Return on Investment: Pat Fitzgerald Paying High Dividends at Northwestern

Much like the economy, a simple influence can change everything.

Around Thanksgiving in 1996, Purdue University went looking for new influence for its football program that had lost almost all of its credibility.

The search began and ended in the coach-breeding state of Wyoming, as then Cowboys head coach Joe Tiller was brought back to his old stomping grounds, where he had served as an assistant for four seasons. 

Nearly 12 years and 10 bowl games later, Tiller transformed Purdue into a national powerhouse, molding young men into NFL stars, while cementing his place as Purdue’s all-time winningest coach. 

Heading into the final year of what has been a memorable career for Tiller, he’s been able to reflect on his past accomplishments that have continued to accumulate each season. 

“I think the fact that when I went to Purdue, they had 12 non-Bowl seasons and maybe 11 of the 12 had been losing seasons [to now,] where we've been competitive every year,” said Tiller during Media Day in July.  “That's what most folks will refer to [when assessing his legacy], I suppose.”

Changing a mindset

The Boilermakers sure have been competitive during Tiller’s tenure, showing dramatic improvement the moment he walked on campus.

In his first season, the Toledo native led his team to a 9-3 record and a blowout win in the Alamo Bowl over nationally-ranked Oklahoma State. 

A year later, Purdue finished 9-4 and defeated No. 4 Kansas, coming from behind with the never-before-seen spread offense that would soon become the model of success for years to come. 

When asked if he takes pride in being the founder of the spread, Tiller played it cool as he usually does.

“I [thought] it was going to happen sooner or later,” he said.  “Young people like to throw and catch and run around and high-five each other and enjoy having fun playing the game. I think the style of offense is a fun style…to participate in.

“It's almost a reflection of our society in that things can be instant in the spread offense. And I oftentimes refer to our society as being an instant gratification society so the spread offense just fits right in. We've just done our part to help America be better.”

Tiller has led Purdue to three nine-win seasons, a .730 home winning percentage, an 88-58 overall record, and a 51-39 record in Big Ten games. 

When the Boilermakers defeated Central Michigan in September, Tiller joined Penn State’s Joe Paterno as the only active coach to lead his school in coaching victories.  Purdue has been ranked in 80 of the 191 weeks Tiller has been in charge.

“He's changed the landscape of Big Ten football,” said Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald.   “He's just a great mentor to all of the coaches. He coaches the right way, gets his young men to play extremely hard and buy into what he's been teaching them.”

“This league will never be the same without him. We'll miss him, and college football will not be the same without Joe Tiller."

Reaching the finish line

All good things must come to an end, as Tiller hopes the Boilermakers can improve their so far disappointing 2-5 season. 

Making his final stop to Northwestern on Saturday, Tiller had the opportunity to see Fitzgerald honored for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame at halftime.  The two-time Nagurski and Bednarik Award winner became Northwestern’s 15th player/coach to be inducted. 

Tiller’s influence has impacted the Wildcats offense, as they too run a similar version of his spread attack.  If anything, the trout-loving Tiller will be remembered not only for his winning mentality, but also his high-scoring offensive schemes. 

“Tiller brought in a revolutionary offensive system that the Big Ten hadn't seen,” said ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg.  “[He] will be remembered as a great offensive mind.”

With both Tiller’s and Fitzgerald’s spread matched up head-to-head on Saturday, the scoreboard at Ryan Field was sure to be lit up. 

Tiller’s offense recorded a stellar 466-yard performance against a strong Northwestern defense.  But due to costly turnovers by quarterback Curtis Painter (three interceptions, one fumble lost) and a poor showing from the defense, Tiller could only watch as the Wildcats dominated from beginning to end, beating the suddenly down-spiraling Boilermakers 48-26.

Asked if the season had begun to slip away, Tiller demonstrated his never say die mentality.

"Well if you are a competitive person, you think you are going to win,” he said. “You'd like to think that that's just the nature of playing the game. So you never say never. And I never do, never have, and never will."

The emergence of a leader

The Olympic Games might be over, but there’s still one more torch to be passed in 2008.  With the Joe Tiller era nearing its closing ceremony, the Pat Fitzgerald era is just beginning what looks to be a successful marathon. 

Can Fitzgerald become the same type of legend and mainstay Tiller has in the ever-changing Big Ten conference?

“His young age (33) and enthusiasm for Northwestern give him the chance to have an extremely long coaching career in Evanston,” said Rittenberg.

"I believe so," said ESPN's college football expert Pat Forde.  "Great guy for that job: charismatic, enthusiastic, good recruiter, knows the school and cares about the school.  I think it's a perfect fit."

A new tradition

The journey from player to coach hasn’t been easy for Fitzgerald.  Following the sudden and tragic death of Randy Walker in 2006, Fitzgerald was immediately named the team’s new head coach effective. 

Soon after the promotion, Fitzgerald sought advice and found it in one of college football’s most treasured head coaches.

“[Joe Paterno] told me on my second day as head coach to go home that night, take a dry erase marker and write ‘Head Coach’ in the mirror,” Fitzgerald said during an interview with The Den.  “Every day you wake up and every day you go to bed you need to look at that, and that’s your responsibility.  [Paterno said] there was no way to be totally prepared for it.”

Having to lead a team for the first time off the field, Fitzgerald admits the switch from wearing a headset every Saturday was harder than expected.

“Initially the biggest adjustment is not having the helmet on,” said the former linebacker.  “As a player, you practice every day but you live for Saturdays, whereas when you’re a coach, every day is a game day because you have to be so organized to prepare. 

"I developed a new respect for the sacrifices that coaches and their families make to have things organized and ready to go.”

Current Wildcat middle linebacker Malcolm Arrington said Fitzgerald is so passionate about his job that he has been known to casually participate in defensive practice drills.  He may not be the tackler he once was, but Fitzgerald is slowly becoming the type of influencing coach that Tiller and Paterno became.

“If you’re being recruited by Coach Fitzgerald to go to Northwestern, you can’t help but be excited because he genuinely wants you to have the same experience he had,” said former linebacker and team captain Adam Kadela.  “It’s a privilege for me to say he was my coach.”

Through his first 31 games, Fitzgerald is barely over .500 (16-15) yet already this season the Wildcats have earned a No. 23 rank in the AP Poll and secured Bowl game with their sixth win. 

While influencing his players’ mindset that competitive football once again can be found in Evanston, Fitzgerald feels 2008 will likely be one to remember.

"I'm starting to feel the same kind of buzz there was when I was a student-athlete here," he said.  "There is something special going on right now at Northwestern."

Investing in today's market is always a risk, but thanks to an influence like Joe Tiller, Pat Fitzgerald is one investment sure to pay high dividends in the foreseeable future.