Aug. 01--While defending national champion Ohio State flaunts a trio of proven exceptional starting quarterbacks, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is hoping for significant "separation" among his three less experienced quarterback candidates so he can designate a starter.
"It would be a good problem, but a challenge," Fitzgerald said of Urban Meyer's more favorable dilemma. "It plays itself out. It's a good narrative."
Meanwhile, Zack Oliver, Clayton Thorson and Matt Alviti will split practice reps as the Wildcats prepare for their Sept. 5 season-opener against Stanford.
Asked Friday during Big Ten Media Day in Chicago if he would consider going with rotating three quarterbacks if no significant separation is created, Fitzgerald smiled and said: "Absolutely, sure. We've done the 2-quarterback thing, why not three?"
Obviously, Fitzgerald is anticipating a leader to emerge as he sets the lineup for the rest of his offense. "I would prefer that we have some separation," he said.
"We've got to win football games and we're going to do whatever it takes to win football games."
The Wildcats are coming off back-to-back 5-7 seasons. Last season they dropped their first two games to California and Northern Illinois before winning three straight, including a 20-14 upset of Wisconsin. After dropping their next four, Northwestern knocked off Notre Dame, 43-40, in overtime.
"One of the areas that we've really looked hard at is why we have not won the close games over the last two years," Fitzgerald said. "It has really been the calling card of my 10 years that we've won an overwhelming majority of the close games. I think 10 of our 12 games last year were (going) into the fourth quarter one- or two-score games. The bottom line is that we are going to be in those kind of games. I don't know why, but we are. And we've got to do the little things to do that. There are a lot of variables that go into that.
"We have made way too many self-inflicted errors that have cost ourselves. And I don't want to discredit our opponents. But the last two years we've beaten ourselves, and as a coach, that makes you want to jump off the tower at Ryan Field, because that's on us as coaches."
Northwestern will be trying to win its season-opener for the ninth time in the last 10 years when Stanford comes to Ryan Field.
"They are who they are; they're tough, they're physical," Fitzgerald said. "They do a very good job. All three phases, very sound. Very well coached. There are a lot of kids on that roster that we recruited. They chose to go there. So it is going to be a great challenge. Glad we have them at home. I think that helps. Four of our first five are at home. Historically we have been a real fast starting team. It is going to be critically important to do that this year."
The Wildcats host Eastern Illinois before traveling to Duke on Sept. 19 and hosting Ball State on Sept. 26.
"It's competitive. We will be evaluated early over a handful of games," he said. "We want to have a positive spin. Obviously we have a couple of marquee nonconference Power 5 games. And a team in Ball State that four of the last five years has been a bowl team.
"We're going to have our hands full. We're going to know where we're at the first month."
fmitchell@tribpub.com
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