By Jordan Hansen
Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald spoke to members of the media at Big Ten Media Days about the upcoming 2016-17 season.
- Starts off with a statement of condolences for Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and former Michigan State kicker Mike Sadler as well as Dennis Green, who coached the Wildcats and won Big Ten coach of the year in 1982.
- “Very pleased with the team last year.”
- “This may be the strongest football team we’ve ever had. We’ve had 400 personal records over this summer.”
- “Our three losses last year, we got dominated upfront… we have a lot of work to do.”
- On the tough slate of October: “If you look at throughout my time, it’s been a month that’s been difficult for us.”
- “If we want our name talked about for this trophy, we need to play better during October.”
- On their three losses: “First thing you do when you look at those games: A, B, and C didn’t go well, how can we change that.”
- “In the bowl game, we didn’t execute well… A lot to learn and grow from.”
- “If you’re not getting the job done, you get to meet my friend and motivator called ‘Bench.’”
- On defensive turnover: “We need to recruit well,” also mentions player development.
- Wide receivers: “Austin Carr, he’s our most experienced guy coming back… our upperclassmen, their chemistry right now might be the best I’ve had in the years I’ve been here.”
- Touts depth of wide receiver position.