[NU Sports] Fitz and Penn State

[Roy S. Lamberton]

Wishful thinking by sports writers isn't always what is actually happening inside a
program, altho I'm sure several coaches at many schools who wish they'd latched on to Fitz
back when Randy hired him.

And I'm sure there are a fairly large number of State Penn alums who don't like any of the
present coaching staff, and who would be excited to sign a "rising star" to the program.
They seem to be out throwing names against the wall to see which ones stick.

In any case, barring illness, I personally don't think that JoPa wants to go out on a down
season - I'd be more concerned if PSU was ranked in the top 3, and undefeated because
going out a big winner would cap Paterno's career. 

At the same time, everyone who came to work for Randy Walker was told that eventually
they'd move on, ok maybe Fitz was an exception. RW wanted his assistants to stay fresh and
take on new challenges. Many of us thought Fitz would eventually go somewhere else to be a
coordinator before he'd return to Evanston, remember? Murph saw something that forced him
to promote Fitzgerald - a decision that proved to be a turning point for NU.

Prior to 1995, NU was a way station on the way to something better. Barnett proved that it
could also become the last success of a decent coach, and Randy Walker proved that nothing
ever lasts forever, altho he had hoped to retire in Evanston. Before them, NU's head
coaches lasted 4 years before they were "fired," or took jobs at bigger and better
football factories.

Fitz represents everything that is good about NU - former Wildcat student-athlete who is a
great recruiter and passionate sideline leader, thrust on the stage in a crisis who rises
to the occasion and is starting to create a brainy dynasty. He seems to have been able to
reload each year, and has survived the graduation of several top players. He seems to be
the kind of guy who seems to like building and rebuilding a program but likes it where
he's at now.

In any case, my humble opinion right now is that some close to State Penn are engaging in
a little "wistful thinking" as the only coach most of them have ever known approaches
retirement. 

I'm sure Fitz is looking at Saturday's game as a big deal for his team that, in his mind,
is 0-0 right now.

rsl



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
-------------------- Also ----------------------
"Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball
Director Media Relations - Little League 
  Senior League Softball World Series
Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]
Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========

"...Then I get on my knees and pray,
WE DON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!" -- Pete Townsend

================================================

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Dennis
W. Brandt
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 8:23 AM
To: Northwestern Wildcats
Subject: [NU Sports] Fitz and Penn State

Here in Pennsylvania, the big topic surrounding Penn State football 
naturally is JoePa's retirement.  There is a lot of speculation that this 
year may be his last or at best, since he'll have a lot of returning 
players, next year.  Sadly, I have a lot of personal experience watching the 
elderly slide into disfunction, and I see the symptons in Paterno.  He has 
slowed considerably in the last year.  The top two replacement candidates 
seem to be Temple coach and PSU alum Al Golden, and, sorry to say, our very 
own Pat Fitzgerald.  I had lunch with a local sports writer this week, and 
he confirmed that Fitz is number one on Penn State's wish list.  I responded 
with, "Nah!  He bleeds purple, and he's only 35," but the writer knew I was 
whistling in the dark.  Sorry to say that Fitz is an excellent fit for Penn 
State football in too damn many ways, and the brain trust in State College 
knows it.

Don't give us the fits, Fitz!  Stay! 

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