Evanston to L.A.? Pat Fitzgerald Rumored as Possible Candidate for USC Job

By Melinda McIntire

The internets are abuzz after USC fires Lane Kiffin at 3:00am after returning home from Tempe after the Trojan's loss to Arizona State.

Rumored to be on the top list of candidates to replace Kiffin is Northwestern's own Pat Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is a Northwestern alum, and has supposedly turned down offers at places like Michigan to stay in Evanston, but ocean breezes sound a bit nicer than winds of Lake Michigan in November. Also the fact that USC has been an ongoing powerhouse, while Northwestern has plenty of .500 seasons, losses to Ron Zook, and non-BCS bowl game wins on their resume.

NU fans (do any of you alumni actually care about football?)-- What do you think? Will he stay or will he go?

Yikes / September 30, 2013 5:52 PM

I hope this poor attempt at journalism isn't your day job.

Vin / September 30, 2013 7:00 PM

HA! Are you kidding me? Yeah he'd leave a Northwestern school, which he has helped build into a nationally ranked team, for a sanctions-having, prissy-fanbase USC....yeah riiight

RG / September 30, 2013 9:26 PM

I'm torn -- I attended both schools. This would be a great hire for SC. But Pat has turned NW into a renaissance school like Stanford. Superior in academics and great at Football.

Melinda McIntire / October 1, 2013 12:12 AM

It's a blog, an opinion post, and is not an attempt at journalism. No need to be rude. I hope this poor comment isn't your usual internet trolling.

Mike / October 1, 2013 3:20 PM

Fitz JUST signed a 10-year contract with Northwestern and is the best coach we've ever had. Were you serious when you asked if any of us actually care about football? I'm a die-hard fan. I'll give you my left nut if Fitz leaves.

Jambone / October 2, 2013 7:41 PM

I believe the best way to answer this question is to point out Pat Fitzgerald was coached by Gary Barnett, one of several dozen mostly-identical shrunken heads on stakes that line the battlements of the big-time college football schools.

Sure, there's the chance you'll be the next Nick Saban. Far more likely you'll be the next Gary Barnett, out on your ass after your first season around .500 and never coaching ever again.

Admittedly realizing that sure money until you're senile beats putting everything you've got on 23 and letting the wheel turn involves being much smarter than the average football coach, but Pat went to Northwestern.