Perhaps no one is better at getting more out of his players than Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald. His recruiting classes are never ranked anywhere the top of the Big Ten, yet his teams have recently been finishing near the top of the conference. And they play better on the road in conference games than most Big Ten teams. Perhaps yesterday we learned one of the … [Read more...] about Pat Fitzgerald takes Unique Approach to Conflict Resolution at NU Practice
Pat Fitzgerald
Big Ten Media Day One Wrap-up, Coaches Edition
Check out that snazzy graphic above. Study it. Love it. And then realize that this is the last year that it will be relevant and current. Much like the conference expansion dominated the news after the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Big Ten's expansion to add Nebraska was the dominant topic of Big Ten Media Day on day 1. It got a little tiresome, quite frankly. … [Read more...] about Big Ten Media Day One Wrap-up, Coaches Edition
On Field Vids from Northwestern Upsetting #17 Wisconsin
By Paul M. Banks With an upset at home over #17 Wisconsin, Northwestern finishes the regular season 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the Big Ten (tied for fourth place in the Big Ten with the Badgers). NU has compiled a 5-3 conference record four times since 2004 and also for a second consecutive season. Some key facts and figures from today's win -Northwestern has won 17 games in … [Read more...] about On Field Vids from Northwestern Upsetting #17 Wisconsin
Videos From Northwestern’s Land of Lincoln Victory over Illinois
By Paul M. Banks Just moments ago, Northwestern beat Illinois 21-16 to become the first ever owners of the Land of Lincoln trophy. The intrastate rivalry has a new trophy this year, and NU became the first of the two teams to win it. The first video below shows team captain Brendan Smith holding the trophy, as teammates Corey Wootton and others celebrate and sing the school … [Read more...] about Videos From Northwestern’s Land of Lincoln Victory over Illinois
Northwestern Named Fiesta Bowl Team of the Week
By Paul M. Banks From the Football Writers Association of America press release DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 17-10 win at No. 4 Iowa, the Northwestern Wildcats (6-4) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 7, as chosen by the board of the Football Writers Association of America. Trailing 10-0, the Wildcats forced four … [Read more...] about Northwestern Named Fiesta Bowl Team of the Week
Northwestern Gives #8 Iowa First Loss 17-10
By Paul M. Banks All year long, Iowa wasn’t just wining ugly, they were winning HIDEOUSLY. To their immense credit, the un-sexiest 9-0 team in college football history kept winning, despite a starting quarterback, Ricky Stanzi who is to throwing interceptions what cable news is to covering celebrity deaths. The Iowa Hawkeyes got off to the best start in school history with … [Read more...] about Northwestern Gives #8 Iowa First Loss 17-10
BEST Football Coach Soundbite of the YEAR
By Paul M. Banks This is why I'm proud to be from the same hometown as Pat Fitzgerald. Well sort of, he's from Orland Park, IL and I'm from Palos Heights which are pretty much the same exact place in the grand scheme of things. This video, captured by John Tsarouchas of Palestra.net/ ESPN UWIRE is a MUST WATCH! Fitz gets candid in describing the offensive line, which has … [Read more...] about BEST Football Coach Soundbite of the YEAR
Pat Fitzgerald Previewing Northwestern’s Upcoming Season
By Paul M. Banks College Football season is a little more than three weeks away, and when things get underway September 5th, Northwestern will look to build upon last year’s success. In 2008, they finished one win shy of the single season school record for wins. “We’re Chicago’s Big Ten team,” Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald proclaimed at NU Media Day. I’m sure many people at … [Read more...] about Pat Fitzgerald Previewing Northwestern’s Upcoming Season
Sports Mt. Rushmore
By the TSB Staff This Sports Bank collaboration is pretty self-explanatory. You’ve probably seen the bit on SportsCenter PAUL M. BANKS RED GRANGE: The Babe Ruth of football, along with Papa Bear Halas pretty much invented the NFL- America’s best loved league. He was so big he had two nicknames “Wheaton Iceman” and “Galloping Ghost” en route to becoming professional … [Read more...] about Sports Mt. Rushmore
National Signing Dayapalooza
By Paul M. Banks National Signing Day, college football’s version of the NFL draft, continues to grow in popularity each year. The everyday causal football fan has now joined the hardcore college football nerd in following the day’s events. There are even parties thrown at sports bars and restaurants in honor of the event. Yes indeed, there are that many people interested … [Read more...] about National Signing Dayapalooza