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Pat Fitzgerald on run-pass options: It’s the purest form of communism

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Tell us how you really feel about the run-pass option, Pat Fitzgerald.

On Tuesday, during his weekly press conference, the Northwestern head coach was asked about how he feels about RPO’s (run-pass options) and whether he believes it’s benefitting the game. He didn’t hold back in his response, saying “RPO’s are the purest form of communism.”

“RPO is the purest form of communism,” Fitzgerald said. “I don’t understand how offensive linemen can be downfield.”

“If you’re an uncovered lineman and you go 2.3 yards downfield it’s not a penalty but if you go three it is. Nobody can see it until after the ball is thrown. It’s the rules…it’s the most in vogue change, I think, in football. If you’re a purest of football, it’s not the game. It’s not.

Fitzgerald isn’t a believer in lineman being able to block downfield with the ball being thrown. But he did say that, as a defensive coach, he’ll use the rules to the best of his advantage.

“As a defensive head coach, with defense in my background, we will absolutely, 100 percent take full advantage within the frameworks of the rules that are given to us.”

Fitzgerald was definitely fired up about the question and made some good points. The full video of Fitzgerald’s statement is below.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB