There are a lot of athletes from Chicago suburbs—and Patch towns—on some of the best teams in college football this season. Grads of Marist, Brother Rice and Mount Carmel will be making bowl game trips.
The BCS bowl season has begun, but two area schools will wait until after the new year to play in some of the most prestigious bowl games—and their rosters feature lots of area talent from Chicago suburbs and Patch towns. Notre Dame, the No. 1 team in the country, plays Alabama in the BCS National Championship game Jan. 7. And No. 15 Northern Illinois, a surprise BCS team, heads to the Orange Bowl to play No. 12 Florida State on New Year's Day. A number of athletes from Patch towns are on the rosters of these teams, as well as others playing in bowl games over the next few weeks. Many are underclassmen probably yet to see game action, but their names are among some of the most powerful rosters in college football. Brother Rice, Marist and…
Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald credits high school days at Sandburg with setting the foundation for his future success.
When current Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald was in junior high school, his older sister Jacki used to get him out of class early to go watch Sandburg playoff football games. “Back then, they had Wednesday afternoon first-round playoff games,” Pat Fitzgerald said. “My sister took me to go watch the Eagles play. My goal and dream was always to play Friday night football at Sandburg. Growing up, I couldn’t wait to play at Sandburg. Once I got there, it lived up to all my expectations.” Tagging along with his older sister was nothing new for Fitzgerald. “I’m six years older than him, but we are very close to this day,” said Jacki Frederking, who is a 1987 Sandburg graduate and is currently a Dean of Students at Shepard High School …
12:34 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I have know Pat for most of his life. Pat played football in the park with my sons,then the Pop Warner Orland Park program and finally Sandburg High School. He played baseball as well in Orlands Traveling Leauge. Pat was a Great Kid, a Great Young Man and as we all know now he is a Great Person and a Gentlman, surely a asset to not only Northwestern University but to all of Collage Football. I'm … more ›
LifeIsGood
8:14 am on Sunday, December 30, 2012
I absolutely LOVE this information! It's so nice to see how Chicagoland is represented in so many bowls! more ›