I wrote a story for today's newspaper about Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. Here's how it starts:

TAMPA, Fla. — No official line of succession had been planned, but Northwestern’s players already had a sense of how it would unfold.

Pat Fitzgerald, the young, well-spoken, former All-American-turned-linebackers coach would someday take the reins at his alma mater from Randy Walker, the self-described “Johnny off the pickle boat” who returned the Wildcats to respectability in the Big Ten following Gary Barnett’s departure.

Unfortunately, the timetable was accelerated following Walker’s unexpected death of a heart attack at age 52 in the summer of 2006.

“I think what (Walker) set was a precedent for Northwestern and what we’re about,” quarterback Mike Kafka said. “I think Coach Fitz has taken that to the next level and the team to the next level, and I think Coach Walk definitely is still ingrained in our program.”

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I'll be back later today with another update from practice.