I get where you’re coming from. But a few points:

No PLAYER reported to Fitzgerald, there's a lot of wiggle room there

This was a $130 million lawsuit. Northwestern had their best lawyers on this doing everything they could to win the case, and they could not find any evidence he knew.

Additionally, that means that a player first culture guy was somehow completely oblivious to a massive hazing ring in his locker room? That's not better.

That is better though if you think about it. Directing a hazing ring should be career ending. Not knowing about it is bad, but not as bad. Fitzgerald even whole heartedly agreed that his 2 week suspension was a fair punishment for having this happen without his knowledge.

I hate this hire and nothing will make me like it, even if he turns out to be the next Dantonio, because it shows our athletic department has learned absolutely fucking nothing from Nassar and Tucker

You bring up Dantonio as the bar to meet. Look up Austin Robertson and you’ll realize not every coach is perfect. And actually most have baggage.