What Pat Fitzgerald said at Holiday Bowl press conference, addresses Green Bay Packers rumor

Northwestern had an intriguing 2018 season.

The start of it was rough. There’s no other way to put it. The Wildcats were 1-3 overall with a 1-1 record in Big Ten play.

However, the team went on to win its next 7 Big Ten games and wound up in the Big Ten Championship. Once there, Northwestern lost to Ohio State. That was anticipated.

But the ride to the title game wasn’t expected. Yet again, Pat Fitzgerald exceeded expectations and QB Clayton Thorson returned for his senior season and led his team further than where many thought he could after suffering a torn ACL in last season’s bowl game.

This year was a special one for the Wildcats, and thanks to their success, the team made it to the Holiday Bowl to play against Utah at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31.

Ahead of the game, Fitzgerald spoke with the media:

Here at the Holiday Bowl Press Conference. Fitz: “This is my ninth bowl game, and I think we are nine for nine being underdogs.”

— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 30, 2018

Guess he was wrong! https://t.co/Ot5kZqoTtU

— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 30, 2018

Fitz on whether there was Rose Bowl remorse this month: “Absolutely not, no.”

— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 30, 2018

Fitz with the hot Playoff takes. Says he thought Phio State deserves to be in the final four.

— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 30, 2018

Fitz on special preparations for facing Whittingham and his 11-1 bowl record: “I prayed a lot…asked Coach to share his plan but he wouldn’t.”

— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 30, 2018

Fitzgerald was also rumored Sunday morning to soon be in talks with the Green Bay Packers regarding its head coaching vacancy. He responded:

Fitz on the Packers rumors:

“Are you sure they’re about me? I’ll repeat what I said a month ago to Teddy: I don’t comment on rumors, and hashtag Go ‘Cats.”

— Inside NU (@insidenu) December 30, 2018