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Pat Fitzgerald absolved into the antechamber of Northwestern's Nicolet Football Center through a ancillary entrance, intending to abide his aisle adjoin the stairs and up to his office.

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Northwestern had aloof completed football convenance Thursday morning in alertness of Saturday's home bold adjoin Michigan State.

Out of nowhere, a accumulation of animated Misericordia association continuing about the bend started auspicious for Fitzgerald, a Sandburg graduate.

The accumulation showed adulation and acknowledgment for Fitzgerald by captivation bootleg cards and posters that apprehend "Thank You Drillmaster Fitz," "Yay Wildcats," and "Congrats."

Yes, congratulations were in adjustment for Fitzgerald, who was called the honorary arch drillmaster of the 2017 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team for his adherence and charge to confined the community.

Fitzgerald was absolutely abashed by the abruptness reception.

"Holy cow," Fitzgerald said. "Wow. Did you do this all for me? My advantage gracious, I'm activity to charge added hands. This is unbelievable."

What isn't astonishing is Fitzgerald's alertness to accord aback to those in need. Fitzgerald, 42, makes assertive the Northwestern football affairs is complex in endless accommodating contest throughout the year, including Special Olympics, Northwestern Dance Marathon and dozens more.

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At the top of his account is Misericordia, which offers a association of affliction that maximizes abeyant for bodies with disabilities.

It's allotment of the amount ethics his father, Pat, and his mother, Flo, absolute in him growing up in Orland Park.

"What a abundant association to abound up in," Fitzgerald said. "I played baseball for the Orland Youth Association and football for the (Orland Park) Pioneers. My mom and dad sacrificed a lot. We were a adamantine working, South Ancillary family.

"I'm adored to be aloft the way I was raised. It's base to advice those who charge a allowance hand. You get so abundant added in return."

It was credible by the smiles on the faces of the Misericordia association how Fitzgerald has affected their hearts. Each time he was approached, he responded with a high-five, a handshake or a hug.

It was genuine.

It was heartfelt.

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Fitzgerald listened to their words, one time endlessly our account to allocution to a woman who was cat-and-mouse patiently to ambition him luck.

"I feel like I can do added to advice and attending advanced to aggravating to do more," Fitzgerald said. "To abundant is given, abundant is expected."

A Academy Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, Fitzgerald is allotment of the countdown chic into the Sandburg Athletic Hall of Fame. He won't be able to appear the Nov. 3 ceremony.

"We'll be practicing in Lincoln in alertness for our bold Saturday adjoin Nebraska," Fitzgerald said. "To be a allotment of the abundant attitude of Sandburg contest is an honor. I wasn't alike the best amateur or amateur on my football or baseball teams."

That can be debated. What can't be acknowledged is his continuing amid the best abundant linebackers during his career at Northwestern.

A backstab accord All-American, he is a backstab champ of the Bronko Nagurski Big Ten Arresting Amateur of the Year. He additionally won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best arresting amateur in academy football twice, to become the aboriginal amateur to win both the Nagurski and Bednarik awards two times.

While Northwestern isn't yet aggressive for civic championships, the Wildcats accept enjoyed ample success beneath Fitzgerald. In 12 seasons, Northwestern is 81-65, including 4-3 this season.

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He's the face of the program. His angel is splashed all about Ryan Field.

Developing players who excel in the classroom and accept a admiration to accomplish a aberration in the community, however, is as big a antecedence as success on the acreage for Fitzgerald, who's a affiliated ancestor of three boys.

"I can't acknowledge our players abundant for their alertness to accord back," he said. "We accept student-athletes who go above the barometer to accomplish a aberration in the lives they can touch."

Similar to their arch coach.

pdisabato@tribpub.com

Twitter @disabato

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