Packers interested in interviewing Fitz

zeek55

Junior
Nov 21, 2010
3,656
284
83
This is the time of year when coaches are described in wildly nonsensical terms as the savior of whatever ills face a prospective NFL franchise.

The only part of that description that was right is that Fitz has won 95 games here.
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
30,524
786
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Fitz's strengths lend themselves better to coaching college kids than NFL players.
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
30,524
786
0
And I think Mark Murphy would have as good a sense of that as anyone.

Not saying he wouldn't be a good NFL coach. I don't think his leadership strengths would be maximized in the NFL game which is much more about X and Os and high end individual talent.
 

catsattackfor3

Freshman
Mar 2, 2011
2,629
53
0
So the question would be why would one take a job like the Packers if your someone like Fitz with your own little fiefdom the only answers I can come up with are

1) its an iconic franchise and coaching pros supposedly is better for work / life balance (sort of like Brad Stevens taking the Celtics job)

2) the money

3) no recruiting - Fitz is good at it but that is the number one thing College football and basketball coaches who have worked at both levels say is so much better in the pro ranks -the lack of having to do this. Unless you get the pick of the litter like Clemson, Bama, and tOSU with zero academic restrictions

4) Green Bay is considered a great job with a management team that is patient and a Team President you know

Can you win the National championship at NU, sure you can but so many things need to fall in place. ITs a great job and Fitz is a perfect fit but you gotta look when your hot and offered some. ooportunity that may never come around again
 

villox

Senior
Aug 19, 2008
22,084
670
66
I'm not saying it would never happen, but I have a hard time seeing Fitz having built everything he's built with the facility just coming online and then being content to hand it over to someone else. He's NU's biggest fan too.
 

Hungry Jack

All-American
Nov 17, 2008
39,028
6,173
67
Maybe Fitz could check in with Murphy to see if we could get Lanny on loan for next season, at least on Saturdays. We are a bit thin at DT and Lanny's physical presence would be immensely helpful.
 

zeek55

Junior
Nov 21, 2010
3,656
284
83
Fitz always talks about how he can have an impact on raising good men in the community and stuff like that.

All the bells and whistles of being the head football coach of a university in the Big Ten are things he embraces.


The NFL has very little of that. It's a business where the players wear the laundry for the express purpose of collecting a paycheck.


Only way I see Fitz going to NFL is if he accomplishes everything he can here and is looking for a new challenge.


But not any time soon. We're going to be getting massive stadium renovation soon; he just got to the Big Ten championship game; he wants to lead the team back to the Rose Bowl...

Maybe in 10 or 15 years he might get an NFL itch, but nothing right now about the way he talks about NU football would lead you to believe he'd leave any time soon.
 

KramerCat91

Redshirt
Oct 18, 2007
1,639
49
38
Maybe Fitz will leverage this opportunity for a commitment from NU to increase assistant coach salaries or whatever else he thinks the administration can do to help the team.
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
30,524
786
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Maybe Fitz will leverage this opportunity for a commitment from NU to increase assistant coach salaries or whatever else he thinks the administration can do to help the team.

I think we are well past that stage. I think the administration/Alums have showed its willingness to support Fitz with whatever is needed to make the program successful.
 

zeek55

Junior
Nov 21, 2010
3,656
284
83
Maybe Fitz will leverage this opportunity for a commitment from NU to increase assistant coach salaries or whatever else he thinks the administration can do to help the team.
None of that stuff is an issue though.

AD has raised $440 million in 5-6 years through donations and that goes along with a budget of around $100 million a year.

We have one of the wealthiest ADs in the country now and Fitz gets all the resources he asks for...

Stadium renovation will most likely be announced in 18-24 months, the last piece of the facilities puzzle.

If Fitz wants raises for assistants, he doesn't need to leverage another job.
 

Aging Booster

Freshman
Apr 10, 2014
1,085
85
0
Now you're talking!
I believe that Fitz will be at NU for many more years. But, offers like this - even feelers - have to help with recruiting. The fact that Fitz is wanted by an iconic pro team like the Packers has to impress both the young men looking to play ball in the NFL and their fathers.
 

Gocatsgo2003

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2006
47,283
3,685
78
I believe that Fitz will be at NU for many more years. But, offers like this - even feelers - have to help with recruiting. The fact that Fitz is wanted by an iconic pro team like the Packers has to impress both the young men looking to play ball in the NFL and their fathers.

Let's not get things too out of whack... Fitz was mentioned on a list of eight coaches in whom the Packers MIGHT have interest. Not exactly the kind of article that you blast out to recruits, nor is it particularly new (Fitz has and always will be connected to purportedly "higher profile" gigs so long as he maintains a high level of success at NU):

https://www.packersnews.com/story/s...ch-packers-could-go-two-ways-hire/2187382002/
 
May 29, 2001
45,734
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Wow. If Fitz left here, I wouldn't be surprised if he would only take the packer or bears job. I doubt he would coach any other college team. But I can't see how he passes up the bears, if they came calling. The Packer job would probably be the only other job if Fitz had interest to climb. And with Murphy, Lanny and Campbell and Lowry, I can't say it couldn't happen since he already worked under Murphy.

And with Brohm blowing up the new salary guidance, Fitz has become severely underpaid overnight.

One thing though, if he took the packers job then the coach would be Aaron Rogers.
 

JournCat

Junior
Aug 4, 2009
4,518
252
83
The top NFL coaches are almost all “quarterback whisperers” who are direct partners with their quarterbacks and often call plays themselves. Brohm would frankly seem like a better candidate than Fitz.
 

Hungry Jack

All-American
Nov 17, 2008
39,028
6,173
67
Any notion that Fitz is interested in any other head coaching job, let alone an NFL job, is fake news, IMO. Consider:
1) Fitz has never shown an interest in coaching anywhere other than NU. He pretty much has said as much. Granted, we was been contacted by Michigan several years ago, but to our knowledge never "interviewed" with UMich. He's no Barnett.
2) He just took the wraps off his wishlist athletic complex. He probably has the best office view between Manhattan and the Bay. He has already seen a few early recruiting dividends on this investment.
3) NFL head coaches and college head coaches are different animals. Yeah, I know all about Pete Carroll and Harbaugh, but the overwhelming truth is that the job requirements are very different, and the skills don't translate very well.
4) The NFL is mainly interested in head coaches with offensive pedigrees.
5) The Packers are a rebuild project. The Cats are going to reload for 2019 with HuJo, Kirtz, GHP, McGowan, JJ, Bowser, Pugh, Green, Slater, Thomas, Gaz, EBIV, Paddy, Blake, Pace, Whillock, Newsome, Miller Times, and co.
6) Fitz just painted his house in Northfield.
 

Pukecat

Redshirt
Sep 30, 2018
615
0
0
Any notion that Fitz is interested in any other head coaching job, let alone an NFL job, is fake news, IMO. Consider:
1) Fitz has never shown an interest in coaching anywhere other than NU. He pretty much has said as much. Granted, we was been contacted by Michigan several years ago, but to our knowledge never "interviewed" with UMich. He's no Barnett.
2) He just took the wraps off his wishlist athletic complex. He probably has the best office view between Manhattan and the Bay. He has already seen a few early recruiting dividends on this investment.
3) NFL head coaches and college head coaches are different animals. Yeah, I know all about Pete Carroll and Harbaugh, but the overwhelming truth is that the job requirements are very different, and the skills don't translate very well.
4) The NFL is mainly interested in head coaches with offensive pedigrees.
5) The Packers are a rebuild project. The Cats are going to reload for 2019 with HuJo, Kirtz, GHP, McGowan, JJ, Bowser, Pugh, Green, Slater, Thomas, Gaz, EBIV, Paddy, Blake, Pace, Whillock, Newsome, Miller Times, and co.
6) Fitz just painted his house in Northfield.

Yeah and Cushing and his kids were probably just over there at the Notthfield house yesterday. Fitz was telling Cush that the NU HC job is all his once Fitz leaves for GB. Hahaha.
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
495
0
Yeah and Cushing and his kids were probably just over there at the Notthfield house yesterday. Fitz was telling Cush that the NU HC job is all his once Fitz leaves for GB. Hahaha.
Would Mark Murphy be interested in Cushing?
 

DaCat

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
25,805
2,246
113
You are in denial. Fitz has not yet declared "No interest" so that means he's gonna listen.

I think Scott Satterfield of Appy State would be a good fit at NW. You'd better be proactive because Louisville is probably going after him, too.

Thanks. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight. :rolleyes:

#NotWorried
 

Gocatsgo2003

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2006
47,283
3,685
78
You are in denial. Fitz has not yet declared "No interest" so that means he's gonna listen.

I think Scott Satterfield of Appy State would be a good fit at NW. You'd better be proactive because Louisville is probably going after him, too.

Hilarious attempted troll.
 

zeek55

Junior
Nov 21, 2010
3,656
284
83
Again, money will not be the reason Fitz ever leaves here.

We can easily afford to pay Fitz $8-10 million a year.

We won't get outbid for Fitz's services...
 
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