the potential to offer an unmatched student-athlete experience. Stacy, Jack, Ryan, Brendan and I have always been grateful to call Northwestern our home, and be part of the Wildcats family. With the unparalleled leadership of President Morty Schapiro, athletic director Jim Phillips, senior vice president for business and finance Craig Johnson, vice president and general counsel Stephanie Graham, athletic department chief financial officer Kevin White, and Chairmen Lanny Martin, Bill Osborn and Pat Ryan, alongside so many others, we have built the foundation to compete for championships in tandem with the best academic and personal development opportunity anywhere in college football. We all have a lot to be proud of, but our best is yet to come."
While Fitzgerald has frequently been mentioned as a potential head coach in the NFL, he's never shown a strong interest in leaving Northwestern.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in December that NFL teams were "expected to make formal requests" to speak with Fitzgerald after the Wildcats' bowl game against Auburn.
Despite seven head-coaching vacancies when this offseason began, Schefter reported Jan. 11 that Fitzgerald turned down every request to speak with teams. Six of the jobs have been filled, leaving the Houston Texans as the only team waiting to make a decision.
Fitzgerald played linebacker at Northwestern from 1993 to 1996. He was a two-time winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award in 1995 and 1996.
The Wildcats hired Fitzgerald as their head football coach in 2006. He is the school's all-time leader in wins (106) and has more bowl appearances (10) in 15 seasons than the combined total of every other coach in program history (six).
Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald: 'I Fully Support' OSU Earning Big Ten Title Berth
Dec 12, 2020
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald calls out a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Massachusetts, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Jim Young)
Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald is in favor of Ohio State being given a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game despite it only playing five games this season.
According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Fitzgerald said:Â "We couldn't predict where the pandemic would lead each team. To Ohio State's credit, they're undefeated. They've beaten everyone they've had the chance to play. I fully support the decision."
The Big Ten initially stipulated that teams would only be eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship Game if they played at least six games this season, but the rule was amended this week to allow for OSU to be part of the title game.
The Buckeyes are 5-0 and ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, but they have had three games canceled this season because of COVID-19.
A game was called off against Maryland after positive tests within the Terrapins' program before Ohio State's COVID-19 issues led to the cancellation of a game against Illinois, and this week's scheduled rivalry game against Michigan didn't happen amid the Wolverines dealing with positive tests and contact tracing.
Northwestern, which beat Illinois on Saturday to move to 6-1 on the season, will be OSU's opponent in the Big Ten Championship Game after winning the Big Ten West.
Fitzgerald joked that his Wildcats will be "underdogs by like 70" against quarterback Justin Fields and the high-powered Ohio State offense.
The Northwestern head coach thinks so highly of Ohio State, in fact, that he said he would vote them as the No. 2 team in the nation if it was up to him.
Ohio State is fourth behind undefeated Alabama and Notre Dame and one-loss Clemson, and the Buckeyes having played only five games has plenty to do with it.
They are likely to qualify for the CFP should they beat Northwestern to win the Big Ten and move to 6-0, although there could be a scenario where Ohio State gets shut out.
If Clemson beats Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game and Florida beats Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, those teams will each have one loss and may all have enough support to comprise the top four and push Ohio State down to No. 5.
Northwestern QB Commit Aidan Atkinson Arrested on 2018 Sexual Assault Charges
Nov 22, 2019
Fairview High School quarterback Aidan Atkinson, a 2020 Northwestern commit, was arrested in Colorado and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault toward multiple juvenile girls on a party bus in September 2018. Atkinson was also a juvenile at the time.Â
Mitchell Byars of the Boulder Daily Camera reported Friday that Atkinson faces charges of sexual assault on a helpless victim, sexual assault overcoming will, sexual assault incapable of appraising conduct, attempted sexual assault and five charges of unlawful sexual contact.
"Northwestern is not permitted to comment on any prospective student-athlete until such time as they sign a National Letter of Intent," NU associate athletic director Pat Kennedy told Byars.
Atkinson announced his commitment to the Wildcats in November 2018.
The Fairview High School senior was scheduled to play for the Knights against Cherry Creek High School in the Colorado 5A playoffs Friday night after they defeated Cherokee Trail High School in the opening round last Friday.
His status for the game is now "unclear," per Byars.
Boulder County district attorney Michael Dougherty said, "As things develop we will be able to give more information to the public."
Northwestern Commit Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen Ineligible for Taking Too Many Classes
Aug 11, 2019
A Northwestern football commit has reportedly been ruled ineligible by the Michigan High School Athletic Association for taking too many class credits. Â
According to Matt Schoch of the Detroit News, Walled Lake Western high school wide receiver Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen may miss the upcoming season because of a credit issue. Head coach Alex Grignon said the school is appealing on the receiver's behalf and explained Yaseen's classification level was changed after he was home-schooled prior to arriving at Walled Lake Western as a freshman in 2016.
"So when he came in as a freshman, they counted him as a sophomore, and then they changed it but never said anything," Grignon said of Yaseen taking too many credits above grade level. "Well they treated it as him getting held back and not fixing his grade, so his high school clock started the year before high school."
Walled Lake Western is in the middle of a second appeals process after the first one was turned down, but Grignon at least had encouraging news from Yaseen's future college.
"I talked to Northwestern [Thursday], they said, 'Hey, we've got his back, 100 percent. It's fine with us, it's just unfortunate he doesn't get to play this fall, doesn't get to experience his senior year,'" Grignon said, per Schoch.
According to 247Sports' composite rankings, the 6'1", 180-pound receiver is a 3-star prospect and the No. 401 player nationally, the No. 69 wide receiver nationally and the No. 11 player in Michigan from the 2020 recruiting class.
He is a key part of a Northwestern class that is ranked 25th in the country by 247Sports and will be tasked with competing against Big Ten programs such as Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State in the coming years.
