Northwestern interim coach talks feelings in first game after hazing fallout

The Northwestern Wildcats were 24-7 losers at Rutgers on Sunday afternoon, extending the program's losing streak to 12 consecutive games dating back to last season.

Despite the frustration that comes with that, interim head coach David Braun was simply relieved to get his football team on the field following the hazing scandal that rocked the program this summer. The fallout from that resulted in the firing of long-time head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

It has taken a heavy toll on the program, but Braun said Saturday's game was the "lightest" that he has felt since taking over the interim job. 

Braun was previously the team's defensive coordinator prior to Fitzgerald's firing.

From ESPN:

"This the lightest I've been since I took over, just from a standpoint where we're playing football," said Braun, who was promoted from defensive coordinator July 13. "It's an opportunity to look around, look at these guys. They've been working so hard to get to this point. Are there plenty of things that I need to work on that are very apparent that I'm taking notes on as the game goes? Absolutely. I need to be so much better in this role and look forward to being much better. "But in terms of the heaviness of it, if anything, it was a relief to get to game day."

No other players or coaches other than Fitzgerald have faced any discipline at this point. 

Back in July word initially surfaced from the Daily Northwestern about the hazing allegations when a former player came forward. According to the report, the hazing incidents involved coerced sexual acts. 

Following the initial complaints the school hired an independent law firm to investigate the claims. The investigation found that while players had varying perspectives on what happened, the claims were supported by the evidence.  

Fitzgerald was initially given a two-week suspension which was going to run when no games or practices were scheduled. As more details emerged, the school moved forward with firing him. 

Fitzgerald had coached at Northwestern since the 2006 season and had compiled a 110-101 record. The Wildcats were just 4-20 over the past two seasons, including a 1-11 record a year ago.