Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano

Bald Faced Truth by John Canzano

Canzano: Football provides education

Michael Schill's tenure at Northwestern is a case study.

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John Canzano
Sep 05, 2025
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Former Oregon president Michael Schill has stepped down at Northwestern.

Our old friend Michael Schill announced on Thursday that he’ll resign as president at Northwestern University.

Battered by a battle over federal funding, sacked by politics, and grilled on Capitol Hill over his stance on a pro-Palestinian encampment, Schill finally threw in the keys.

The former Oregon president will do some work for the Northwestern Law School. I can’t help but think he’d still be campus president if he hadn’t fumbled a decision related to his football program.

Schill’s resignation came two weeks to the day after the university settled a $130 million lawsuit brought by former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald. Schill suspended Fitzgerald, then fired him in the summer of 2023 after an investigation into NU football uncovered a hazing problem.

“I don’t know much about football,” Schill told me once.

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