Nov. 5, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Maxwell Football Club President, Ron Jaworski, announced today that Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald is one of 15 semifinalists for the 20th George Munger Award for College Coach of the Year.
Three finalists for the award will be in attendance at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, with the winner being announced that evening. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club's Awards Dinner on Friday, March 6, 2009 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Fitzgerald has guided the Wildcats to a 7-2 record (3-2 Big Ten), a No. 24 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) ranking and a No. 25 coaches' poll ranking. Northwestern opened the year 5-0, its best start to a season in 46 years.
The Wildcats, who are assured of a winning season, will be making their first bowl appearance under Fitzgerald, who is in his third year as Northwestern's head coach. NU finished 6-6 a year ago and bowl-eligible, but did not receive a postseason bowl bid.
"Our team leadership has been outstanding this year," said Fitzgerald. "Once our season ended a year ago, our seniors went to work, and beginning with our winter workouts, started taking ownership of this team. This group has done a tremendous job of consistently preparing each week."
Fitzgerald, who is being inducted into College Football's Hall of Fame next month for his achievements as a player, joins fellow Big Ten coaches Tim Brewster (Minnesota), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) and Joe Paterno (Penn State) on the semifinal list. Also on the list are: Mack Brown (Texas), Butch Davis (North Carolina), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech), Mike Leach (Texas Tech), Urban Meyer (Florida), Gary Patterson (TCU), Chris Peterson (Boise State), Nick Saban (Alabama), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah).
Northwestern is coming off a 24-17 win at then-No. 20 Minnesota. The Wildcats entertain 12th-ranked Ohio State this Saturday at Ryan Field.