[NU Sports] Wildcats defeat Iowa--10 years ago today

[John Labbe]

I'm befuddled about why you think I "underestimate Fitz," and in case anyone else got that impression from my post, I'll quickly clarify.  The primary purpose of my post was to commemorate a big Wildcat win 10 years ago that I happened to personally attend and that happens to coincide nicely with our victory at Iowa last Saturday.  But equally as important, I was hoping to point out just how significant Saturday's victory was.  I don't have time to look this up right now, but I'd venture to say that our win on Saturday was only our second win at Iowa in something like 40 years.  One of those wins came under Barnett 10 years ago today, and one was Fitzgerald's first Big Ten win as a head coach.  In my book, that's a pretty spectacular accomplishment for Fitzgerald.

Implicit in this accomplishment is the fact that Fitzgerald was able to get the team motivated to play at Iowa despite already having a losing season.  Although Barnett's tactic to paint his team's locker room in Evanston pink may have been "genius," it could also be described as a "psychological trick."  Fitzgerald, however, was able to accomplish the same result without relying on any such "tricks."

I agree with everything you say in the paragraph below, excluding the first sentence.  And like you, in conclusion I say, "Let's beat those Buckeyes."




On Thursday, November 09, 2006, at 10:16AM, "Jeff Beamsley" <jeffb at hilgraeve.com> wrote:
> 
****
>
>I think you underestimate Fitz.  I would hope that he learned this and more
>from the time that he spent playing for GB.  What I read in the tribune
>regarding his strategy this year is pure Barnett.  After the MSU loss, hopes
>for a bowl game were gone, but the opportunity for glory was not.  Fitz told
>the team to view every remaining game as a bowl game and promised the same
>sort of national recognition that they would receive by winning over the
>holidays.  The team went out and played like champions, beat Iowa, and got
>exactly the recognition Fitz promised.  
>
>Just like me, I'll bet they are all eager for Saturday to get here, because
>it is another opportunity for glory.
>
>Jeff
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
>Behalf Of John Labbe
>Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 12:25 AM
>To: 'nwu-sports at tssi.com' List Sports
>Subject: [NU Sports] Wildcats defeat Iowa--10 years ago today
>
>"It was a cold November afternoon in Iowa City when the Northwestern
>Wildcats faced off against the twenty-third-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes.  The
>Wildcats were the defending Big Ten champions, but they were coming off a
>decisive defeat the week before on the road at Penn State.  After their weak
>showing in Happy Valley and with their final road game looming at Kinnick
>Stadium, the Wildcats' chances of a repeat Big Ten championship looked slim.
>
>In the first half, the Wildcats jumped out to a 10-0 lead after a
>twenty-three-yard Dwayne Bates touchdown pass.  But the Hawkeyes fought back
>to narrow the halftime score to 13-7.  In the second half, as the snow began
>to fall and the gray skies turned to night, Wildcat running back Darnell
>Autry stole the show, scoring four touchdowns, three rushing and one
>receiving.  Autry finished the day with a career-high 240 yards rushing, as
>the Wildcats dismissed the Hawkeyes 40-13, keeping Northwestern in the hunt
>for the Big Ten title."
>
>
>---That's my own eye-witness recollection of the last time the Cats won in
>Iowa City before this past Saturday.  It was exactly 10 years ago today
>(November 9, 1996).  It ranks as one of the best Northwestern games I've
>attended.  Of course, Pat Fitzgerald played in that game.  
>(I would have worked his stats into the above narrative, but I couldn't find
>a box score with those details.)
>
>How much do you want to bet that Fitzgerald recounted that very game last
>week to his players as they prepared for Iowa?  It's a triumphant story of
>responding to adversity on the road at a tough place to play.
>
>The difference between Fitzgerald and Barnett?  Fitzgerald didn't have to
>paint his team's locker room pink to get his players up for the game.
>
>Let's beat those Buckeyes.
>
>John Labbe
>
>
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