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Here’s what Pat Fitzgerald said following Northwestern’s loss to Ohio State
Published:
Saturday’s loss in the Big Ten Championship Game notwithstanding, it was still a tremendous season for Northwestern. And the Wildcats hung tough with Ohio State for much of Saturday’s game, even taking a 10-6 lead into halftime over the No. 4 team in the nation.
It took a 331-yard rushing performance from Ohio State running back Trey Sermon to get the Buckeyes over the hump in what would finish as a 22-10 loss for Northwestern. Northwestern was hurt by three turnovers.
The Wildcats are now 6-2 with the loss and are destined for a bowl game – that is if they choose to play in one given the number of programs opting out this year.
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald spoke to the media on Saturday following his team’s loss to Ohio State:
#Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald credits #Buckeyes for earning the B1G title: "We didn't come down here to play hard. We came down here to win."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 19, 2020
Fitz says they're incredibly disappointed, calls it a hard-fought battle. Then lauds is seniors and laments they couldn't get it done for them.
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020
And by the way Fitz is talking, it would appear NU will accept a bowl invite. But you never know with all that's gone on!
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020
Fitz, talking about missed opportunities: "We're building a championship-level program. Getting here isn't good enough."
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020
Fitz: "Offensively, we're going to look at this tape and see missed opportunities. We're building a championship-level program. To not get it done today was really disappointing."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 19, 2020
Fitz: "It didn't look like us the last quarter and a couple of minutes."
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020
Fitz says he thinks Ohio State deserves to be in the CFP.
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020
Pat Fitzgerald says #OhioState is a top-4 team: "I think they've got as much talent as everybody to go compete for a national champion, and they're Big Ten champs. If you're an undefeated champion here, in my humble opinion, you deserve to compete for a national title."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 19, 2020
Fitz says there's nothing schematically that surprised them today. Just says there were miscues.
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020
Fitz calls Ramsey the glue of the program this year.
"If he comes back, his challenge will be to get us back here and win it."
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020
"It's a tough pill to swallow, I'm not gonna lie to you. We had our opportunities and didn't get it done." That indeed captures it.
— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 19, 2020