What they said: Pat Fitzgerald calls Ann Arbor one of the cathedrals of college football
After a bye week, sixth-ranked Michigan returns to the gridiron on Saturday when it hosts the Northwestern Wildcats — the maize and blue have won the last six contests between the two schools.
While the Wolverines are off to a fantastic start to the season, being 6-0, the Wildcats cannot say the same thing. Northwestern is off to a 3-3 start and it only has one Power Five win, which was against Rutgers last weekend, 21-7.
Things may be starting to turn around for the Wildcats since they benched Hunter Johnson for South Carolina transfer Ryan Hilinski — he threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Rutgers defense.
The last time Northwestern beat Michigan was back in 2008, in Ann Arbor when the Wildcats won 21-14 and head coach Pat Fitzgerald knows what a win could mean for this program, but he is more worried about doing the small things correctly — especially against the ‘best’ team the Wildcats have faced all year, including Michigan State.
“I’m more focused on us trying to find a way of getting a first down, getting a stop, and executing the kick game,” said Fitzgerald. “The big picture stuff is great for you all to talk about, but we just need to go out and play consistent football for us to go out and compete. For the most part on Saturday, we played our best collective game on all three phases – need to build off of that spark. We have great respect for Michigan, their talent, and their coaching. It will be a great environment up there, kicking off at noon on Fox. We just need to out a great week of practice together, get our minds right, and play cleaner than we have on the road this year – we have not played well on the road. This is by far, probably, the best team we have played all year to this point – it’s not even close, my opinion, watching everyone on tape — that I have seen. It’s going to be a huge challenge.”
It’s the first game since 2015 that Fitzgerald will be coaching at the Big House, and it makes it even better since the two teams adopted a trophy for the contest — the George Jewett trophy. Jewett was the first African American football player to play at both Michigan and Northwestern.
“First time going up to Ann Arbor since 2015,” said Fitzgerald. “One of the cathedrals of college football, so it will be a tough environment for us to play in. Honor to have an opportunity to play for the Jewett trophy the legacy of George Jewett. My understanding is there will be a number of his family members there to honor his legacy – have a trophy to stand for what’s great about college football. He was the first African American player to play at both Michigan and Northwestern. I know our guys are excited to honor his legacy and compete for a trophy for all that it means – the first of a great trophy going forward.”
Northwestern is one of the worst teams defending the run in the entire country, it ranks 117th and allows 205.7 yards-per-game. Fitzgerald talked about the Wolverines’ running game and the challenge Michigan presents.
“It’s going to be very challenging against Michigan,” said Fitzgerald. “They do a lot of formation variations, they really make you think and have to operate, execute, and communicate pre-snap. Obviously, the group up-front they have, including the tight ends, and the two-headed monster that they have in the backfield – the most dynamic of a running group you will see from anyone. Then when you load the box, the skill on the outside can score. It will be a huge challenge for our defense, but it’s also a big opportunity.”
Fitzgerald talked about how much respect he has for the Harbaugh family, and how Jim Harbaugh has had a lot of success where he has coached. He also talked about how violent the defense is.
“I have great respect for Jim and his family,” said Fitzgerald. “I have been close to John (Harbaugh) for a number of years and known Jim for a number of years also. I have great respect for the programs he has run and the success that he has had. They put a lot of pressure on you schematically, but what I think the thing they pride themselves more than anything is how physical they’re playing in all three phases. The 2021 team is what you see and you do your preparation and read about the DNA, they seem like they’re having a lot of fun. It seems like they’re playing for each other and playing with great collectivity – it shows when you put the tape in. The quarterback play has been outstanding, the big play home runs has been impressive – it grinds you out. Then the defensive tape, the front seven is violent – really violent – they are really physical across each position. Then the backend is as fast and physical as we have seen. It is a complete team, no doubt about that, it’s why they are ranked in the top 10.”
Lastly, Fitzgerald talked about why the Big House is so challenging, and talked about the Michigan fans.
“I think since they put the luxury suites up at the top, it’s gotten louder – at least my experience up there,” said Fitzgerald. “Their fans are so well educated, and the Big House is what it is for a reason. Got to focus on each play at a time and make it where you are executing. When you’re not executing the fans are having fun because you’re getting your butt whipped!”
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What Jim Harbaugh said in Monday press conference before Northwestern
