College Football Countdown | No. 42: Northwestern

The offseason of Pat Fitzgerald’s discontent is nearly over, as are the media days, car washes and media hoopla accompanying the last days of college football’s long, cold wait between the end of one season and the start of another.Few teams – and few coaches – seem as prepared for football-related activities: Northwestern’s offseason was different, one might politely suggest, and from such off-field drama comes one of two scenarios – the Wildcats get tougher, more mentally stout, or the Wildcats fall apart at the seams, a house divided that cannot stand.But a funny thing happened in late April, after the Wildcats cast their votes for or against unionization: the circus left town. Media descended on Evanston and quickly departed, leaving Northwestern’s returning personnel alone again, relieved – and rejuvenated.Team-only meetings became a common occurrence. Coaches would meet with the team, set the day’s agenda, go over the blueprint and leave, and the team – the seniors in particular – would take over. From these meetings came a deeper sense of cohesiveness, a stronger sense of purpose; a house united, in essence, and a team united in a common cause is dangerous indeed.The irony is obvious. Weeks and months that… Read full this story

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