Posted by
Jason on Monday, July 10, 2006 3:50:43 PM
Bill Curry writes an open letter to Pat Fitzgerald:
Pat, there is Grace in this situation. As terrible as the pain is
for Coach Walker's family, the team, the staff, and the rest of us,
there was something prophetic and comforting in his clear instructions
about the future. The words of his wife Tammy about you are stunning,
considering her burdens at the moment:
"This would have been Randy's choice. The connection
of Pat, from his days of playing on championship teams at Northwestern,
then coaching with Randy for the last five years during that success,
and now becoming the head coach will really keep all of the positive
things at NU going in the same direction. As sad as I am right now, I
am so happy for Pat and the choice of him to succeed Randy as head
coach. I know Randy would be, too. Pat is such a special guy. He and
[his wife] Stacy will do a great job."
Fitzgerald is the new
head coach at Northwestern - at 31 years old - making him the youngest head coach in D-1. He was a member of the 95 Rose Bowl team coached by Gary Barnett. He, like both Walker and Barnett, exudes the class, confidence, and the mentality needed to succeed at a place like Northwestern. Needless to say, they don't get the USC and Texas recruits.