[NU Sports] An NU recruiting billboard

[Jim Bendat]

Actually, Fitz was never offered a scholarship by ND.  He had a lifelong 
dream on playing for the Irish, but just before his planned visit to 
South Bend, ND gave someone else its last scholarship offer.  Meanwhile, 
Gary Barnett had been heavily recruited Fitz, and Pat decided to take 
the offer.

I got this information from an LA. Times article I saved from when NU 
came to L.A. in December 1995 for the Rose Bowl.  The paper featured 
Fitz in one of its pregame stories, a piece entitled "New Coach Fitz 
Right In."  The article discussed how Fitz would be unable to play in 
the Rose Bowl because of the broken leg he had suffered late in the 
season, but that he would nevertheless be on the sideline, helping in 
any way that he could.  Barnett is quoted in the story, saying that Fitz 
"is not only a great player, but he's also a coach on the field."

Go Fitz!  Go Cats!

Jim B.


Jim Leonard wrote:
> Fellow Wildcat Faithful,
>
> I can't remember the details, but I believe Pat Fitzgerald was recruited by Lou
> Holtz and perhaps verbally promised a scholarship to Notre Dame. Given his
> experience, as an Irish southsider with aspirations of playing in South Bend, I
> think he will be very successful in stealing recruits away from ND. 
>
> I don't know what NCAA rules exist to this end, but, if I had the money, I'd
> put a billboard on I-90, one exit before Southbend with a picture of Fitz as a
> player on the left and as a coach on the right that reads "Last exit before you
> make a big mistake". Given the personal story he can tell, and his general
> charm, I expect that most of the academically-minded talent in Chicago will be
> heading north for the next few years. 
>
>