Almost immediately after Rich Rodriguez was fired by Michigan, the rumor mill churned out the name “Pat Fitzgerald” as a potential replacement.
Subsequently, a very compelling case was made by esteemed Chicago Tribune writer Teddy Greenstein as to why the Northwestern coach should not be considered a candidate for the vacancy at Michigan.
Based on one report, the human has trumped the machine. This time.
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com‘s Big Ten blog reports that Michigan did indeed have an interest in Fitzgerald, but the former Wildcats linebacker has informed the Ann Arbor school that he will remain at his alma mater. The 37-year-old coach, Rittenberg writes, is very happy at Northwestern and living in the area where both he and his wife grew up.
Besides, we all know Fitzgerald is simply waiting to take over for Joe Paterno if/when he steps down as Penn State’s head coach.
Fitzgerald was an outstanding LB during his playing days at the school, twice being named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year while also becoming the only person to win both the Bednarik and Nagurski awards in back-to-back seasons. As a coach, Fitzgerald is 34-29 (18-22 in conference play) and led the Wildcats to bowl appearances at the end of each of the past three years.