OT: NW's Pat Fitzgerald
This is about as worthless of a topic as there could possibly be. But it's late, my JV football team plays it's first game tomorrow and I can't sleep, and the NW preview is on BTN.
I really like Pat Fitzgerald. I watched him as a player and was impressed by his tenacity and leadership qualities. I loved the way he played the game. I felt horrible for the guy when he led his team to the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl but was unable to play due to injury. Can you imagine how heartbreaking that must have been?
I'm watching their practice on BTN and I admire his coaching style. He's intense but has fun. I loved the line he used on his D-lineman during one segment when he referred to him as "Molasses." After a less than stellar effort, Fitz blows the whistle and ends the drill by yelling, "That was just too painful to watch." I love sarcasm when trying to coach up a player.
I've coached football for some time now and I like to think I run a practice with the same enthusiasm and intensity as Fitz. My son is an excellent student and will start his first varsity game at QB this Friday. I don't know if he's got what it takes to earn an athletic scholarship but he can certainly gain admission to just about any school he chooses. I would be elated if he walked-on and played for Coach Fitz.
(Of course, my first choice would be for him to follow in his old man's footsteps).
August 26th, 2010 at 12:17 AM ^
I have a buddy that works for the Penn State football team. He has met and talked with many of the Big Ten coaches. He told me that Pat Fitzgerald was his hands-down favorite coach. Said he was a very classy, enthusiastic, and genuine individual.
If your son cannot earn a high level athletic scholarship...I think a program headed by Pat Fitzgerald (coming with a very well respected degree from Northwestern) would be a great opportunity to help a lot in his development as a football player and a person.
August 26th, 2010 at 12:22 AM ^
...he just did this.
Walker was among a few hundred Navy personnel who observed Northwestern's morning practice at Naval Station Great Lakes on Monday, getting an opportunity to watch college football up close.
"This is an experience not only for myself, but for the sailors as well," Walker said. "Some sailors never really get a chance to go to a college football game, let alone a college practice. A lot of sailors dream of playing at the college level and never get this close to college players."
For the Wildcats, it was an unique opportunity to play on the base -- which fielded a competitive Division I team during World War I and II -- and entertain the troops.
August 26th, 2010 at 12:27 AM ^
Class act and a damn good player. I don't remember watching him play much as I was young, but I've watching several of his games on BTN and he was great. I hope he has great success at N'W (with at least 1 loss at the hands of Michigan every year). He deserves it because he does things the right way (unlike sleazeballs such as Carroll, Saban, and Kiffin)
August 26th, 2010 at 12:28 AM ^
my man-coach-crush of the big ten coaches. er coach-man-crush.
August 26th, 2010 at 12:35 AM ^
Good to hear respectful things being said about other squads on the blog. Too many places online just get cluttered with negative stuff and arrogant stuff and I love to see topics like this on MGoBlog
August 26th, 2010 at 12:44 AM ^
You can be anyone in the world if you put your mind to it.
But really, Pat Fitzgerald grows on me everytime I hear him or watch him interact with players on the sideline or in practice. A genuine guy and a great mind
It is a shame that most of Northwestern doesn't realize what they have in a coach and a team for that matter.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
Growing up a Michigan fan, I could never really understand the concept of a Big Ten School without a rabid fanbase. After attending Northwestern and holding season tickets for the past 9 years and witnessing an apathetic fanbase first hand, I am still amazed.
Coach Fitz really does deserve the gushing accolades thrown his way. The one nice aspect of a small fanbase is the lack of hordes and the approachability of the team and coaches at off season events. Fitz is the only FBS coach I have met, so I have no basis for comparison, but he is a genial, fun, dedicated, and exciting guy.
NU is pretty fun to watch because of Fitz. I couldn't agree more with you, mgome7, that it really is a shame that more of the NU community doesn't realize what they are missing.
Luckily, our new AD, Phillips, and president, Schapiro are motivated to rebrand NU and push a strong marketing campaign in Chicago. I'm not sure if it will work, but I appreciate the enthusiasm.
August 26th, 2010 at 1:15 AM ^
I am a big RR supporter, but if it doesn't work out for him at Michigan I would LOVE to see Brandon go after Pat Fitzgerald. He is a total class guy, recruits well considering his academic and program limitations, gets more out of his players than any coach in the Big 10, is defensive minded and is young enough to be the head coach at Michigan for decades. Oh, yeah, and although Harbaugh is an excellent coach, he is an ass as a person. The wins will not be worth the pain of having to endure his antics every year.
FWIW, Fitz would be my first pick to succeed JoePa at PSU too. If JoePa retires at the end of this season, PSU would be making a huge mistake not to try to hire Pat to run that program.
August 26th, 2010 at 1:30 AM ^
Here's the thing though, do you ever see him leaving NW? He brought back their program as a player, then again as a coach. He's got a lot of ties to NW that he wouldn't have anywhere else.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:35 AM ^
Like Rod did? You can't rule anything out these days. Petrino left the Falcons halfway through the season by leaving an f-ing note in the locker room.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
will never leave NW for another B10 school. Won't happen. He could coach there for 30 years and be a hero going 8-4. I guess never say never but I would be completely shocked if he left NW, especially for another B10 program.
August 26th, 2010 at 2:13 AM ^
Gotta love him. I mean really, what the hell is wrong with someone to make 'em not like the guy? What's not to like?
August 26th, 2010 at 2:31 AM ^
That is all.
August 26th, 2010 at 7:20 AM ^
are a communist and hate America. You probably also hate Ricky Stanzi. Well, Ricky loves him some America and hates you right back - Commie.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:10 AM ^
I sort of enjoyed the story from the other day how, after two players got in a shoving match during practice, he made them run a lap holding hands.
Fitz is probably my favorite coach in the B10.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^
Class guy.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
My preferred head coach, period...Not going to happen though
August 26th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
PATFITZ is not only a great coach but a great human being--at least until the end of the week.