Realistically, a season like this gets Fitz fired at a lot of places, right?
- Thread starter NUCat320
- Start date
I dislike throwing interceptions in the endzone through misplaced aggressiveness, but then I've never equated a willingness to throw the ball with some measure of bravery. Cats must be brave as all get out in your mind though given that the team threw the ball 44 times against Iowa with a running QB in the entire game. I'd call that "not a great use of resources", but at least Baj can avoid you calling him chicken-****.
I really really liked that dude Mr Wickerpark. Some people claimed he was me. I could see why, very smart guy. lol
I am new to this forum but not new to watching Northwestern football. I applaud Fitz for taking a job that he got through weird circumstances but lets face it. The only Fitz-in-demand hype came out of Evanston. How many "real" offers has Fitz actually had in the last 15 years. Notice they came just before an extension like in '18.
No serious Power 5 team would offer a historically bad offense and (honestly) "defensive" coach. And if by some miracle he did a real fan base wouldn't let his shenanigans last more than 3 years. You really need to get out of the "purple-bubble".
the only one who makes anything up is you. Look, I think you do a good job of looking at the video of players and then making us all feel good about making **** up about how they will all be All Big10. It's fun and serves a purpose but simply a long way from home.
As far as JON, the "recruits of omission' are explicit evidence that players don't want to play on his defense. Doesn't mean that we won't get any players who have few other options. But as I said last month, since the MSU disaster and Fitz doubling down that his buddy is "His Man" we lost 2 of our top 3 defensive recruits, and have been forced to go to our C list which is to steal verbals from other schools since our list is completely crossed out now. We have failed to attract any portal activity but have been successful in begging a guy from Davidson or some small school to flip to us. And we are begging some kid who decommitted from Vandy to come here. Dude has only like 2 power 5 offers and zero from successful programs. Again, if you can't be at least honest and finally admit that JON is scaring players away like the covid then there is presious little that you can bring to this discussion. I suggest you stick to entertaining us with your analysis of the video of all of our gcg called 'stud recruits'. ba ha
Fitz maybe had a few offers as he took full credit for the actions of a hall of fame coach, Hankwitz. Now, with no cover, he is exposed for what he is, i.e., a nice guy who doesn't have a clue and is Bob Davie 2.0
Due to politics, NU simply can't fire Fitz for this embarrassing team, but maybe if we are lucky in 2 years, he finally gets released. Unfortunately, our previous AD gave all of the coaches 10 year contracts before he left.
Um, did Fitz interview at any school that you know of? Any? Please provide us the details of your BS otherwise you will lose even more credibility than the zero you already have. Love your analysis of our recruits who you claim will be All Big 10. Trouble is that they all are physically unable to perform at such a level, but we do hit the gold mine 3 or 4 times out of 85 total.
At this point, we need to focus on not being the #14th ranked Big10 team. I'm concerned that we will stay there for 5 years due to TPOF. How about you?
Fans wanna know
If you're implying that multiple sources lied repeatedly about interest from multiple other programs, including the NFL, I can accept your allegation as possible, but not probable. I am pretty sure he had interest from other P5 / NFL that either reached the offer stage, or where Fitz removed his name from consideration.
Note that I'm not saying he would succeed. I think he's in a fairly unique program situation that would lend itself to success at the service academies, small private schools (DUKE, Wake et al), G5 and mid-range to upper level P5s like Iowa, Mizzou, Arizona/State. I don't think he could succeed at the behemoths. Or in the pros
When the game was on the line, that's exactly what he was, Homer. Marty only needed to hit on one of 3.
Case Closed. Taking the plea was a smart move because your bs and babble about Fitz is unfounded. If you are going to make dopey claims that stud programs were interviewing Fitz then provide the evidence and stop acting like corbi that you are in some inner circle that is myth.
Thus saith The All Turk Appeals Court of Sound Reason
Proof positive that you’re not actually here to engage in any kind of reasonable discussion, but to make a show of it.
I made statements.
1. Recruits of Omission is proof that recruits run from wanting to play for JON.
2. No other program in P5 would interview fitz for any head coach job.
3. Your video analysis of our recruits declaring almost all of them to be potential All Big Ten is unintelligent.
You have responded with
1. Fitz has had job offers from top programs (but produce zero evidence).
2. Our recruits are solid and not impacted by JON. You offer no evidence or data.
3. And you conclude that you arent getting baited to defend your dopey comments.
If you dont want to get "baited" after you already engage then you are defined as a troll.
Turk +
Gcg and JON. -1
So let's say, hypothetically, 5 programs, college and pro, contacted Fitz through his agent over the past 5 years. I believe this to be the case. Further, let's say that Fitz talked it over with his agent and family, and removed his name from consideration, without interviewing. Are you still saying nobody would hire him because he didn't have any actual "interviews"? If so, you are intentionally ignoring what is obvious interest in him, in my hypothetical case. Or, instead, do you mean that widely dispersed reports in numerous media, listing him as a candidate at places such as Green Bay are made up? Perhaps GCG and Corbi were able to get the MSM to believe such BS?
Fitz himself said he never interviewed for any job. Gcg knows this and also knows there was very little interest other than Fitz' agent doing a helluva job manufacturing interest to get NU to bite on a ridiculously expensive contract for the school in negotiations that allowed him to have money for JON and assistants as well.
Sorta how the texans created a false narrative regarding Desaun Watson.
you didn't answer my question. Not that you must. But do you believe that there was no serious interest, or just that he didn't "interview"? Your posts lead me to believe that you think nobody has shown any serious interest, and I think that's just now true. GCG/Corbi didn't create all of the reports that had him a candidate at all these places that, presumably, he removed himself from consideration before interviewing. Saying he 'didn't interview' is being disingenuous.
From what I heard, Fitz was likely offered at least one high profile job without interviewing when he was a red hot prospect.
Interesting logic. Thinking that running the ball was a reasonable idea as opposed to demanding that the team pass the ball more often makes one a homer?
At that point in the game, Marty had thrown the ball 16 times for 42 yards, so at that kind of per pass average the Cats aren't getting into the end zone. Marty was completing less that 50% of his passes and the team was averaging around 3.3 yards per rush at that point, so it seems like Baj was making the shocking choice to try what was working better up to that point.
So, I guess if not being outraged by the coach's logic on that drive makes one a homer, I'll own it. Better than being a dumbass for certain but maybe it's just the way you were raised.
I actually thought his Homer comment was a Simpsons reference I didn't get. Light finally went on.
I'm sure his agent made sure he was on many list. But I already acknowledged that. Listen, I think Fitz' agent was smart as heck to do that. I'm sure his agent had him on the first tryout list of several programs while his agent was also bargaining with NU. No doubt he was on 'list'. He would have whacked his agent if he wasn't.
But no, I don't think there is any evidence that any power 5 conference would have hired him. Never mind the bears. That rumor may have been started by Fitz himself. No way no how would the bears want a damn thing to do with him. Period!! And damn sure not now.
At any rate, who cares about other programs, I was just expositing GCG. What is important is this program and I doubt there will be any lost hope if Fitz walks from here. If Fitz quit, hope would finally abound. This is Bob Davie all over again. Terrible situation that our program is attached to but with a couple more suck seasons and hundreds of mroe millions dumped into the program and suck recruits, the school will have no option but to do the inevitable and fire Fitz. The data is clear, when you compare the data from this year to last year, one variable has changed and that's the Hall of Fame coach Hankwitz is gone. That's the data and that's the scoreboard. The data highly suggest the equation was always Fitz + Hankwitz and never Fitz alone.
Fitz has had a brilliant strategy. He has gotten blood out of turnip regarding the millions in his pocket. Bill Carmody is jealous because he took the school for granted and got whacked without getting the big bucks that Collins and Fit$ get.
But, moving forward, the data is clear. It isn't so much that Fitz whiffed on his coordinators but rather his Hall of Fame DC left.
Not Fitz + JON = Insanity and Madness
but rather....
Fitz + Hank = a winning edge.
Fitz - Hank is a complete disaster with no end in sight. Hank' covered for the inept recruiting and bull **** of Fitz. Hopefully, Gary Barnett can work the phones and try to get another solid coordinator through his recommendation.
Moot issue now! The only way he gets interviewed for a top Power 5 program is to pull a Barnett and win back to back Big Ten Championships. He has one helluva hole to dig himself out of to get the program where it was in 2018 He lost Hank and canned McCall, who before 2019 ran a decent offense, not splashy or exciting, but it helped produce the best 4 years in the history of Wildcat football. Not saying McCall should have been retained, but his successor is a mixed bag this far. It is amazing how one or two decisions can derail a program.
Firing people now seems to be the American way now. How about helping Fitz succeed? Hire someone to coach Fitz, there are consultants that do that. In many respects Fitz has done an admirable job, but if he is burnt out, give him a couple of months off, send him to Bali and let the staff fill in (after hiring a new DC of course, as it appears this is primary cause of this year's cliff dive). It can't get any worse, and, in any case, it is going to take several years to dig out of this hole. However, if Fitz wants to stay, he should stay, and the powers that be do what they need to to make him successful. BTW, if you are going to exposit much longer, can you please build yourself an outhouse and do it there?
I think your idea to get Mr Fitzgerald some counseling or coaching education is a good one. But the statement, "If Fitz wants to stay, he should stay" does harm to justice if we base success on wins. The question becomes, why should he be allowed to stay? Tenure? We approached the same questions regarding BC. IMO the vast majority figured "If Bill wants to stay, he should stay", insomuch that I was pleasantly shocked when he got fired. I think Bill Carmody took his job for granted. And I think Fitz is as well.
I'm not saying I'm necessarily right, but something about Fitz and this program is certainly wrong. He is the #3 highest paid coach in the BigTen and he needs to feel some heat on his seat instead of "We will get'm next year".
And FWIW, being the #3 highest paid coach in the Bigten means nothing other than if Fitz eventually gets whacked then it ought to be reasonably easy to get a solid coach behind him. Sucn wasn't the case when Fitz was hired. NU didn't pay squat. Practiced in mud. No facilities. Nothing.
To your point which is a good one, While "Practicing in mud. No facilities. Nothing." was the case in 1963, when NU was #1 in the nation (for a week). Times have changed, but Parsegian was one heck of a coach. I was the friend of a doctor in Philadelphia, who at the time was younger than, although the counsel to Ara when he was at ND. They talked weekly, after each game. The conversations were apparently excruciating. Fitz needs this, now--the stress is great, and having also talked with Fitz's dad, I understand why Fitz would be resistant.
Fitz and I are about the same age. We have both experienced success and failure, both been judged and I think both have a bit of an ego. Good luck steering me on my scuba company or telling me how to do my job.
I was thinking about this recently when I had some problems develop within my staff. I maintain a well oiled, geared toward detail and loyal group - or so I thought. So when one goes rogue - outside the circle - I didn’t take it well. Damn it, I built this department and arguably built this company….question me…how dare you…I’ll send you back to work for them….(long story).
It took me a day to think through it. My stubborn and usually right *** did this wrong. I failed. I didn’t establish my value, the reason why we keep things up in the front office. This is my team, I write the plans and protocols, I’m rigid on who I bring in - this is my team. So that means this is my problem. I didn’t do the job I needed to do.
And that has been a hard pill to swallow. And now I will work harder to fix it. Cuz it’s my team and I take pride in our work.
Bob, that's the funniest thing I've read in a while. But - seriously - Fitz clearly has an ego, what coach doesn't? And he's pretty stubborn, and, further, thin-skinned. I can see it from his perspective - was part of the renaissance as a player, took over a mediocre program that had tragically lost its coach, most successful coach in program history by a wide margin, basically on path to become the Paterno (minus the scandal) of NU. People still throw roses at his feet how he does more with less. Hence, the ego. Then, things go wrong, inevitably, and the criticism starts. Stubbornness and thin-skin kick in - 'look at all i've done and you are criticizing me?' and, notwithstanding Turk/alter ego nonsense, says to himself 'I could have left a dozen times already but I stayed'
Anyway, I have no interest in getting on the coaching carousel, it gives me motion sickness. In the end, Bilbo Baggins said it best, paraphrasing:
"I know that Fitz can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult. He's suspicious and secretive, with the *worst* manners you can possibly imagine. But he is also brave and kind, and loyal to a fault."