Column: Win or lose, Fitz is gonna Fitz

[lou v]

WildcatReport - Win or lose, Fitz is gonna Fitz

It was business-as-usual on Monday after one of the worst losses in Pat Fitzgerald's tenure.

northwestern.rivals.com

 

[NUCat320]

Nice column, @lou v. Like Ted Lasso, there are two buttons Fitz never uses: the panic and (perhaps) the snooze.

I’m not sure I agree that a 2021-style implosion would give rise to a likely staff shakeup. I’d use “possible”, but that’s just my opinion.

Thanks for your work. Hopefully we don’t have to find out. Go Cats.

 

[FanatiCat]

He leans on 2016 and 2018, but we don’t seem to have the same caliber of players or DC to provide evidence that we can actually improve and beat any B1G teams other than the one we just beat which was a dumpster fire. Hilinski’s Nebraska game now looks more like the exception rather than an improvement, and both he and our RBs are turning the ball over at critical times.

 

[phatcat]

He leans on 2016 and 2018, but we don’t seem to have the same caliber of players or DC to provide evidence that we can actually improve and beat any B1G teams other than the one we just beat which was a dumpster fire. Hilinski’s Nebraska game now looks more like the exception rather than an improvement, and both he and our RBs are turning the ball over at critical times.

This team is closer to 2019 and 2021 than the others mentioned because of Thorson and Doc. Their chances come down to one man - Ryan Hilinski. He clearly has some good tools, if he can be consistent, we can win some games. The defense, to me, is hopeless until JONs inevitable firing circa 2024

 

[Sheffielder]

First of all, excellent title for this column.

I would be genuinely interested to know if Fitz doesn't blink at these losses because of the full-season results where similar early starts have been maddening or if he has really, truly forgotten how to balance winning what are supposed to be the gimmes with his concern about early injuries, opening up the playbook, etc.

I also get how a coach needs to insulate himself from all the noise...but it concerns me his message about Duke and SIU is "we haven't won a couple of games." I'm honestly kinda surprised by this response, even if it's just PR to him - coming off a 3-9 season where your best d-back transferred and people are questioning your staff, your words are not exactly comforting.

 

[Figrating]

Let's see, the 10-story Crisis Clinic is in flames floating downstream toward 500' falls and this is the response we get? WASS. Our HC has no clue how bad things are.

How 'bout some Blue Sky Theory, imagining things could be better? I got it right here. Our fire-breathing AD summons Fitz to his office. He says, "Fitzgerald, you're a favorite son at NU and everybody has the deepest respect for all you've accomplished, but I'm sorry to say you've made a huge coaching error. That f'g O'Neil can't coach his way out of a wet paper bag. You hang on to him as you have and he'll take you down with him. You might be ready to watch this crap for another season or two, but I'm not. O'Neil is fired as of now. I want him the hell out of here today. Marty Long is your new DC. Since the assistant coaches were successful under Doc, I'd think he's want to keep them, but if not, give him the authority to replace any or all of them. Good luck. Get out of here."

 

[NJCat]

Our fire-breathing AD summons Fitz to his office. He says, "Fitzgerald, you're a favorite son at NU and everybody has the deepest respect for all you've accomplished, but I'm sorry to say you've made a huge coaching error. That f'g O'Neil can't coach his way out of a wet paper bag. You hang on to him as you have and he'll take you down with him. You might be ready to watch this crap for another season or two, but I'm not. O'Neil is fired as of now. I want him the hell out of here today. Marty Long is your new DC. Since the assistant coaches were successful under Doc, I'd think he's want to keep them, but if not, give him the authority to replace any or all of them. Good luck. Get out of here."

Our fire-breathing AD knows bad football from experience. He played at Vandy.

 

[phatcat]

Let's see, the 10-story Crisis Clinic is in flames floating downstream toward 500' falls and this is the response we get? WASS. Our HC has no clue how bad things are.

How 'bout some Blue Sky Theory, imagining things could be better? I got it right here. Our fire-breathing AD summons Fitz to his office. He says, "Fitzgerald, you're a favorite son at NU and everybody has the deepest respect for all you've accomplished, but I'm sorry to say you've made a huge coaching error. That f'g O'Neil can't coach his way out of a wet paper bag. You hang on to him as you have and he'll take you down with him. You might be ready to watch this crap for another season or two, but I'm not. O'Neil is fired as of now. I want him the hell out of here today. Marty Long is your new DC. Since the assistant coaches were successful under Doc, I'd think he's want to keep them, but if not, give him the authority to replace any or all of them. Good luck. Get out of here."

I regret that I have but one like to give to this comment