Fitzgerald to USC or Texas?

The move from Northwestern to a place like USC or Texas would be complete culture shock. Forget about loyalty, those jobs require a heartier and more experienced profile than what Patty Fitzgerald brings to the table.

OK, I immediately saw "Fitzgerald" and thought of Toussaint. I, of course, freaked out, but then I realized which Fitzgerald we're talking about here.

EDIT; If the rumors are true that he was at least talked to about the Michigan job and then said he really wasn't interested in it, then he won't go to USC or Texas if those jobs open. M is a better job than both of those programs.

Chad Morris, Clemson's OC to Texas and Charlie Strong to USC IMO

I could see him at Notre Dame or NFL maybe but not USC or Texas. 

It seems like Fitzgerald wants to be a NW guy for life but other coaches have been in similar situations and have left for various reasons. Rich Rod leaving West Virginia and Bielema leaving Wisconsin immediately come to mind. If Northwestern keeps paying his assistants competitive salaries and keeps their facilities up to par with the rest of the B1G he'll probably stay but if not I could see him going somewhere else.

Please, spread this rumor around enough so that Fitzgerald has to deny it over and over again, creating a big distraction that affects NW's performance on the field.  We want them to suck against us.

(But no, Fitzgerald is at NW for life.  I'd be shocked if he leaves). 

I think USC is more likely as it is a private school similar to NU.

In what bizarro universe is USC anything like NU?

I can see it from both schools' perspective, as he's a pretty dramatic shift from what each now has. For Texas, it's a shift from the sedate, hands-off Mack Brown to a very involved, enthusiastic guy. For USC, it's a shift from a shady Kiffin to an upright guy who won't have USC in the press for the wrong reasons, plus Fitzgerald seems like an enthusiastic players' guy like Carroll.

For Fitzgerald, though, I doubt it. He's already turned down feelers from Michigan, Penn State, and ND. He's not only a Northwestern guy, he's a Chicago guy. And Northwestern's taken steps to improve their facilities and have shown they'll do what they can, financially, to keep him.

I think the only job that he might be interested in is the Bears or maybe the Colts job, but that kind of offer would come after a bit more success, which they're certainly poised for this year and next.

"What NFL coach did AD Pat Haden dial up amidst "Fire Kiffin" chants during the Washington State game?"

As much a I love chaos at UT and SC I do not want Fitz leaving like Bert. Like above I agree about Fitz not leaving due to his loyalty. There's going to be some scared programs when Texas breaks out the money cannon and points it at someone.

with the occasional 10-2 and the NW alumni and fan base will be very happy.

At UT or USC, you go 8-4 or even 9-3 and their alums and fan base want to run you out of town. He'd be a fool to go to either place, unless he simply wants to bank as much money as he can in a short period of time and doesn't care about the impact on his coaching career.

Doubt he leaves NW for any job opening.  He's got NW on the rise and is bringing in better and better recruiting classes.  If he can get some facilities upgrades and capitalize on the Chicago area talent while Michigan, OSU and ND go more national I think he can turn NW into at least a biannual threat to win the Western division.

Fitzgerald is going to be great at NW and be the king of Chicago for the rest of his life.  He may actually turn NW into a perennial power.  While it is always great to challenge yourself and to be on the biggest stage possible,   I'd rather be Bo Schembechler or Woody Hayes than Bill Parcells or Bill Walsh.  The Bill's are great coaches, but Bo and Woody were Gods.  (When Bo was coach the whole student sectionwould bow down to him as though he were a god.  He was only around my freshman year, but I remeber it happening a few times.)

The loyalty thing was why he who will not be named didn't work.  You don't play for a school, get to coach there and almost lead them to a national championship to bail for the bigger job. For what?  

Those who wanted Fitz for the Michigan job missed the point of what makes Fitz great.  (Good football coach who loves his school.)

Fitzgerald has always reminded me (retroactively) a bit of Hoke. I would almost compare him at NW to Hoke at UM; I don't think he's going to leave. It's his school, and he's not a douche like Bret Bielema. I think he's more likely to leave NW than Hoke would leave Michigan, but not by much.

He's got a young team contending for the B1G this year and some nice recruiting classes coming in. For him, I don't think he wants the added pressure at USC and Texas and he's probably got an outside shot at a BCS game over the next few years. Why leave that? The coaches that I can think of that have left a good/decent team in recent years are Rich Rod, Bret Bielema, and Dave Doeren. Rich Rod had extenuating circumstances at WV, Bielema is an ass, and Doeren was at a MAC school.

I think he stays.