Take a look at the best quotes from Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern's player representatives at Big Ten Media Days.
On improving next year: "We needed to improve our strength this offseason. We had 176 personal records in the weight room in the three core lifts by our student-athletes. And it's a great job by our strength coach, Jay Hooten, and, most importantly, guys working their tails off to improve in an area we were lacking last year."
On unity after the union effort: "As we visited throughout the whole offseason, I believe there's no more unified football program in the country. We've been through more since probably January than most, and it's been nothing but a positive and nothing more than unifying in our locker room and throughout our entire football program. So I think we're a leg up from that standpoint."
Fitz said being able to keep his assistants has been NU's biggest asset.
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
Fitz: "Preseason hype all goes back to last year." Yupp http://t.co/X0Zqf47QOD
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
Fitz said he doesn't think luck was an issue last year. Well ...
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
Fitz has talked to Colter a few times. About the union? "Ha! No."
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
Fitz hopes SOS is more important than being "sexy." Concerned about those like NU who have to "overcome a stigma."
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
Ibraheim Campbell said there's a "new level of athlete" in the secondary that's come in the past few classes.
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
Fitz on Nebraska comments: "It was a bad joke … I know it was a bad joke." Said he was just having fun, complimenting their traveling.
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
#Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald: "I've learned a lot of new hashtags on Twitter from #Nebraska fans. They're very creative."
— Brian Hamilton (@BrianHamiltonSI) July 28, 2014
Siemian mentions QB Clayton Thorson as a player he's excited about in a couple years.
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014
Fitz doesn't want to talk about players getting paid. Says it's "one variable" and not a solution to the problem.
— Inside Northwestern (@insidenu) July 28, 2014