Northwestern has fired coach Pat Fitzgerald

DeonThomas · Jul 15, 2023

Fighter of the Nightman said:
Could we be returning to the "norm" for Northwestern football for people older than about 35? Illinois currently leads the all-time series 57-54. However, before Bielema got here we had gone 4-14 vs. NU since 2003 ... yikes. So, entering that 2003 season, we led the all-time series 53-40, lol.

Looking back at these results, it's kind of funny and noteworthy that - while many modern Illini teams have lost to Northwestern, sometimes by embarrassing margins - pretty much any time we have been worth a damn, we beat them.

2021 and 2022: Bielema arrives, and we get 2 straight wins after 6 straight losses.

2010 and 2011: 2 straight wins in our first-ever back-to-back bowl win seasons, sandwiched in between 2 straight losses before that and 2 straight losses after that.

2007: Beat them in our Rose Bowl season after 4 straight losses, and we would follow it up with 2 straight losses.

Then from 1998-2002 when we were pretty decent, we won 3 out of 4. I think Fitzgerald was a very good coach, but I wonder just how much of a "success story" Northwestern would have been over the past couple of decades if the state flagship program hadn't been completely asleep for most of that time, lol. I still maintain it's a VERY difficult job.

Excellent point. With the combination of (1) Bielema taking the reigns, and (2) the current NW scandal, I do expect a return to the "NORM" --- defined as the domination that occurred during my earliest 20 years of fandem:

1971 - W
1972 - W
1973 - L
1974 - W
1975 - W
1976 - W
1977 - L
1978 - Tie
1979 - W
1980 - W
1981 - W
1982 - W
1983 - W
1984 - W
1985 - W
1986 - L
1987 - L
1988 - W
1989 - W
1990 - W

And I'm hopeful that Bret has an extremely successful 20-year run in Champaign!

Ander1345 · Jul 15, 2023

Norm or not I think it's actually better when both teams are competitive.... we're in the age where you are paying way more hard earned money and subscribing to 50,000 different streaming services so the games better be worth it.

Basically all I'm saying I'd rather beat them 41-3 when they're 7-4 or 8-3 than when they are 1-10. Will be interesting to see who ends up the next HC over there. Guessing Fritz or Monken.

Navy_illini · Jul 15, 2023

2023 College Football Hot Seat Rankings: Evaluating the job security of all 133 FBS coaches

From 'win or be fired' to 'untouchable,' every college football coach gets rated by Dennis Dodd

www.cbssports.com

Interesting article. I don’t think there is a coach who is untouchable

What other big ten coaches could be on the hot seat. Article thinks Allen

BretMyBeachHouse · Jul 15, 2023

Navy_illini said:
2023 College Football Hot Seat Rankings: Evaluating the job security of all 133 FBS coaches

From 'win or be fired' to 'untouchable,' every college football coach gets rated by Dennis Dodd

www.cbssports.com

Interesting article. I don’t think there is a coach who is untouchable

What other big ten coaches could be on the hot seat. Article thinks Allen

fun stuff.

In the Pressure is Mounting category it's critical to know just how much can be withstood due to the contract. Tucker's contract is so crazy, the pressure will build but won't blow for a few years.

Mr. Tibbs · Jul 16, 2023

so do I have this correct ?
NW has this program wide acceptance of hazing and they only change the head coach , after their own investigation , done by a Chicago white shoe law firm says he had no knowledge of it , and they expect things to now be better ?

like simply getting rid of Fitz is the answer ?

Illini92and96 · Jul 16, 2023

Mr. Tibbs said:
so do I have this correct ?
NW has this program wide acceptance of hazing and they only change the head coach , after their own investigation , done by a Chicago white shoe law firm says he had no knowledge of it , and they expect things to now be better ?

like simply getting rid of Fitz is the answer ?

It can’t be. My assumption is a new coach will be asked to bring new assistants to cleanse the staff. Maybe more recent hires get to stay. This late in the game they can’t get an entire new staff and can’t field a team without keeping the current bunch.

TheChief4Life · Jul 16, 2023

Mr. Tibbs said:
so do I have this correct ?
NW has this program wide acceptance of hazing and they only change the head coach , after their own investigation , done by a Chicago white shoe law firm says he had no knowledge of it , and they expect things to now be better ?

like simply getting rid of Fitz is the answer ?

There's no way the AD survives this either. I have a feeling the AD already knows this.

IlliniReb · Jul 16, 2023

Navy_illini said:
2023 College Football Hot Seat Rankings: Evaluating the job security of all 133 FBS coaches

From 'win or be fired' to 'untouchable,' every college football coach gets rated by Dennis Dodd

www.cbssports.com

Interesting article. I don’t think there is a coach who is untouchable

What other big ten coaches could be on the hot seat. Article thinks Allen

Anyone else do a quick double take at Coastal Carolina ?

illiniwil · Jul 16, 2023

gibb52 said:
Coaches are likely being retained for this season only as it would be almost impossible to fill out a staff this late in the year. Fall practice begins in what, 3.5wks? Not saying it's a good idea but likely the only choice they had given the timing.

huh? no choice? of course they have a choice and its the only one. clean house. dont care who coaches them this year. a clean sweep is
the only decision to make.

Battle89 · Jul 16, 2023

Ander1345 said:
Norm or not I think it's actually better when both teams are competitive.... we're in the age where you are paying way more hard earned money and subscribing to 50,000 different streaming services so the games better be worth it.

Basically all I'm saying I'd rather beat them 41-3 when they're 7-4 or 8-3 than when they are 1-10. Will be interesting to see who ends up the next HC over there. Guessing Fritz or Monken.

Never understood this for an Illinois game. For two random schools, yes if I'm watching, all the above. But give me a 30-point (favorable) blowout every time, in all circumstances, when Illinois plays. 41-3 against a 7- or 8-win team happens extremely infrequently in Illinois history.

TentakilRex · Jul 16, 2023

An interview with two of NU students who broke the story

redwingillini11 · Jul 17, 2023

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680961337655009280

Illini2010-11 · Jul 17, 2023

redwingillini11 said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680961337655009280

Given the alleged hazing has been going on for more than 15 years by some accounts, I expect that number to increase (since statute of limitation is extinct).

This is a nightmare scenario for Northwestern, and it will not be going away anytime soon.

NJJ871 · Jul 17, 2023

Illini2010-11 said:
Given the alleged hazing has been going on for more than 15 years by some accounts, I expect that number to increase (since statute of limitation is extinct).

This is a nightmare scenario for Northwestern, and it will not be going away anytime soon.

Pardon the dumb question, but why would there not be a statute of limitations?

Ander1345 · Jul 17, 2023

NJJ871 said:
Pardon the dumb question, but why would there not be a statute of limitations?

There is no statute of limitations in civil court.

Correction: there are statute of limitations in civil court in Illinois, bur it depends on the circumstances.

Hingle McCringleberry · Jul 17, 2023

redwingillini11 said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680961337655009280

But I thought that "the recent allegations brought forth are twisted and exaggerated lies" and that the ENTIRE Northwestern Football team "firmly deny the validity of these accusations"

Battle89 · Jul 17, 2023

Hingle McCringleberry said:
But I thought that "the recent allegations brought forth are twisted and exaggerated lies" and that the ENTIRE Northwestern Football team "firmly deny the validity of these accusations"

ptgrd23 · Jul 17, 2023

The vultures are circling. Beyond Fitzgerald buyout, cancelling Ryan Stadium expansion, there are going to be some expensive civil lawsuits from football and baseball players.

NW is lucky they are part of B10 and get the annual conference mega-check.

TentakilRex · Jul 17, 2023

Th first domino of mass exodus?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1681062538518118400

illinoistradition · Jul 17, 2023

TentakilRex said:
Th first domino of mass exodus?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1681062538518118400

We were his very first offer in 2021. Any shot?

lexwaldez · Jul 17, 2023

ptgrd23 said:
The vultures are circling. Beyond Fitzgerald buyout, cancelling Ryan Stadium expansion, there are going to be some expensive civil lawsuits from football and baseball players.

NW is lucky they are part of B10 and get the annual conference mega-check.

The NW endowment fund is laughing at us all while throwing stacks of $100 bills into a fire... in July.

altgeld88 · Jul 17, 2023

lexwaldez said:
The NW endowment fund is laughing at us all while throwing stacks of $100 bills into a fire... in July.

They had a rough '22. Lost half a billion $$ and dropped to a paltry $14.4 billion. Markets were unkind.

Northwestern endowment drops by almost $600 million in 2022

Northwestern’s endowment declined to $14.4 billion this year from almost $15 billion last year, according to an email from University President Michael Schill to members of NU’s community Thursday. The decrease was credited to rising interest rates and struggling financial markets, according to...

dailynorthwestern.com

Navy_illini · Jul 18, 2023

altgeld88 said:
They had a rough '22. Lost half a billion $$ and dropped to a paltry $14.4 billion. Markets were unkind.

Northwestern endowment drops by almost $600 million in 2022

Northwestern’s endowment declined to $14.4 billion this year from almost $15 billion last year, according to an email from University President Michael Schill to members of NU’s community Thursday. The decrease was credited to rising interest rates and struggling financial markets, according to...

dailynorthwestern.com

They have a large endowment but they need those funds to operate.

The University of Illinois system has about 4 billion according to wiki but we also receive public funding. We are not as dependent as a private university but that endowment covers UIUC UIC and UIS and the operating budget is about 8 billion

It amazes me we still treat universities as non profits when they obviously make a lot of money and those who run the institutions get rich

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Ander1345 · Jul 18, 2023

With how much I spent on my education(just went to UIC) I never once thought it was not for profit. Was lucky to have as much help with paying for it as I got.... or I wouldn't have gone at all.

sbillini · Jul 18, 2023

Navy_illini said:
They have a large endowment but they need those funds to operate.

The University of Illinois system has about 4 billion according to wiki but we also receive public funding. We are not as dependent as a private university but that endowment covers UIUC UIC and UIS and the operating budget is about 8 billion

It amazes me we still treat universities as non profits when they obviously make a lot of money and those who run the institutions get rich

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Generally agree. That's why I was so adamant that all the crying the various DIA's were doing during COVID was a bunch of hogwash, especially when they were threatening to (and in some cases, actually did) permanently shut down some non-rev sports.

Ultimately, "non-profit" in these circumstances, whether it be DIA, overall universities, even things like hospitals, etc., generally means 1) having parts of your business that perpetually lose money and being ok with that and 2) doing a piss poor job of managing costs - both of these because you're not expected to show a profit. But the people running the show are still getting paid very well (don't have to manage their costs either!) and there are still profitable parts of the business.

Where I think the issue with DIA's is especially egregious is the fact that they are so intertwined with such profitable "for profit" businesses (i.e. TV contracts, and general for profit sports operations) that the "non profit" $ amounts are just crazy, particularly given the fact that the primary reason for their existence is through the university at large which basically sees no $ from those DIA deals. P5 DIAs should be run as a for-profit businesses with the university being the primary shareholder.

Northwestern has fired coach Pat Fitzgerald

White and Sixth