Everybody thinks Northwestern will be an easy win, but Coach Fitzgerald has his team prepared to execute. if you take his Coaching and Team lightly it can upset anyone. Here is Coach Fitzgerald Record at NW and he has Signature Wins. Coach Fitzgerald is currently in rebuilding mode whereby he wins 8, 9, & 10 games every 3 to 4 years, while going 5-7, 6-6 when rebuilding. He has beaten Franklin twice but not by much.
Northwestern is the only Private & Urban School in the Big Ten with 8,000 Undergraduates and 12,000 Post-Graduates. Even though it can accept Unlimited Non-Qualifiers allowed in all Big Ten Programs, it usually avoids Recruits that do not match Admissions Standards. Fitzgerald does not shy away from Northwestern status as a world class university often using it to recruit smart and talented athletes rather than using it as a reason for why the school cannot be competitive in football. One of the NU football program's mantras is: "Football Is Not An Excuse For Academics And Academics Is Not An Excuse For Football."
Pitt Coaches know how tough he can be, but up to the Players to earn 9 Wins and be ready and focused. Bowl Games are treated as "Last Hurrah Parties by Seniors"! Younger Players use it to grow with experience learning with more practices and snaps jumping off into 2017. I expect a Big Pitt Win, but they can't just show up, NW Coaches & Players will take it seriously. Pitt has to win it and go to 9-4 and become a Top 25 Rank Team in both Polls!
Fitzgerald Coaching Record At Northwestern:
2006 Northwestern 4–8 2–6 8th Rebuild
2007 Northwestern 6–6 3–5 7th Rebuild
2008 Northwestern 9–4 5–3 4th L Alamo 3rd Year
2009 Northwestern 8–5 5–3 4th L Outback 4th Year
2010 Northwestern 7–6 3–5 7th L TicketCity Rebuild
2011 Northwestern 6–7 3–5 5th (Legends) L Meineke Car Care Rebuild
2012 Northwestern 10–3 5–3 3rd (Legends) W Gator, Ranking: 16AP 17CP 3rd Year
2013 Northwestern 5–7 1–7 6th (Legends) Rebuild
2014 Northwestern 5–7 3–5 6th (West) Rebuild
2015 Northwestern 10–3 6–2 2nd (West) L Outback, Ranking: 22AP 23CP 3rd Year
2016 Northwestern 6–6 5–4 4th (West) Pinstripe ?? Rebuild Year Again!
Northwestern: 76–62-Overall, 41–48-Big Ten, 1-5 Bowl Record
LINK & EXCERPT:
Narduzzi is more concerned with the recent past and his connections to Northwestern and coach Pat Fitzgerald. When Narduzzi was defensive coordinator at Michigan State, he matched wits with Fitzgerald seven times, winning five. “I'm not only familiar with them, but they will be familiar with us as well,” he said
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/11577309-74/bowl-pitt-pinstripe
Second Article:
Pitt football moves up in rankings
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/11586053-74/pitt-state-clemson
Northwestern is the only Private & Urban School in the Big Ten with 8,000 Undergraduates and 12,000 Post-Graduates. Even though it can accept Unlimited Non-Qualifiers allowed in all Big Ten Programs, it usually avoids Recruits that do not match Admissions Standards. Fitzgerald does not shy away from Northwestern status as a world class university often using it to recruit smart and talented athletes rather than using it as a reason for why the school cannot be competitive in football. One of the NU football program's mantras is: "Football Is Not An Excuse For Academics And Academics Is Not An Excuse For Football."
Pitt Coaches know how tough he can be, but up to the Players to earn 9 Wins and be ready and focused. Bowl Games are treated as "Last Hurrah Parties by Seniors"! Younger Players use it to grow with experience learning with more practices and snaps jumping off into 2017. I expect a Big Pitt Win, but they can't just show up, NW Coaches & Players will take it seriously. Pitt has to win it and go to 9-4 and become a Top 25 Rank Team in both Polls!
Fitzgerald Coaching Record At Northwestern:
2006 Northwestern 4–8 2–6 8th Rebuild
2007 Northwestern 6–6 3–5 7th Rebuild
2008 Northwestern 9–4 5–3 4th L Alamo 3rd Year
2009 Northwestern 8–5 5–3 4th L Outback 4th Year
2010 Northwestern 7–6 3–5 7th L TicketCity Rebuild
2011 Northwestern 6–7 3–5 5th (Legends) L Meineke Car Care Rebuild
2012 Northwestern 10–3 5–3 3rd (Legends) W Gator, Ranking: 16AP 17CP 3rd Year
2013 Northwestern 5–7 1–7 6th (Legends) Rebuild
2014 Northwestern 5–7 3–5 6th (West) Rebuild
2015 Northwestern 10–3 6–2 2nd (West) L Outback, Ranking: 22AP 23CP 3rd Year
2016 Northwestern 6–6 5–4 4th (West) Pinstripe ?? Rebuild Year Again!
Northwestern: 76–62-Overall, 41–48-Big Ten, 1-5 Bowl Record
LINK & EXCERPT:
Narduzzi is more concerned with the recent past and his connections to Northwestern and coach Pat Fitzgerald. When Narduzzi was defensive coordinator at Michigan State, he matched wits with Fitzgerald seven times, winning five. “I'm not only familiar with them, but they will be familiar with us as well,” he said
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/11577309-74/bowl-pitt-pinstripe
Second Article:
Pitt football moves up in rankings
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/11586053-74/pitt-state-clemson
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