As reported here, here, and here, Northwestern signed Pat Fitzgerald to a new 10-year contract that will allow him to keep beating Iowa stay in Evanston thru the 2020 season.  According to Teddy Greenstein, his salary will jump to about $1.8 million a year range (still far below Ferentz/Tressel level....Michigan was reportedly ready to go to $3 million a year for Fitz).  When the 2020 season finishes, Fitz will be 46....still younger than all but 2 B1G coaches are NOW (Pellini and Bielema).

More importantly, his deal comes with significant promises regarding hikes in pay for his assistant coaching staff (Indiana pilfered Kevin Johns, NU's WR coach, in large part because they could pay more....plus Evanston is a much higher cost of living than almost any other Big Ten metro area), and facilities.  And in what Greenstein reports as "game-changing" news, the reported facilities plan that NU is scheduled to announced in May reportedly includes an on-campus, lakefront football practice facility and weight-room....something that will surely be cheered by current players (who currently have to wake up WAY early to get all the way from campus to Ryan Field for 6 am practices) as well as recruits (who are sure to love a lakefront football practice facility).

No word on whether the football practice facilities' possible move to an on-campus location would include the chance of Fitz running through classrooms giving high-fives to students....