ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The headlines were big and bold.

“Michigan sets 129-year futility record,” said ESPN.com.

“Michigan sank to an all-time low on a day as miserable as its season,” said the Associated Press lead.

You’d think the season-old story of Michigan losing games could take a back seat to something bigger that was produced on the other sideline.

The day was far from miserable for Northwestern, as the Wildcats procured several notable achievements in their 21-14 win at Michigan Stadium.

NU won its sixth game all-time at The Big House. It reached eight wins for the first time since 2000, and only the fifth time since 1905. It maintained its footing ahead of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the Big Ten standings.

But nah, let’s go back to that big story of Michigan losing games.

The continued national ignorance of his program’s achievements this season would never bother NU coach Pat Fitzgerald.

When Fitzgerald was named head coach at NU in July 2006, he made no promises. He did not soak up the bittersweet attention of having to step in and replace a coach whose death rocked the program.

He was determined to do one thing: Continue Randy Walker’s legacy.

“We’ve all had a difficult week with the loss of Coach Walker, my friend and mentor,” Fitzgerald said on the day of his hiring. “But I’m determined to continue Coach Walker’s legacy and build upon his successes. Northwestern will continue to have a football program built upon great work ethic, attitude and investment.”

Saturday’s win over Michigan at the Big House was just another sign of Fitzgerald keeping his word. His vision has always been forward.

“To come on the road, and for our seniors to get a win against an opponent they haven’t beaten yet, speaks about where our program is going and the direction that we’re headed,” he said.

Granted, the Wolverines are mired in the worst season of their 129-year history. But even Walker was not fortuitous enough to return home from Ann Arbor with a win in his pocket.

Not many NU players have ever been able to say they beat Michigan, especially on the road. Fitzgerald now has wins at the Big House to his credit as a player and coach, and his team fed off his confidence Saturday.

“As coach Fitzgerald says, when we stick to our values and we stick to what we believe in, then we’ve proven it eight times,” senior wide receiver Eric Peterman said. “We’ve gone 1-0 eight times this season.”

There’s that going 1-0 mantra again. But when looking back at the dreaded history of NU football, this might be the right line of thinking.

Walker never focused on the Cats’ past, whether it be the negatives of a 34-game losing streak from 1979 to 1982, or the positives of the back-to-back big-game bowl appearances in 1996 and 1997.

For a coach who finished 37-46 in his career in Evanston, Walker made his legacy with an impressive list of program firsts on his résumé. And Fitzgerald is following his lead.

Walker was the first NU football coach since C.M. Hollister (1899-1902) to record four six-or-more win seasons. In three seasons, Fitzgerald has two.

Walker was the second-winningest coach in NU history with 37 victories in seven seasons. Fitzgerald has 18 wins to date.

Walker was the first Cats coach to guide the team to three bowl appearances. Fitzgerald is headed to his first bowl as a coach this season.

Accolades are nice. But in college football, players and coaches come and go.

Walker’s biggest contribution was his change to the attitude of the program as a whole. With Fitzgerald’s continued commitment to his mentor’s ideals, that change has been cemented at NU.

Expectations are always here.

Walker was not able to add winning a bowl to his list of firsts. In a matter of weeks, Fitzgerald will get his chance to join Bob Voigts (1949 Rose Bowl) as the only coach to bring home the victor’s trophy.

We’re two games away from that bowl Cats followers expected this season. And when Fitzgerald soon says we’re looking to go 1-0 in that bowl game, his words in hindsight will really make sense.

Winning that bowl game is what this program has been looking to do all along.

c-gentilviso@northwestern.edu

Tags: Column, Michigan Wolverines, Pat Fitzgerald, Randy Walker