I wanted to write to all you fans and tell you the kind of program you support. When times get tough and you can no longer contribute to a program is when you find out what that program is truly about. Fitz and his staff have been nothing but supportive of Jango. They talked to him and made it clear they are always there for him. They understand how difficult it is for a player who has played football their whole life then all of a sudden doesn’t. I can’t be happier as a parent that this is the staff my son is going through this with. Jango loves his position coach, and we all love Fitz. Coach Hanks is the best coach in the B1G, and my son learned so much from him. Coach Long is another great coach and overall person. We have a great support staff headed up by my friend, Coach Hooten.
I appreciate Fitz looking after my son’s health over that of winning. It would have been very easy for Fitz to put Jango in before he had the year he needed to heal. He could have also thrown him on special teams, where there is a higher risk of injury. I even got aggravated because Jango was not playing, but I appreciate Coach Fitz putting the health of my son above all else. There aren’t many coaches who would do that. The coaching staff is what makes our football program special. Every coach on the staff believes in the principle of treating our young men like they would their own sons. I was a huge Fitz fan when he played because of his heart, and now I am a bigger fan because I have seen a different part of his heart.
The last four years of my son’s career have been pretty painful to live through. He had three major shoulder injuries in these four years. I have watched him work his butt off to recover and even to get better than before he was injured. He never lost his drive to be the best. He called me today to tell me Coach Fitz took Jango aside and told him his character and work ethic didn’t go unnoticed. He valued him as a player and a person. That meant so much to my son . It was the thing he needed to hear the most from the person whom he needed to hear it from. A man that didn’t truly care about his players wouldn’t have done such a thing. My son is a better man for playing for Fitz and his staff.
The players at Northwestern also deserve a mention. These players are picked by Fitz and his staff because their character and values, along with being darn good players. The hardest part for me will be not hanging out with these players. I enjoyed each and every one of them. The players are a special group of young men who grind like no other football team in the nation. They grind In the classrooms and on the field. It is 24-hr stress from competing in the classroom, practices, and games. Their isn’t anyone who truly understands the demands on these players except other Northwestern football players.
There are also the fans. The fans who have supported Northwestern through thick and thin. There have been lean years, but under Fitz you can stick your chest out and raise your head. We are good; we are going to be great. Don’t be shocked if I see you all in Indy this year and next. I appreciate the love , support, and concern you have shown my son. I am proud to be a part of the Wildcat family. I know you all get frustrated at the coaches and players, but understand they want to win more than you. Please understand the stress and workload they carry. It is easy to forget that they are up at 4:30 am and usually up late studying football and doing homework. Then that day starts all over again at 4:30 . The days start blending together. They sit through their classes with concussions and other injuries. When you get aggravated with the coaches, remember you don’t have all the information. You don’t know if Fitz isn’t playing a player to protect him, or if he disciplining a player for not living up to what is expected of a Northwestern student-athlete. Understand that every player who represents Northwestern want to bring the B1G trophy home to their loyal fans, who they know have endured so much.
Lastly, I am not going to be on these boards ‘til after this season. I know too much of what is going on. I don’t want to say something that shouldn’t be said. Also I love these players and the coaches and I never want to say something that could be mistaken as unkind or unsupportive. It is human nature to say things you shouldn’t when you are disappointed, but I don’t want to be that guy. I also want you to know that you guys are awesome. Some of us may not agree politically, but that doesn’t change the fact you are great people and I admire your passions.
I appreciate Fitz looking after my son’s health over that of winning. It would have been very easy for Fitz to put Jango in before he had the year he needed to heal. He could have also thrown him on special teams, where there is a higher risk of injury. I even got aggravated because Jango was not playing, but I appreciate Coach Fitz putting the health of my son above all else. There aren’t many coaches who would do that. The coaching staff is what makes our football program special. Every coach on the staff believes in the principle of treating our young men like they would their own sons. I was a huge Fitz fan when he played because of his heart, and now I am a bigger fan because I have seen a different part of his heart.
The last four years of my son’s career have been pretty painful to live through. He had three major shoulder injuries in these four years. I have watched him work his butt off to recover and even to get better than before he was injured. He never lost his drive to be the best. He called me today to tell me Coach Fitz took Jango aside and told him his character and work ethic didn’t go unnoticed. He valued him as a player and a person. That meant so much to my son . It was the thing he needed to hear the most from the person whom he needed to hear it from. A man that didn’t truly care about his players wouldn’t have done such a thing. My son is a better man for playing for Fitz and his staff.
The players at Northwestern also deserve a mention. These players are picked by Fitz and his staff because their character and values, along with being darn good players. The hardest part for me will be not hanging out with these players. I enjoyed each and every one of them. The players are a special group of young men who grind like no other football team in the nation. They grind In the classrooms and on the field. It is 24-hr stress from competing in the classroom, practices, and games. Their isn’t anyone who truly understands the demands on these players except other Northwestern football players.
There are also the fans. The fans who have supported Northwestern through thick and thin. There have been lean years, but under Fitz you can stick your chest out and raise your head. We are good; we are going to be great. Don’t be shocked if I see you all in Indy this year and next. I appreciate the love , support, and concern you have shown my son. I am proud to be a part of the Wildcat family. I know you all get frustrated at the coaches and players, but understand they want to win more than you. Please understand the stress and workload they carry. It is easy to forget that they are up at 4:30 am and usually up late studying football and doing homework. Then that day starts all over again at 4:30 . The days start blending together. They sit through their classes with concussions and other injuries. When you get aggravated with the coaches, remember you don’t have all the information. You don’t know if Fitz isn’t playing a player to protect him, or if he disciplining a player for not living up to what is expected of a Northwestern student-athlete. Understand that every player who represents Northwestern want to bring the B1G trophy home to their loyal fans, who they know have endured so much.
Lastly, I am not going to be on these boards ‘til after this season. I know too much of what is going on. I don’t want to say something that shouldn’t be said. Also I love these players and the coaches and I never want to say something that could be mistaken as unkind or unsupportive. It is human nature to say things you shouldn’t when you are disappointed, but I don’t want to be that guy. I also want you to know that you guys are awesome. Some of us may not agree politically, but that doesn’t change the fact you are great people and I admire your passions.
