Standing inside a near empty Grand Ballroom A at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, site of the 2015 Big Ten Football Media Days this past July, Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald was getting ready to do his final interview of the day – with us, A Lot of Sports Talk, of all organizations. After having roundtable discussions with the media, mostly centering on previewing his football team and keeping information – especially his uncertain quarterback situation – close to the vest, we started our interview with a subject he’s more than willing to talk jokingly about.
Himself.
Twenty years ago, Fitzgerald, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was on his way to winning the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards. Twenty years ago, Northwestern was in the middle of their magical run on the gridiron that started with an unlikely upset of No. 9 Notre Dame in South Bend in the season opener. Twenty years ago, Northwestern clinched its first Big Ten championship since 1936 and a spot in the Rose Bowl for the first time ever. When asked about those memories from two decades ago, Fitzgerald started by somewhat deflecting the topic, all in his humble and self-deprecatory style.
“I’m the artist formerly known as Prince,” Fitzgerald said with a chuckle. “I haven’t done anything since 1995.”
I guess, though Fitzgerald went on to win both the Nagurski and Bednarik again the following season. But, as a head coach, he’s leading another Wildcats defense that’s unleashing a Purple Rain on opponents in the Big Ten.
Five games in to the 2015 season, and Northwestern, a perfect 5-0, has allowed 35 points. Total. Stanford, who has scored at least 31 points in four of their five games this season, managed just six in the season opener in Evanston. Two opponents have been shut out. Does all of this sound a little familiar?
You can forgive Northwestern fans and football historians for having a case of déjà vu. Like the 1995 team, this year’s squad started off the season with a win against ranked opponent. (No, they weren’t 25-point underdogs like they were in South Bend all those years back.) In early October of that 1995 season, Northwestern had, according to Fitzgerald, their season-defining win in the Big House against No. 7 Michigan. This Saturday, the Wildcats have a chance to repeat their predecessor’s feat, as they travel to Ann Arbor to take on a revitalized Michigan team, now ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll. In fact, in both 1995 and today, Michigan is playing under a first-year head coach: Lloyd Carr in 1995 and Michigan alum Jim Harbaugh in the present day.
As we reminisced about the special campaign in 1995, Fitzgerald pointed out that it was the Michigan win, even more so than the triumph in the shadows of Touchdown Jesus a month prior, that told the story of where his team was going to eventually end up.
“We beat Notre Dame, then came home and lost to Miami of Ohio…and after the Miami game, coach [Gary] Barnett said to us, ‘Which team do we want to be: the team that beat Notre Dame or the team that lost to Miami?,'” said Fitzgerald. “And the point of the Michigan game, going into that week, was that this could be the turning point.”
Future NFL players littered the roster for the Wolverines, including future Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jon Runyan and starting quarterback Brian Griese. They were ranked No. 7 in the country going into the game. Oh, and they were Michigan!
“When you look at that roster they had, they had pros at almost every position,” said Fitzgerald. “We had a bunch of Joes like me, you know.”
Fitzgerald was being facetious with us, but the real joke was on most of the 104,642 at Michigan Stadium, as Northwestern turned an early fourth-quarter interception of Griese into the go-ahead touchdown to complete a come-from-behind 19-13 victory. Six more wins followed that result, including triumphs against No. 24 Wisconsin and No. 12 Penn State. Their national ranking peaked at No. 3, right before they took the field in the Rose Bowl against USC. But their big dreams that year started with their conquest at the Big House.
“That was the big catalyst to launch our confidence to a place where we could go win a championship,” said Fitzgerald.
Twenty years on, Fitzgerald could be reliving those same memories, standing on the sidelines this time instead of being in between them. Oh, and on a personal note, stop hating on Prince!! He’s done some work since 1995!!
I don’t know how many times the A Lot of Sports Talk 2015 College Football Poll panel have experienced déjà vu on the football field, but, as always, they come strong with their polls and opinions. As always, here are the seven people who combine to bring you our insightful aggregate poll: T.J. Basalla (super fan, marketing professional based in Ohio), Evie Van Pelt (managing editor at The Rebel Walk Magazine), Basil Mitchell (former TCU and Green Bay Packers RB), Sandy Weintraub (super fan, Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards at the University of Oregon), Nick Mancuso (patent attorney who attended USC as an undergrad and Oregon for law school), Adesina Koiki (Football Writers Association of America member/voter, A Lot Of Sports Talk editor-in-chief) and an anonymous football staff member at a Division II school who once coached at the FBS level.
Here is ALOST‘s 2015 College Football Top 25 for Week 3. If you have any comments and/or complaints, write them below on the Facebook window or email us at feedback@alotofsportstalk.com. We’d love to hear from you.
1. 
TCU (161, two first-place votes)
If Trevone Boykin wants to take a trip to the Big Apple for the Heisman Trophy presentation, he may want to make sure his performance doesn’t drop off when the Horned Frogs visit the Little Apple on Saturday. (Adesina Koiki)
2. 
Baylor (158)
The Gold and Green were impressive in its pounding of Texas Tech last week. They may score 100 on Kansas this weekend. (Evie Van Pelt)
3. 
Ohio State (156, four first-place votes)
I never thought that the defending National Champs will have to go to the “survive and advance” model this season, but here we are. (T.J. Basalla)
4. 
Utah (150, one first-place vote*)
College Gameday is in Salt Lake City. If you thought that California vs. Utah would be a matchup of undefeated teams five weeks ago, raise your hand. For those with your hands raised, congratulations. You’re all liars. (Adesina)
5. 
Michigan State (150)
Since the Oregon win, the Spartans have just been flat. (T.J.)
6. 
Clemson (145)
Dabo Swinney has turned around this football program so much that the word “Clemsoning” is quickly being forgotten by college football fans. That could change, however, if they follow a big win against Notre Dame with a subpar performance against a now-struggling, yet still dangerous Georgia Tech squad. (Adesina)
7. 
LSU (141)
The Tigers face the Gamecocks in a game that has been moved to Baton Rouge due to the devastating floods in South Carolina. No matter where the game is played, Leonard Fournette will dominate. (Evie)
8. 
Oklahoma (128)
It won’t get enough credit, but that win over West Virginia was a really good one for the Sooners. (T.J.)
9.
Texas A&M (115)
The Aggies have a bye week, and they’ll need it to prepare for a rejuvenated Crimson Tide team. (Evie)
10. 
Northwestern (100)
Now before you get ready to watch the big tilt in the Big Ten with the ‘Cats and Wolverines, make sure you can find the Big Ten Network on your cable provider. Honestly, I just found it on mine only a couple of weeks ago. (Adesina)
11. 
Alabama (99)
So much for the “End of the Alabama dynasty” talk. That was impressive what they did in Athens. (T.J.)
12.
Florida State (98)
There’s a primetime game between the Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes and it barely registers in the college football world? At least we have ESPN Classic to go to if we want to relive those great games of the early ’90s. (Adesina)
13. 
Florida (88)
The Gators were impressive in a huge win over Ole Miss in the Swamp. Missouri better hope Gators QB Will Grier and Co. don’t have “the flu” again this week. (Evie)
14. 
Notre Dame (81)
The Notre Dame that played the first half in Clemson looked like it could lose 4-5 games. The Notre Dame that played the second half in Clemson looked like it could beat anyone. (T.J.)
T-15. 
Ole Miss (71)
Following a loss last Saturday to the Gators and facing numerous injuries, the Rebels’ Homecoming Game against mighty New Mexico State appears on the schedule in the nick of time. (Evie)
T-15. 
Stanford (71)
From the “strange, but true” department: We’re still in the beginning of October, but the Cardinal only have two more away games left on their schedule, and they’re against Pac-12 bottom-dwellers Wazzu and Colorado. (Adesina)
17. 
Southern California (64)
With the way the Trojans performed in last night’s insipid-ridden loss to Washington, Trojans fans might turn their attention to pro football, and how soon one of the NFL teams relocates to Los Angeles. (Adesina)
18. 
California (56)
Jared Goff is definitely the most pro-ready of all of the college quarterbacks in the country. Here’s hoping he puts on a performance against Utah so that the rest of the nation can see his talent. (Adesina)
T-19. 
Michigan (47)
The Wolverines’ back-to-back home games against Northwestern and Michigan State are the biggest home games, in terms of national relevance, since…since…man, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? (Adesina)
T-19. 
Oklahoma State (47)
After passing their first test with a last-second home win against K-State, an even bigger test awaits the Pokes: Morgantown on a Saturday night. (Adesina)
21. 
Georgia (41)
After getting taken out to the woodshed by Nick Saban and the Tide, the Bulldogs visit Neyland Stadium to face a Tennessee team that’s already had a couple of heartbreaking home losses, including last week’s four-point decision to Arkansas. (Evie)
22. 
UCLA (35)
It’s a good thing that the Pac-12 is so strong that UCLA’s remaining schedule allows it to rack up some more good wins. It also means their hopes for a playoff spot could be wiped away with another bad outing, like the one they laid on the Rose Bowl field against Arizona State. (Adesina)
23. 
Iowa (29)
When is an ugly win actually pretty? When you hold Wisconsin without a touchdown at Camp Randall and earn your first 5-0 start since 2009, that’s when. (Adesina)
24. 
Toledo (11)
Now the pressure mounts in the Glass City. Earning a national ranking from outside the Power Five means that you’re in the hunt for a spot in the New Years’ Six. Can the Rockets deal with everyone’s best shot from now on? (Adesina)
25. 
Temple (10*)
Yes, TEMPLE! What are the chances the Owls can stay undefeated until their Halloween matchup against Notre Dame? Who knows, but let’s enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. This is a quality football team with an absolute stud at linebacker in Tyler Matakevich. (Adesina)
Others receiving votes:
Arizona State (10 points), Houston (5), Boise State (4), Memphis (3), West Virginia (1)
* – To break ties, we used a three-step criteria; 1) higher number of first-place votes, 2) higher number of ballots (out of six) the teams appeared in, 3) highest single ranking by an individual pollster (e.g. if Team A and Team B are tied cumulatively and appeared in all six polls, but Team A’s highest ranking by an individual pollster was No. 7 and Team B’s highest ranking by an individual pollster was No. 9, Team A wins tiebreaker)
[Cover photo (Pat Fitzgerald) courtesy of Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images]
