[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day Three ...

[Michael Jackson]

Pat Fitzgerald, Wisconsin    Freudian slip?

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of SjT (Stephen J. Truog)
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 9:59 AM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Cc: David Vranicar
Subject: [NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day Three ...

Looks like the Coble news upset me so much I forgot to send this late last night, but back to the countdown ...

> DAYS 1-10: The top coaches of the decade

10) Glen Mason, Minnesota
09) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin

> DAYS 11-20: The top games of the decade
> DAYS 21-30: The top players of the decade
> DAYS 31-40: The top teams of the decade

TOP COACHES
###########

8) Pat Fitzgerald, Wisconsin

(27-23 overall record, 15-17 in league play)

When Randy Walker died unexpectedly following the 2005 season, Northwestern took a bit of a chance in hiring a young, inexperienced coach in alumni and star linebacker Pat Fitzgerald. It was a tough situation for all involved to step into, but it was worked out better than Wildcat fans could have dreamed.

After an expectedly rough first year, the Cats posted six wins in 2007 and followed it up with two straight 5-3 league finishes, 17 overall wins and two thrilling bowl games (that were both unfortunately lost in overtime). Picking up on the foundation built by both his “dream big” college coach Gary Barnett and his program-building mentor at NU Randy Walker, Coach Fitz has given NU fans the best of both worlds in a young, energetic coach who has high hopes and is taking every step necessary to establish the Wildcat program as a consistent contender for postseason berths and even a league title.

So why is Fitz ahead of his "new kid on the block" counterpart Bielema despite a worse record? Easy. Bielema came in with a well-planned transition and loaded program. He has done a fine job in Madison, but hasn't shown as much as Fitzgerald, who took over in rough circumstances and has steadily improved the program he was given charge of as a young coach. It should be interesting to see in the next decade if these two develop some sort of rivalry as they become some of the more veteran coaches in the league.

Best of all for the purple people, Fitzgerald is a native son. He's a Chicago kid, bleeds purple and represents the program with the level of class expected on and off the field – and he appears perfectly happy to stay in Evanston until the job is finished and the Purple returns to Pasadena – this time coming home with the trophy. If all goes well, Fitzgerald has a chance to become “our JoePa” – a coach who builds a winner and stays at that school for many, many years and becomes the face of the institution. Keep those purple fingers crossed!

Coming Thursday: The coach who topped the countdown in the first "Forty Days ..." installment.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
==========================


      

_______________________________________________
nwu-sports site list
nwu-sports at tssi.com
http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports