Pat Fitzgerald
I'm not sure what I think of coaches cheering wildly after their teams win. Fitzgerald yesterday was obviously psyched when Sheridan's last pass fell incomplete. But for some reason it bothered me when he raised his arms triumphantly and cheered. I can't figure out exactly why I don't like that guy.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:33 PM ^
It was a little lame to be so celebratory after beating a 3 win team.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:09 PM ^
it was the first 8 win NW team, right? who cares if they celebrated
November 16th, 2008 at 3:16 PM ^
His first 8 win NW team. They went to the Rose Bowl like 10 years ago or something.
November 16th, 2008 at 4:23 PM ^
yeah something like that
November 16th, 2008 at 3:22 PM ^
of course its a big deal, even in an off year for Michigan. Worry and be concerned if he has no reaction but ho-hum, no big deal (like when Bo beat Northwestern for the umpteenth time).
November 16th, 2008 at 3:42 PM ^
They haven't won at Michigan since he played. Also, this game pretty much promises them a decent bowl. If they win against Illinois this week, they must be picked by a bowl before Wisconsin and the Iowa/Minnesota loser. Big10 bowl agreements say the bowl can choose a lower team as long as they are within a loss of the highest team available (so if NU goes 9-3, a 8-4 Iowa team could be picked by the better bowl, however, a 7-5 Minnesota would not be taken before them). This win means NU has at worst the 5th pick in the bowl lineup, instead of potentially the 7th. As it stands, the highest they could be potentially positioned is #2, assuming [miraculously] we beat OSU and PSU beats State. So yeah, our win meant more than just beating Michigan, it was getting a bowl outside of Detroit.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:04 PM ^
I think I read somewhere that the all-time record between Michigan and Northwestern is 54-14 or something like that. Even if Michigan is having a down year, the man should be able to celebrate.
I agree that there's something cool about acting like you've been there before. But that's not his style. He's a rah-rah guy (he was pumping his fists all game long) and he coaches his players during the game. I'd rather have a coach act like that than just stand stoic on the sideline the entire game, only opening his mouth to chew somebody out.
I like Fitzgerald. I'll root for him pretty much anytime he's not playing against Michigan.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:24 PM ^
It bothered me because he looks like a little douchebag dweeb. Pam Ward kept mentioning what a great linebacker he was. I don't really remember that far back. He won a bunch of awards I guess. IT reminded me of Basanez. In the 2005 MI/NW game he was being hyped as the second coming of Peyton Manning. He was getting picked apart by the Wolverines while the announcers were getting simultaneously more effusive in their praise. My point is that announcers have a hard-on for overrated NW players.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:44 PM ^
"It bothered me because he looks like a little douchebag dweeb. "
Wow.I bet he'd kick your ass so hard.
November 16th, 2008 at 6:51 PM ^
He's a little overachiever punk who's enthusiasm will fade once he tests his "mettle" against real men. 2008 Wolverines do not fall into this category. 2008 Buckeyes do and look how he done. He won't have much to pump his fist in the air about in a year or two.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:35 PM ^
Coaches should be able to show some happiness when their team wraps up a game. After all, all coaches are eventually measured by how many games they win.
Fitzgerald basically got his job in the toughest of circumstances- Randy Walker died suddenly and there was not time to do a search.
We are getting chippy when we bitch about stuff like this. I was more buzzed when Wisconsin's coach was giving high fives on the side line after they recovered an on side kick against us in September. The football God's paid him back before that day was over.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:48 PM ^
Blue Durnham hit it on the head...its all in the name. Regardless how many losses Michigan has...we're still MICHIGAN!
Kinda like NW. In fact, I will be pulling for them this bowl season hoping that they will rep the BIG X proudly!
November 16th, 2008 at 5:56 PM ^
I disagree. Lake The Posts sums it up well, they don't judge their success off victories against Michigan. They base it off beating the best team... Ohio State.
http://www.laketheposts.com/2008/11/mystique-of-m-is-gone.html
November 16th, 2008 at 9:14 PM ^
They only have success when beating OSU? OSU's record is 58-14-1 against them going into this season, so they have only had 14 successful seasons?
I like Lake the Posts, but they are far from the final word. So, for a one of the perennially most losingest programs in the NCAA history, they are now 8-3, beat Michigan (the winningest program in NCAA history) but lost to OSU, and by this idiotic standard they don't have a successful season.
Sorry, but that is just stupid.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:38 PM ^
For Michigan to have a successful season, we most likely have to beat Ohio State, i.e. we have to beat the best in the Big Ten. For teams like NW and MSU to have a successful season, they simply have to have a winning record (against shit-bag teams), and particularly, it would be nice if they beat MI (even if it is the worst, by wins/losses, team in history). Essentially this is a conference USA or MAC definition of success. It is not what defines success for the leaders and best. Therefore, we can scoff at them for rejoicing in their puny meaningless victories.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:57 PM ^
A win by NW over Michigan is always a big deal, and good for them! All teams should taste victory at least once in a while, otherwise they would have no hope, no fans and thus no program.
Think about it. How boring it would be if it was a known fact that Michigan would beat its opponent every time. Where is the challenge, the accomplishment? Why go or watch the game when the outcome is not in doubt. That is what makes sports interesting!
November 16th, 2008 at 5:56 PM ^
Schadenfreude is never fun to watch when it's coming from the other side. Would you rather see Tressel with pursed lips, pumping his fist? Or Ty Willingham with that ominous "we're number one" finger in the air after his mediocre team squeaks out a big play?
November 16th, 2008 at 6:40 PM ^
It bothered you because your team lost and his team won. Get over it.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:17 PM ^
We have a winner! He did the same thing in the NW games I saw against Iowa and Purdue.
And honestly, what's the big deal? The man pumped his fists in the air, he didn't go take a piss at midfield. Fitzgerald is a real young guy (what is he, 32?) and he's obviously more intense on the sidelines than a lot of older coaches. You need that kind of an attitude when you're coaching at a program where wins aren't exactly easy to come by.
November 16th, 2008 at 6:48 PM ^
The thing that bothers me about Fitz is that he won't keep his ass on the sideline. If you need to be five yards past the hash in order to inspire your players, you are doing something wrong. There should have been at very least a sideline warning flag thrown. He does this every week.
As far as celebrating, that's fine, I guess. I mean, I think there is a reason you don't see the nations elite coaches celebrate after beating a bad team, but it is not against the rules.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:41 PM ^
Stop it with the whole "Act like you've been there before." Guess what - he hasn't been there before. He's a young coach having a damn good season. Let him celebrate.
That's the type of guy I'd want to play for in college.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:53 PM ^
Pat Fitzgerald is barely over 30. He's a young, excitable coach, who won a big game that guaranteed them a better bowl game. It sucks watching him celebrate because it came at our expense, but I don't begrudge him his right to do it.
November 17th, 2008 at 2:05 PM ^
It almost bothers me when so many coaches show almost no emotion when they eke out big games. Football is an exciting game, and winning is the goal. Taunting isn't cool, but be excited. I think it's a compliment to us that despite us having a shitty season, Fitz still respects Michigan enough to consider it a big deal when he beats us. Nothing wrong with that.