By Adam Hensley | [email protected]
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks to members of the media at the Big Ten media days to discuss the 2017-18 season.
- “We have a lot of excitement” in regards to attempting to win bowl games in back-to-back years.
- ”We’re kind of a unicorn in college football. Had the same staff now together going on eight seasons.”
- Thanked Northwestern for its loyalty in keeping his staff intact.
- “To see that type of commitment from the university … has never been done before in our program’s history, so to see that along with the excitement we have on the field, just cannot be thankful enough.”
- Says getting rid of two-a-days isn’t a major change, Northwestern only had three prior to the rule change.
- “I think [the targeting] rule is good for the game. I think it’s good for players’ safety. It was a play that we needed to take out of our game, and the only way you’re going to take it out is, A, through coaching. And then, obviously, the rule changes and having the accountability that there needed to be to make sure that young men, when they violate the rule, are held accountable.”
- Said recruiting “is at an all-time high.”
- “I want to have our program player-run and player-owned.”