June 17, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- First as a player and now as a coach, Pat Fitzgerald has played an instrumental role in elevating Northwestern football to three Big Ten titles and nine winning seasons since 1995. Fitz's leadership, drive and passion for his alma mater are fully on display in a profile on the new Big Ten Network show The Next Level, which debuts tonight (Thurs., June 17) at 7 p.m. CT.
The show takes a look at Wildcat football through the eyes of Fitzgerald, Northwestern's fifth year head coach and former All-America linebacker. The Next Level shadows Fitzgerald as he leads spring football practice, has his head shaved to support the St. Baldrick's Foundation and sings the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field.
Thursday's episode is one of eight parts to The Next Level series, which looks at a current day in the life of some of the Big Ten's greatest athletes. The show debuts this month and will return to the Big Ten Network airwaves this fall.