September 2011 - Irish American News

2 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” September 2011Northwestern Wildcats HeadCoach Pat Fitzgerald Talks to IANDriving to the city from my homein the Northern suburbs of ChicagoI can’t help but notice all of themassive purple billboards that read“Northwestern, Chicago’s Big TenTeam” along the highway. Listeningto my morning radio sports show Ihear the ads for NU athletics, andrecently while reading my morningpaper, I noticed a new marketingtactic entitled “PersaStrong.” Thecampaign promotes NorthwesternSenior quarterback Dan Persa asa 2011 Heisman trophy candidate.The anchor of this Purple revival isthe Northwestern football team. Forthe first time in a while NU athleticshas seen a rise in relevance in theChicagoland sports landscape. Thisyears’ revamped Big Ten, with theaddition of the Nebraska Cornhuskersand the separation of the teamsinto the “Legends” and “Leaders”divisions, should provide plenty ofcompelling storylines. As autumn inthe Midwest approaches I am eagerfor the college football season tobegin. And after talking with NU’shead football coach about this years’new look Big Ten, my excitementlevel is off the charts!The man behind the NorthwesternWildcats football team is headcoach Pat Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald,better known as “Fitz” has become amainstay in Wildcat football. At only31 years old, he gained national attentionin 2006 when he was named thehead football coach at NU following“I’m proudto be Irish, itdefines who Iam. Before I’ma NorthwesternWildcat oranythingelse I’m anIrishman—and to methat meanseverything.—Pat Fitzgeraldthe sudden death of his mentor andclose friend, Randy Walker.Fitzgerald, who grew up in the SouthChicago suburb of Orland Park, was athree-sport athlete, playing baseball,basketball and football. While at CarlSandburg High School in Orland Park,he played football and admits that afterhis parents, his high school coacheswere his role models. After high school,Fitzgerald began his Big Ten playingcareer at Northwestern. During hiscollege playing days, he earned twoNagurski and Bednarik awards, as defensiveplayer of the year and two firstteamAll-American honors. He helpedlead Northwestern to consecutive BigTen titles and a Rose Bowl appearancein 1996.After graduating from Northwestern,Fitzgerald signed a free-agent contractwith the Dallas Cowboys, playing inthree pre-season games before hangingup his cleats and moving back toChicago. He took a sales job sellingradio air-time for a year, but returned tofootball in 1998. He worked as a defensivegraduate assistant at Maryland fora year, followed by Colorado, before securinghis first full-time position at theUniversity of Idaho in 2000. In 2001,Randy Walker brought Fitzgerald backhome to his alma mater, hiring him onas the Wildcats’ defensive secondarycoach. Within a year, Fitz had movedto linebackers’ coach and later addedrecruiting coordinator to his resume.In 2008, Coach Fitz became a memberof the College Football Hall of Famefor his accomplishments as a Wildcatplayer. Aside from his personal athleticaccomplishments, his achievements asa coach are what continue to make himthe envy of college programs in Division1 sports. Now, about to enter hissixth season at the helm, Coach Fitz satdown with Irish American News to discusshis team goals and personal goalsfor the upcoming football season.Upon walking into Coach Fitz’soffice I am immediately surroundedCoach Fitzgerald puts his team thru pre-workout stretches.by a sea of purple. I see aerial views ofNorthwestern’s campus and the Wildcat’shome turf, Ryan Field displayedon the wall. Fitz’s old jersey #51 isframed and hangs proudly in his office.There are family photos and team rosterphotos, a picture of Fitz with White Soxpitcher John Danks, and various othershots of appearances around Chicagoland,all in which Fitz is donning purpleNU polos. As we begin talking, itbecomes very clear that Pat Fitzgeraldbleeds purple; he is extremely passionateabout all things NU Wildcats. Fiveminutes into the interview and CoachFitz’s intensity level has me ready to runto the practice fields and hit the tacklingsleds at full speed.I cut to the chase and ask Fitz whathis next personal goal is and withouthesitation he answers “win the BigTen national championship.” Duringhis past five seasons as head coach, hehas already set school records, with histeam earning three consecutive postseasonberths and four straight yearsof bowl-eligibility. The pressure is onto continue this trend and reach evenhigher levels of excellence.This past May, Northwestern announcedthat Fitz had received a contractextension that will last until 2020.