Nov. 25--Pat Fitzgerald sat near Trevor Siemian on the bus ride back from West Lafayette, Ind., and had "one of those talks you never like to have," the coach said.
The coach and the quarterback both suspected that Siemian had torn his left ACL, ending his Northwestern career. An MRI later confirmed those suspicions.
Those suspicions were confirmed Sunday night by the results of an MRI.
"My heart is broken for Trevor," Fitzgerald said, adding that Siemian remained "positive and upbeat" after hearing the news and will help successors Zack Oliver and Matt Alviti this week by analyzing film.
Center Brandon Vitabile spoke to Siemian on Sunday and called his injury "hard to handle. It definitely does hurt. We all love Trevor and his personality is irreplaceable. But at the same time, it's next guy up."
Oliver will start Saturday against Illinois, with Alviti subbing in mainly as a run specialist.
If Illinois fans are looking for a hopeful parallel, it's not unlike what transpired in 2010. Dan Persa tore his Achilles tendon against Iowa, so Evan Watkins started the following Saturday at Wrigley Field -- and flopped. The Illini won 48-27.
Oliver, though, has experience as a fourth-year junior, and he flourished in the second half Saturday against Purdue.
"Like a lot of guys," Fitzgerald said, "Zack stepped up."
Oliver said his teammates put him at ease at Purdue, recalling: "I looked at them. They looked at me. And I could tell there was a level of trust."
He completed 4 of 7 second-half throws for 76 yards and had a 28-yard strike to Kyle Prater called back by a penalty for an ineligible receiver downfield.
"He has a strong arm and he's really accurate," tailback Justin Jackson said. "He stepped in there and just balled out."
tgreenstein@tribpub.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
