Notebook: Braun talks 1995 Rose Bowl reunion, endorses possible return by Fitzgerald
EVANSTON-On the heels of Northwestern’s massive 22-21 upset over Penn State, the Wildcats are set to host Purdue this Saturday for a game that also serves as a celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the program’s 1995 Rose Bowl team.
“The best programs that I’ve been around have a certain level of reverence for what has come before them, and that’s something that I never want to lose at Northwestern,” said head coach David Braun at his Monday press conference. “Whether that’s Coach [Gary] Barnett, Coach [Randy] Walker, or Coach [Pat] Fitz[gerald], we acknowledge and appreciate the successes that this program has seen both on and off the field.”
Fitzgerald hasn’t been back to a Northwestern sporting event since he was fired for cause in the wake of the hazing scandal the summer of 2023. He settled his lawsuit for wrongful termination in August with very favorable terms, including an admission by the university he had no knowledge of the hazing that took place.
Matt Fortuna reported that Fitzgerald has RSVP’d for the reunion, but it remains unclear if he will attend the game or take part in the on-field recognition of the team. Braun gave Fitzgerald a full endorsement and hopes he’ll return.
“I don’t know if he will, but I hope he does,” Braun said. “Fitz is one of the most iconic Northwestern football players of all time, one of the best coaches to ever do it. He was a critical piece of that Rose Bowl team. I’m really hopeful that he is a full participant in Saturday’s celebration.”
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Timeless wisdom from Barnett
Braun used the term “expect victory” after the win over Penn State, a slogan made famous by Barnett, the head coach of that Big Ten championship team in 1995. Braun said that he had a conversation before the Oregon game last month with Fox analyst Joel Klatt, who played for Barnett at Colorado from 2002-05.
“We had talked about the phrase ‘Expect Victory’, but he actually took me through an exercise that Coach Barnett went through at the beginning of every season: who are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there? I immediately scrambled for a pen and started taking notes. Couldn’t have been more perfect timing,” Braun said.
“Because 24 hours later, we’re frustrated after a loss to Oregon, going into a bye week with a three-week sample size. And literally, that’s the exercise we went through over the bye week: we better find out who we are… Whether that [originated] with Coach Barnett or not, he gave us some pretty sweet nuggets [of advice] at the beginning of this season.”
Braun first met Barnett at a golf outing when he first joined Northwestern’s staff in the spring of 2023.
“Spending time with him and the others that have been close with Coach Barnett and Coach Fitz for a long time, that was my initial glimpse and understanding of how special that group is,” Braun said. “He’s someone that will always be welcome around this program. I know he’s much more frequently out in Colorado, but I’m excited that he’s going to be back this weekend.”
Moments with the team stand out from Penn State
The win in Happy Valley is arguably the biggest of Braun’s coaching career, certainly the biggest since he became head coach at Northwestern. When asked what he’d remember most from the aftermath of the game, and if any congratulations stood out to him, he went right back to talking about his team.
“The things that stand out to me are those moments with the players and the staff in the locker room, getting back on the bus, boarding the plane. It’s even moments with [radio broadcasters] Dave [Eanet] and Ted [Albrecht] on the plane,” Braun said.
“There’s something really special about going on the road in the Big Ten and finding a way to come home with a win… You’ll cherish those moments for the rest of your life.”
Braun relished the win but was also very clear to not overlook Purdue as his team’s next opponent.
“You wake up Sunday morning, it’s time to get back to work… And when you’re objective, there are glaring issues we need to get resolved, right now,” he said. “You can squeeze that enjoyment into that evening, but if you’re not on to the next step when you’re in the midst of a Big Ten schedule, you’re exposing yourself to a letdown in this league. There can’t be any letdowns.”
Injury updates
Braun said that the team expects defensive end Anto Saka, who was a late scratch on Saturday for Penn State, to be available for the game against Purdue.
He also said that wide receiver Hayden Eligon II‘s injury late in the game wasn’t serious; he was experiencing cramps.
