Fitzgerald's Take On The Game

[CGHawk]

I've turned the corner and officially dislike Pat Fitzgerald. I never really cared that the guy had a jones for Iowa. I get it, he got hurt and is still seeking his revenge. Whatever. But I'm pretty much over the guy putting all credit or blame on his Northwestern squad as though Iowa's play and presence on the field has nothing to do with the outcome.

I remember in '09 after they beat us...coming back after Stanzi's injury...he spoke as though it had no impact on the game:

"It has nothing to do with Iowa, it has everything to do with us."

And this year:

“Turning the ball over . . . is a recipe for disaster,â€￾ Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We stopped ourselves with turnovers and some self-inflicted wounds.â€￾

“It’s not like Iowa did anything different than they typically do.â€￾

Hey, I don't expect the guy to gush over the competition. Nor do expect any coach not to talk up his team. But I've never read that he's ever said anything complimentary about Iowa following a game. Nothing even so small as "They played a tough game."

He's now on my "Pr*ck" list...and I know how much that will bother him.

Umm... What? Was I watching the same game that he was?

Was it our first four plays of the game we ran a pass play? I don't recall us doing that on a regular basis... We used the play action to near perfection, which is something I have been wishing we would do for a while now.

The biggest difference was our play calling on offense. We used the pass to open up the run and then when they were expecting us to run... Play action pass for a TD/big gain.

I was so impressed with our offensive play calling and I hope that we keep it up. It was A LOT more fun watching the game and it had to be a lot more fun for the players as well. Must have been a huge confidence boost for the entire offensive unit to be moving the ball so well. Coker was getting very nice holes and was running the way he runs best... Straight forward with his shoulders lowered(he didn't try to dance around, nor did he have to). While I'm on this topic... Did anyone see that run by coker towards the end(it might have been his last run) where he just CLOCKED that LB for NW? Sat him right on his ***!

I definitely think our defense needs to find a way to take away that 5-6 yard pass though, because that was killing us and good teams will take advantage of that all day/all night. Otherwise I was extremely impressed with our defense and especially the defensive line. I think they did a much better job of containing the QB and getting pressure on him.

If Iowa can play like this all season... We will be a very hard team to beat.

 

[DuffMan]

I see, its just coaches who are better than ours that are d bags.

 

[tm3308]

I see, its just coaches who are better than ours that are d bags.

Since when are Dantonio or Zooker even remotely better coaches than Ferentz? The other three can have cases made for them, but not those two.

Biels is a d*ck, pretty much always has been, at least when it comes to football. Pelini is the dude that blows up on his players while on national TV, and is an absolute brute with the media. And Fitz? I just don't like him because they beat us all the time

 

[tm3308]

Umm... What? Was I watching the same game that he was?

Was it our first four plays of the game we ran a pass play? I don't recall us doing that on a regular basis... We used the play action to near perfection, which is something I have been wishing we would do for a while now.

The biggest difference was our play calling on offense. We used the pass to open up the run and then when they were expecting us to run... Play action pass for a TD/big gain.

I was so impressed with our offensive play calling and I hope that we keep it up. It was A LOT more fun watching the game and it had to be a lot more fun for the players as well. Must have been a huge confidence boost for the entire offensive unit to be moving the ball so well. Coker was getting very nice holes and was running the way he runs best... Straight forward with his shoulders lowered(he didn't try to dance around, nor did he have to). While I'm on this topic... Did anyone see that run by coker towards the end(it might have been his last run) where he just CLOCKED that LB for NW? Sat him right on his ***!

I definitely think our defense needs to find a way to take away that 5-6 yard pass though, because that was killing us and good teams will take advantage of that all day/all night. Otherwise I was extremely impressed with our defense and especially the defensive line. I think they did a much better job of containing the QB and getting pressure on him.

If Iowa can play like this all season... We will be a very hard team to beat.

The thing is, most of the better teams don't do that. The better teams are better because they hit on big plays, whereas Northwestern rarely even TRIES to go deep (I was shocked they went deep that one time in the second half). Most of the better QB's in the league (Persa excluded) aren't patient enough to keep taking those 5-7 yard gains. Eventually, they want to go deep, and that's what's gotten them in trouble against our defense.

 

[HeneryHawk]

The 95 game was essentially given to NW by blown calls on a return for TD, missed illegal blocking calls. Call those, and they dont win the game......but,.....thats in the past and doesnt matter.

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

Agree with the OP. Caught the post game show on the drive back to Des Moines and not once did Fitz give any credit to Iowa. Not like I expected him to shower us with praise but at least give a little credit to the team that beat you.

 

[NewMexHawk]

Your feelings are hurt because the opposing coach didn't tell everyone how well Iowa played. You listen to the opposing the coach after the game expecting him to gush about how well Iowa played and when he doesn't you get your feelings hurt?

Who cares if the opposing coach says anything? I wouldn't care if Ferentz wouldn't give the opposing team any credit in most games. Takes the heat off the coach a little by telling everyone how well the opposing team played, especially when they get outcoached.

Also if Iowa had made four turnovers and lost the game how many here would have thought it was because of the coaches and the turnovers that were the reason they lost and not NWs great play.

NW has lost the first three games in the B1G to effectively put them out of playing in the title game. The third loss was to Iowa that the coach despises. He lost to instate Illinois in the last few minutes. He also lost to Michigan in the 4th quarter. He still has a bunch of games to play and he will have to do everything he can not to lose the team this year.

It IS all about NW. Fitzgerald could give two hoots about Iowa and is not about to give Iowa credit.

And some of you are just now being offended by Fitz then where have you been the past 10 years?

 

[Hurtstown]

Iowa fans and media are a little insecure at times. I worked at Carver hawkeye in college and I was in the tunnel after games. After Iowa beat Indiana in basketball Bob Knight was in the press conference. Every single question from an Iowa media guy sounded something like this...."Iowa beat you, and you are good. Just tell us how good this Iowa team is..." . Knight answered the first few with the usual coach speak, but after about 4-5 repetitive, "how good are we?" questions, he was visually starting to get frustrated. I thought I was going to see a Knight-esque blowup, but he did not.

Basically if we lose, We Iowa fans want to make big changes and fire the coach, but when we win we want all the world to recognize our dominance. I don't care what the NW coach says to the media. Let the insecure responses begin.....now!

 

[rodthompson]

I remember those quotes after the '09 game and Stanzi's injury. Iowa was well on their way to waxing them. Mentioned nothing of it and acted like they had just upset the greatest team in the history of college football.

The guy is a total jagoff.

 

[GhostofBTT]

I remember those quotes after the '09 game and Stanzi's injury. Iowa was well on their way to waxing them. Mentioned nothing of it and acted like they had just upset the greatest team in the history of college football.

The guy is a total jagoff.

You should see him on the blackjack table.

 

[tweeterhawk]

I'm just satisfied that the loss had to have eaten deep into Fitz's stomach lining during the game and on the long ride back to Evanston. Let him stew in his juices on it for another year.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

THIS is exactly what ALL the NW coaches do on every play, they are 2 yards on the field signaling every single play and then they run down the field with the team on every play.

I sit on the East side and people were screaming "get him off the field" all game. On one extra point he was nearly out at the numbers AS the ball was being snapped.

If the Refs had any balls would have spoken to him much earlier in the game. But the timing of the penalty couldn't have been better.

 

[HerkyDog]

Full count of DB's and good guys:

DB's: Pelini (top of the heap), Zook, Fitz, Biels, Dantonio (more of a slime ball than a DB).

The rest of the coaches are just fine, IMO.

In about six days you're gonna add Wilson to the list. Hope the Hawks beat him and IU by 73 points.

 

[Bond007]

I've turned the corner and officially dislike Pat Fitzgerald. I never really cared that the guy had a jones for Iowa. I get it, he got hurt and is still seeking his revenge. Whatever. But I'm pretty much over the guy putting all credit or blame on his Northwestern squad as though Iowa's play and presence on the field has nothing to do with the outcome.

I remember in '09 after they beat us...coming back after Stanzi's injury...he spoke as though it had no impact on the game:

"It has nothing to do with Iowa, it has everything to do with us."

And this year:

“Turning the ball over . . . is a recipe for disaster,â€￾ Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We stopped ourselves with turnovers and some self-inflicted wounds.â€￾

“It’s not like Iowa did anything different than they typically do.â€￾

Hey, I don't expect the guy to gush over the competition. Nor do expect any coach not to talk up his team. But I've never read that he's ever said anything complimentary about Iowa following a game. Nothing even so small as "They played a tough game."

He's now on my "Pr*ck" list...and I know how much that will bother him.

"We stopped ourselves with turnovers and some self inflicted wounds."

Maybe Fitz in on to something here that could explain his 36-33 (18-24) record.

 

[PhoenixHawk]

"We stopped ourselves with turnovers and some self inflicted wounds."

Maybe Fitz in on to something here that could explain his 36-33 (18-24) record.

Good point about his record. He could easily be sub .500 overall by the end of the year. Hot seat!

 

[CAARHawk]

As I said before, his recruiting is not even close to his predecessors, particularly on defense.

No Barnett, No Wooten, No Sutton.

I noticed it last year. They look mostly like a good MAC team.

Favorite son status should give him a lot of rope. But wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't pick it up in recruiting if whispers don't start next year.

 

[tweeterhawk]

But wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't pick it up in recruiting if whispers don't start next year.

 

[WalterParker]

After Iowa scored at the beginning of the 4th to retake the lead, the tv had a shot of PF's reaction. You could see it in his eyes that he knew this game was not going to go like the previous 3. I think he knew right then they were beat.

 

[jbuch26]

I've turned the corner and officially dislike Pat Fitzgerald. I never really cared that the guy had a jones for Iowa. I get it, he got hurt and is still seeking his revenge. Whatever. But I'm pretty much over the guy putting all credit or blame on his Northwestern squad as though Iowa's play and presence on the field has nothing to do with the outcome.

I remember in '09 after they beat us...coming back after Stanzi's injury...he spoke as though it had no impact on the game:

"It has nothing to do with Iowa, it has everything to do with us."

And this year:

“Turning the ball over . . . is a recipe for disaster,â€￾ Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We stopped ourselves with turnovers and some self-inflicted wounds.â€￾

“It’s not like Iowa did anything different than they typically do.â€￾

Hey, I don't expect the guy to gush over the competition. Nor do expect any coach not to talk up his team. But I've never read that he's ever said anything complimentary about Iowa following a game. Nothing even so small as "They played a tough game."

He's now on my "Pr*ck" list...and I know how much that will bother him.

How did it take you this long to dislike Fitzgerald??

I think there's enough for ANY fan (not just Hawk fans) to get annoyed by just listening to him speaking at ANY time on ANY given interview. He's a tool.