Looking back on everything, I have not written about the Chicago Bears all season. It is easier to write to bitch when a team is not doing well, and I certainly did plenty in the years this site has been up, especially under the tenure of John Fox. Fox was too apathetic to be a great coach, and probably until the Khalil Mack trade, GM Ryan Pace wasn’t looked upon as going a great job either.
But, it’s been a great year since Fox was fired one year ago today. First, they hired future AP Coach of the Year Matt Nagy from the Kansas City Chiefs. Then they retained defensive coordinator Vic Fangio who lead the Bear defense to 10th in the league last year. Then came Mack, who turned a very good defense into one of the best in the league, if not the best. Add the fact that Pace’s draft picks started to blossom: former 4th round pick Tarik Cohen became a Pro Bowl runner and returner. Eddie Jackson was injured while at Alabama, but Pace picked him anyway. Allen Robinson and Mack joined the team. And of course, the biggest draft pick was Mitch Trubisky who is still considered a work in progress with everyone wondering if he will be a bust or a serviceable starter or even an elite QB.
I have written here many times that sports franchises – no matter which sport you mention, college or pro, men or women, sell one of two things: wins or hope. It’s easy to pack the stands when teams win – everyone wants to bask in the reflected glow of a winning team – the hardcore fans and the bandwagon jumpers and riders. When wins are not apparent, you have to give the fans reason for hope that wins are on the way. Last year’s Bears are a good example – before the season, there was little hope that the team would be very good, and Trubisky was a bigger unknown than he is now.
However, like I wrote above, the Bear defense certainly showed itself to be a very good unit, and there’s nothing that Bear fans love more than great defense. Fans used to watching Butkus, Singletary, Urlacher and so many great defensive stars will support a great defense. So, there was hope to sell. And Nagy’s team, Fangio’s defense, Mack, Pace’s picks have come together to leap from last place in the NFC North the past four seasons to winning the division outright this year and about to host the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles this Sunday at Soldier Field.
Each week, the team has fulfilled even the grandest expectations and with all of the coverage that the Bears get here in Chicago, there wasn’t a whole lot for me to add to the discourse. Right now however, Soldier Field is no longer populated by fans dressed as empty seats; the offense can look decent; the defense is dominant.
Wins and hope are in abundance among the Bear faithful, which is always good for the city and for the Bears’ profits.

You will be inundated by opinions about the best films of the year. Many of the lists will feature obscure films you’ve never heard of, much less played in your local area. Some films are available only of streaming services, which is good for access but bad for the full screen experience.
This year, besides the annual trip to TIFF, by not working the first 1/3rd of the year, I got to watch more films. Once I started working, I fulfilled a promise to you oldest daughter to get Netflix, which also helped me with access. So, here are my favorite films of the year
10. Incredibles 2 – there were a lot of people who were breathlessly waiting for a sequel to the first film, and they had to wait 13 years, but their wishes were fulfilled. While I liked this film, it was a little bit of a letdown after the first one to me. It had a good story for the MeToo time period with Elastigirl being the head of the household while Mr. Incredible becomes Mr. Mom. Still, a good comic book adventure film.
9. A Quiet Place – over the years, I have strayed away from horror movies, they’re just gore and blood and hints of youthful sex. This film, a family drama directed by star John Krasinski with his wife Emily Blunt as the adults in this post-apocalyptic tale of monsters that hunt by sound built tension and often wordlessly developed the characters. This is suspension, not a gorefest, which is to the good. In addition, at 90 minutes, it told its story economically. Scary and very well made.
8. Annihilation – following in the footsteps of Arrival, and Ex Machina, it seem that there is a place for intelligent, women led sci-fi films. Alex Garland, who directed Ex Machina, wrote and directed this film involving “the shimmer” an area in Florida where mutation has gone wild and a team of women led by biologist Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tessa Thompson go in to try and figure out what’s happening because teams of men have disappeared. It is a bit of a horror film, but not overly bloody, a bit thought-provoking with an ending that makes sense in a certain kind of way, but not necessarily how you think it will end. Engrossing.
7. Avengers: Infinity War – the biggest lead in since The Empire Strikes Back; the end of ten years of Marvel films begins with Thanos gaining control of the Infinity Gems and eliminating ½ of all creatures in the universe. For a nearly 3 hour film, it never grew boring and the story and action set pieces kept the film moving forward. Of course, not everyone who disintegrates at the end will stay dead – I’m a comics guy and understand that better than anyone, but I definitely want to see how the Russo Brothers (Joe and Anthony) make the universe right again. They are already responsible for the best films in the Marvel canon: Capitan America: The Winter Soldier, and Capitan American: Civil War, and I trust that their vision for Avengers 4 – Endgame, currently at around 3 hours long, will answer all of the questions. This is probably the most divisive film of the year: the film is on many critics’ best of lists; it has also been on many worst of 2018 lists. The snooty will pooh-pooh it because there are too many superhero films today, while looking for “cultural significance of superheroes in modern times” They’re fun to me; I’m a comics guy. Are there too many? Probably, but like any fad, they will fade over time. Until then, I’m enjoying them for the most part, and this was terrific.
6. Mission Impossible: Fallout – the best action film of the year proves that a late entry in a tentpole series can still deliver the goods with a good plot, outstanding action, great locations, and decent acting. Tom Cruise (never one of my favorite actors) has been very good in these films, mostly since he doesn’t exactly need to “emote” and you have to tip your hat to his willingness, in his 50s to do a lot of the very dangerous stunts himself. DC’s Superman Henry Cavill makes for a good foil and Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg return to add some humor to the proceedings.
5. Blackkklansman – Spike Lee had been nonexistent as a director for years since the excellent “25th Hour” although “Miracle at St. Anna” was marginally interesting as was “Chi-Raq.” Still, this film is one of Lee’s best. Working from a real life book by Ron Stallworth (an engaging John David Washington) a black police officer who is able to infiltrate the Klu Klux Klan by phone. An excellent Adam Driver played Flip Zimmerman, the white cop who had to be the physical version of Stallworth when meeting the Klan members including a terrific Topher Grace playing a silly David Duke. Parts are very funny, others are painfully real in light of today’s American political climate, this is first rate filmmaking.
4. Black Panther – Marvel’s big budget breakout film of the year with a predominantly African-American cast was perfect in following DC’s breakout film of 2017, Wonder Woman. The film was a cultural phenomenon, bringing black people to the film in droves, leaving them with a sense of pride for all of the characters, and a black director. More than the cultural importance, it was a damn fine movie with some issues to think about among the requisite action sequences.
3. 22-July – probably the first film to reach my list that is almost exclusively a streaming service film, but I was able to see it on a big screen when it played the Toronto International Film Festival this past Fall. Paul Greenglass, best known for directing three of the Matt Damon Bourne films, is also an excellent director of film versions of real events (“United 93” and the masterpiece “Bloody Sunday”). This film is a three part story about the massacre perpetuated in Norway on the title date in 2011 in which 77 young people were murdered at a Labour Party Youth Camp. The first 30 minutes or so are the events of that day, which are horrific without being gory (which, I think, would have been nearly impossible to watch). The story really gets going with the aftermath – the story of an attorney who defends the murderer, the story of the murderer, and the story of one survivor and his family and the people around them. This was riveting cinema (and the author of the book on which the film was based “One of Us” convinced me to purchase the book, which is harrowing in different ways). It’s on Netflix – watch it.
2. Death of Stalin – anyone who knows me should know that I am a huge Monty Python, British humor fan and this film describes what the death of the dictator would have been like if filled with Pythonesque absurdity. Armando Iannucci, the force behind “Veep” on HBO and also the incredibly funny Peter Capaldi star vehicles “The Thick of It” and “In The Loop” directed and wrote this hilarious black comedy even more ridiculous considering that it uses real people from Russian history and turns the situation on its ear. Particularly fine are the tremendous Steve Buscemi and Nikita Kruschev, Simon Russell Beale as Laventi Berla, the head of state security, and Jeffrey Tambor as Georgy Malenkov. One Python even has a small part – Michael Palin. I laughed harder at this film then at anything I’ve seen in years.
1. If Beale Street Could Talk – Barry Jenkins, winner of Best Director for “Moonlight,” is back in the writer and director’s chair and in my opinion, a greater achievement. Based on a 1974 book by James Baldwin, it follows a young black couple as they fall in love and try to make it in New York. The film begins as a sweet, often funny slice of black life, set in the past but not confined to any particular period, which makes it stronger. Tish (an outstanding Kiki Layne) is 19 and in love with Fonny (Stephan James) an artist. We follow their story through sex and pregnancy. Unfortunately, Fonny is arrested under false pretenses which leads the two kids families to try and prove Fonny’s innocence. Regina King, always good is a force of nature in this film bringing a tenderness and strength to the story. Of course, the story is all too real today.
So, here is my humble list. Let me know what you think.

It’s cold outside; the year 2018 is coming to an end. Shopping, presents, bowl games are all en vogue. Which means that it is also time for the year end best of lists. For as long as evilopinion.com has been in operation, I have done one also, so, it’s that time. (Admission – there are a couple of people on this year’s list who I know, but still, the list is based on how much the music played on my iPod)
10. Florence & The Machine – High As Hope. I was a latecomer to this band jumping on the bandwagon with the big second album Ceremonials, but I really like Florence Welsh’s personal lyrics and her vocals convey the feeling and the passion of the emotions and the band provides an interesting backdrop to her sound. Another winning entry in her catalog.
9. Johnny Marr – Call The Comet. This is the second solo album from The Smiths’ guitarist, and while I liked his first CD, this one is even better. He is becoming more comfortable singing and being on top of the music and this is a terrific record.
8. Prince – Piano and A Microphone 1983. The first posthumous release after his death, this is an intriguing look into The Purple One’s creative process. Early versions of songs are here along with cover versions of other people’s work provide a unique view of the man’s work. It’s short (around 30 minutes) which is kind of a rip off and lets you know that we will see a pattern not unlike all of the albums that have been released after Hendrix’s death.
7. Ralph Covert – Welcome To Deadsville. The man behind Ralph’s World and Bad Examples has been a local icon here in Chicago and I always enjoyed his music, but never saw him play live or bought any. Seeing him open for Matthew Sweet earlier in the year gave me the opportunity to get to know his music better and actually fork over some cash. He was publicizing his then unreleased record, and I really enjoyed the songs. Meeting him after the show and finding out what a kind man he is didn’t hurt. So I went out and bought the record and was very happy. Give it a try.
6. Richard Thompson – 13 Rivers. The best guitarist in the world issued another strong disc this year. As you might imagine, I also like his sardonic view of life and love.
5. Bruce Springsteen – Springsteen on Broadway. A late entry, it gives you an excellent idea of the show, a sometimes funny, often poignant trip into Springsteen’s life. It’s like listening to the audiobook of his autobiography but with music. I was not able to attend the show, but the homespun storytelling, honesty and stripped down songs were very well done.
4. The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl/Traveling On EP. Ever since we saw them at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival about 5 years ago, I’ve been hooked on this band. Unusual, with an older sense of melody and lyrics infused with a modern sensitivity, I love this band. Colin Maloy has one of the most distinctive voices in modern music. I’ll Be Your Girl was released near the beginning of 2018 and I expected this to be the number 1 record on my list this year. As they have done before, The Decemberists followed up a full album with an EP of extra songs. Travelling On was only released this month, and it shows a harder rocking sound than previous releases. Put together, and going in line with an incredible live show I attended at the Chicago Theater this year, it was a top year for this band.
3. Elvis Costello and the Imposters – Look Now. Reviewing my list over the years, it should be no surprise to anyone that EC has been one of my favorites since My Aim Is True came out while I was in college. I’ve been along for the musical ride ever since which has included classical, string quartets, soundtracks, Brill Building style pop, and American roots music. This record feels a lot like the great Imperial Bedroom, but interspersed with some of the musical atmosphere of Painted From Memory, EC’s album with Burt Bacharach and 60’s pop with the inclusion of a song written with Carole King. I have like most of his musical detours, although I quickly tired a bit of the T Bone Burnett produced Tin Pan Alley stylings and I really have a hard time listening to much of Wake Up Ghost, his record with The Roots. I know that he is much like his Dad, who sang versions of American songs for the BBC and elsewhere when there were quotas on non-British musicians. Still, I hoped for a very long time that EC would find his way back to Pop, and he did in a big way.
2. Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul – Soulfire Live. Last year, the studio album from the Springsteen sideman and former Soprano came in 8th on this list, and it was a solid selection of garage rock and R&B. This year, he released a three disc live album from the tour, and there was no more joyous, enjoyable, heartfelt record this year. Live albums have almost gone the way of the dinosaur, but this record was just pure joy from start to finish.
1. Graham Parker – Cloud Signals. Again, I admit to being friends with GP, but still, this is another fine selection of songs from the wit and wisdom of the man. Having a band behind him with Rumour mainstay Martin Belmont and four songs with a horn section echoed the classic early Rumour records. GP continues to rail against the dumb things in the world, but with a wiser, more mature viewpoint. It was on almost constant play after it came out (along with the Little Steven record).
So, in short:
10 Florence + The Machine – High As Hope
9 Johnny Marr – Call The Comet
8 Prince – Piano and a Microphone 1983
7 Richard Thompson – 13 Rivers
6 Ralph Covert – Welcome to Deadsville
5 Bruce Springsteen – Springsteen on Broadway
4 The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl
3 Elvis Costello and the Imposters – Look Now
2 Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul – Soulfire Live
1 Graham Parker – Cloud Symbols

It was a very good year for music as I said above. The fact that fine records by former members of the “best of club” from past years like Jeff Tweedy, Interpol and Buddy Guy couldn’t make the list shows how strong it has been. Already in 2019, there is a new Joe Jackson record that I’m looking forward to and another visit from GP in April.
I can’t wait.

Best movies of 2018 will come next week.

After beating my beloved Northwestern Wildcats, but being unable to get into the College Football Playoff but securing a trip to the Rose Bowl, it would seem that Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer would be a lock to stay in his job, despite having been suspended for the first four weeks of the season for having protected an assistant coach who battered his wife/ex-wife. After all, winning is the one and only important thing in sports, right?
I guess not. It has been reported that Meyer, 54, will retire after the Rose Bowl and be replaced by Ryan Day, the 39-year-old offensive coordinator who served as Ohio State’s interim coach earlier this season. According to reports, there were a number of factors that led to Meyer’s decision to retire, including: health issues; his happiness with the state of the Ohio State program he inherited seven years ago. Not mentioned was the suspension at the start of the season after an investigation into allegations of illegal and illicit behavior by a former assistant.
Meyer has been a coaching star throughout his entire head coaching career. He brought the spread offense into the mainstream by leading Utah to an undefeated season and Fiesta Bowl victory in 2004. Meyer went on to win two BCS titles at Florida, where he coached Tim Tebow to the Heisman Trophy and dueled with Nick Saban and Les Miles to help fuel the rise of the SEC. Meyer will close his career in Columbus, where he led the Buckeyes to the 2014 national title and finished his seven seasons 82-9 with a winning percentage just over 90 percent, a 7-0 record against rival Michigan and a 54-4 record in regular season Big Ten play and still the Rose Bowl to play. (Think his team will be sky high to beat Washington in that game?)
Still, it’s hard for me to believe that Meyer is done, or retiring voluntarily. Remember, Meyer “resigned” before, quitting for one day in 2009 while at Florida. The next day, he announced that he had changed his mind, taking an “indefinite leave of absence,” but he was back at the helm in time for the beginning of Spring Practice on March, 17, 2010. His “second” term at Florida was short-lived: after a rare 7-5 record, he resigned again on December 8, 2010, coaching the team through the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2011,He was out of the game until hired by Ohio State in November, 2011.
Meyer leaves college football (this time) with a troubled legacy. While being the only head coach to win national championships with two different schools, his time in Gainesville was marked by much success on the field; the play of Tim Tebow who won the Heisman Trophy but became a lightning rod for controversy in the NFL as his devout Christian beliefs appealed to many, but his play on the field was lackluster at best. Unfortunately, the devout Roman Catholic Meyer was a lot less concerned about off-the-field behavior of his players (and coaches). Aaron Hernandez was a stud tight end at Florida with, in retrospect, a history of bizarre, sometimes nearly criminal behavior. Of course, Hernandez was drafted by the New England Patriots, became a superstar, but was convicted of murdering a man, went to jail where he committed suicide and had one of the most pronounced cases of CTE doctors have seen. In September, 2010 receiver Chris Rainey was arrested for sending a threatening text to a former girlfriend.
During that same period, allegations surfaced that assistant coach Zach Smith had been abusing his wife while at Florida. Smith went to Columbus with Meyer and he continued his abuse on his now ex-wife. An investigation began centering around what did Meyer know and when did he know it. At the end of the investigation, both Meyer and Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith was also suspended. (I have to wonder if Meyer is leaving because he’s mad that the university had the audacity to suspend him?)
A friend whose kids went to day care with mine is an Ohio State alum and fan and he reminded to me at the beginning of the year that former OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel was fired because players were trading signed memorabilia for tattoos. He stated, correctly, that what Meyer had done was much worse than Tressel’s digressions, but he was able to keep on coaching.
Meyer is from Ohio, and grew up watching Woody Hayes’ OSU teams, so I’m sure he’s not happy to be leaving his lifetime favorite team. I guess we should be happy that Notre Dame has done so well in football this season. Coach Brian Kelly is no longer on the hot seat, because Meyer has said in the past that his dream job would be in South Bend. Makes me wonder what happens if Kelly gets fired or retires (although he is only 3 years older than Meyer)?
Still, some smaller school looking to make a splash in football (and put rear ends in seats) will go after Meyer eventually. Will he come out of retirement? The bigger question is – has he learned anything from events of his past?

I have a talent, it may be a gift, or it may be just a need to be like the title character in the forgettable Woody Allen film Zelig – I have gotten to meet a ton of famous people over the years. Most of it is being in the right places at the right time – the Toronto International Film Festival; Doctor Who and comics conventions; having been an Andy Frain usher back in the day. Seven Doctors Who, Martin Sheen, Brian DePalma, so many others I have had the honor of meeting. In my experience, most of these people have been nice: Muhammed Ali, Graham Parker, the members of Los Lobos for example; others, not so nice: i.e. Oprah.
As I referred to before, I used to work for Andy Frain as a job through high school, college and after graduation while I tried to find a real job. We worked everything – the Bulls, the Hawks, the White Sox and Cubs in the playoffs in the 1980s, concerts that younger people only can imagine – Led Zeppelin, Queen, Elvis Presley, Sinatra. As great as all that was, the best thing about being a Frain is the camaraderie. All you have to see is Jim Williams’ fine documentary on Frains on CBSChicago.com. Kids who never would have known one another, met and worked and socialized and occasionally fought together, shoulder to shoulder. Black kids and white kids worked together, got to know one another, and realized that we weren’t all that different after all.
I am grateful to social media for helping to reconnect all of us. We may not see each other often (or at all), it is wonderful to see that people are basically the same: older, balder, heavier, but we also get to see how their lives have turned out – their children, sometimes grandchildren. It is terrific to be able to share in their lives again.
As Frains, we knew that many of our coworkers had parents who were police officers. Some, we saw at games or concerts, working, sometimes protecting us and the venue. The kids aspired to be police, whether their parents were cops of not. It was cool – an honorable profession; working for Frain led to more experience and perhaps more empathy with people of all races, cultures and backgrounds. I reconnected with a few ex-Frains, now Chicago Police and it is nice to reconnect with them also. Unfortunately, with the Black Lives Matter controversy, several other them posted the usual “Blue Lives Matter” and towing the party line – no admission of any issue in the problem; continuation of the code of silence and tightening ranks after every questionable shooting. Before getting unfriended or unfollowed, I asked one of the old Frains if she had ever shot anyone. Shot someone of color? Knew officers who had, and most important, had they ever said that this was unacceptable? Ever stood up against this wrong? The replies… silence.
Everyone knows about the Laquon McDonald shooting of a couple of years ago; the 17-year-old kid was moving away from police officer Jason Van Dyke who shot him 16 times. In a rare event, Office Van Dyke was actually tried and found guilty of second degree murder. If there hadn’t been dashboard camera footage, Van Dyke undoubtedly would still be a police officer and free to continue his life untainted. After the verdict, there were reports that three other officers would be tried for covering up evidence in the shooting. One of my Frain Facebook connections commented about one of the officers, the detective overseeing the investigation of the incident, Detective Dave March. I inquired and sure enough, I worked with Dave March for years.
It is very weird to see his face in the paper and comments made about his trial every day in the newspapers. It makes me revisit my feelings about Dave March. My memories are that he was among the straightest of straight arrows. He had one of the best haircuts, maybe slightly long (a big deal back in the day), but easily covered by his chief hat. I thought he was friendly, but a bit aloof. Not a big drinker, but a social drinker who was never out of control (at least in my presence and memory). Not a close friend, but a decent guy.
Now, he is infamous. At first one thinks that it couldn’t be the same man. The guy I knew was decent and didn’t seem to have any issues with African-Americans, certainly none with me. And then you realize that it isn’t the same guy – the guy you knew was 35 years or longer ago. Since then, he has put in 30 years in the Chicago Police Department. There is no question that seeing the worst in people, in the world could offer changes a person. I’m sure that Dave is far different from the Andy Frain Chief I worked with at the baseball parks. That he may have covered up a murder under the cloak of the blue wall of silence is disappointing and discouraging.
I will be following the trial probably closer than the average Chicagoan. A small part of me hopes that the findings are wrong, that he should be found innocent. However, I get the feeling that today’s Dave March is probably guilty and that makes me very sad.

Unless you’re Colin Kaepernick, players can do almost anything on or off the field and get away with it. It’s like Trump said during the campaign – I could shoot someone on the street and people would still vote for me (echoed in racists winning seats, most recently in Mississippi, Nazis and white supremacists running and some winning). In the NFL, if you could possible help win games, we want you.
Linebacker Ruben Foster, who had been arrested earlier this year for domestic violence, was arrested at the 49ers’ hotel in Tampa Sunday morning before their game against the Buccaneers in a second domestic violence incident. GM John Lynch said that morning that Foster had been making progress in dealing with the issues that led to the first incident, but that Foster had to take responsibility for his actions, and the 49ers did the right thing – they cut Foster.
Less than 48 hours after he was cut, the Washington Redskins claimed Foster off waivers. The team send out the only member of the front office staff that has any affection from the fans, SVP and Head of Player Development, Doug Williams to say all of the usual rhetoric –”The Redskins fully understand the severity of the recent allegations made against Reuben. If true, you can be sure these allegations are nothing our organization would ever condone,” said Williams quoted by USA Today.
CBS Sports reported this afternoon that only one team called Tampa Police about the Foster, the Philadelphia Eagles, who had a higher choice in the waiver order, must have heard something they didn’t like, so they passed. Daniel Snyder, owner of the Redskins, never averse to doing whatever he wants – damn the consequences, claimed Foster.
For a sport that has handled public relations issues very poorly – CTE and claims by ex-players; Kaepernick and national anthem kneeling; and of course, players’ committing domestic abuse, a sore point since the Ray Rice incident, one would think that Commissioner Roger “$40 million per year” Goodell would have “strongly suggested” that the Redskins think long and hard about Foster. At least find out what the next steps will be in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union.
The message here is – go on, beat your spouse/significant other – as long as you can still perform on the field, and as a former number one draft pick from Alabama, who was coveted by Washington in the last draft, the Redskins swooped right in.
It is awfully hard for a woman to be a Redskins fan today.

If there is one fault that Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald has, it’s stubbornness. He is single-minded in his beliefs, even when they don’t go well. Fitzgerald is among the worst coaches in the nation at clock management late in the first half of games (for some reason, he seems to do better at the ends of games). As I have written ad nauseum, his loyalty to his coaching staff, especially inept Offensive Coordinator Mick McCall had bordered on obsession. Now that Fitz has won his first Big Ten Coach of the Year Award, his already gigantic head (literally and figuratively) will grow at least to the size of Ryan Field.
That is not to say that Fitzgerald doesn’t deserve the Award. It probably would have gone to Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, but the thorough drubbing that Ohio State pasted on Michigan last week to jump into the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern, ended those hopes. It would have been too much of a P.R. disaster for the coaches and writer to have given the award to Ohio State’s Urban Meyer (who, like Fitzgerald, had never won the award) because of the controversy in his support for the former coach who committed domestic abuse several times to his ex-wife. Fitzgerald did a good job not allowing the Wildcats to get down when they had a 1-3 record including losses to Duke and Akron and then suffering a tough loss to Michigan at home 20-17 after leading 17-0 at halftime. The Cats went 7-1 the rest of the way (the only loss, a 10-point loss to number 3 ranked Notre Dame) and road wins at Michigan State, Iowa and Minnesota. He kept them focused on each game, and got them to win the conference games, which are more important.
However, the last thing Fitzgerald needs is vindication. Despite ranking in the depths of nearly all offensive categories over the past 5 seasons, the Cats won more games than ever including two bowl victories. Winning meant keeping McCall despite a loud chorus of fans, writers and alumni. The most valuable player at Northwestern has been Defensive Coordinator Mike Hankwitz, whose squad has kept NU in games allowing for the offense to score just enough to win. For another year, the offense ranks near the bottom among FBS schools: 110th out of 129 schools in total offense; 61st in passing offense (McCall is also QB Coach); 118th in yards per completion; 107th in scoring offense. Yet, Fitzgerald, who prides himself on teaching players accountability, doesn’t hold McCall accountable and fire him.
Now, the colossal ego will do what seems to be his tendency – success means that there’s nothing to improve on. Offense terrible? But we won more than we lost. Generally outcoached in games? But we won a very weak Big Ten West Championship. Do a better job in time management? But we went 8-1 in conference. Smart leaders realize that there are ways of getting better and they should look for ways to improve. Standing pat (no pun intended) means that other coaches will eventually catch up and surpass you. Smart people learn from their mistakes; they don’t make them more intractable.
I do appreciate Fitzgerald and congratulate him on his well-deserved award. I only wish it wouldn’t set his views into cement even deeper.