Pat Fitzgerald’s broadcasting resume isn’t exactly stuffed, save for ESPN’s “Megacast” during the 2018 national title game and all those pregame, in-game and postgame hits on WGN Radio.
But the man has connections and plenty of purple gear.
He has been selected to work alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Eanet for the radio broadcast of Northwestern’s basketball game against Michigan on Wednesday.
Fitzgerald volunteered after Northwestern announced on Twitter that analyst Joey Meyer would miss “a handful” of games after undergoing hip surgery. (The statement also said Meyer is in “high spirits” after successful surgery.)
Northwestern basketball also asked: “Who wants to join @DaveEanet on the headsets? Which game do you want? Taking names, applications, reasons why, etc. here.”
Northwestern tapped Nate Taphorn — the first half of the greatest play in school history — to work with Eanet on Sunday at Rutgers.
Fitzgerald then volunteered in a tweet, closing with the qualification of: “Have played NBA Jam.”
Asked via text for his favorite broadcasters, Fitzgerald showed admiration for the craft, replying: “Mr. Cat (Eanet), Pat Foley, Hawk Harrelson, Harry Caray, Steve Stone, Brent Musburger, Keith Jackson, John Madden, Howard Cosell, Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler, Jon Gruden. To name a few.”
After the Tribune replied that the thought was that all he did was watch film, Fitzgerald responded: “Most are from childhood. I grew up to the sounds of ‘You are looking live …’ and ‘Whoa, Nellie!’ “