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In case you missed it, Northwestern football announced yesterday that it had parted ways with its infamous offensive coordinator and quarterback coach after 12 seasons. We here at Inside NU would like to wish Mick McCall, who has always been nothing but polite in interactions with the media and seems, by all accounts, to be a good guy, the best moving forward.
But as expected, the decision sparked a wide range of emotions/reactions from the insular Twitter world of Northwestern sports fans.
Here’s how it went down:
First, the news came out:
Lots of raw emotion from current/former Inside NU staffers, former players and fan accounts.
WE DID IT https://t.co/l64uzoxvlU
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 1, 2019
Meet me at bat 17 in 5 minutes https://t.co/D9bHbgv7jA
— Caleb Friedman (@calebfriedman) December 1, 2019
HOLY SHIT IT HAPPENED Y'ALL
— Nihilist Coach Fitz (@FakeCoachFitz) December 1, 2019
https://t.co/cW7v5tJoR6 pic.twitter.com/L3mcIWUEUS
— mick mccall me by your name (@kicknyrgios) December 1, 2019
https://t.co/SRiQSaJqbp pic.twitter.com/Gff739lwO9
— Cam Q. (@KingQueiro21) December 1, 2019
Raise your Malört shots everyone https://t.co/wbWoTHoUkS
— We Fired Mick McCall (@FireMickMcCall) December 1, 2019
It’s a celebration https://t.co/Z2RPn6KyfF
— Solomon Vault (@4XSOLO) December 1, 2019
I regret to inform my readers that the firing of Mick McCall has temporarily paused my run-through of a 32-hour audiobook on the history of Vietnam 1919-1959.
— Tristan Jung (@forgotprotocol) December 1, 2019
Ladies and Gentlemen.... pic.twitter.com/wQj42DphVF
— Matthew Albert (@MattAlbert14) December 1, 2019
McCall got a warm send-off from some:
The stats don’t lie (in some instances):
In all seriousness, thanks to Mick McCall. He helped lead an offense that, while underwhelming, gave Northwestern its best stretch in team history. Time for a change, but Mick was a success at NU. https://t.co/jH6VE1qMjy
— RevDJEsq (@RevDJEsq) December 1, 2019
Bowl games in 125 years pre-Mick McCall: 6
— Aaron Morse (@MorseCode206) December 2, 2019
Bowl games in 12 years of Mick McCall: 9
Numbers don't lie! https://t.co/0NsfSGp6le
Serious though: Mick McCall is a great guy who had a good run with NU for arguably its best decade in program history. It’s a shame it didn’t work out but this is the best decision for both parties
— Jack Lido (@JackSLido) December 1, 2019
I will say, Mick McCall was prominently responsible for the one time I got to storm the field in any capacity (Michigan State 3OT), and that was cool
— Tristan Jung (@forgotprotocol) December 1, 2019
Mick has been a trusted colleague and loyal friend for almost my entire tenure! Very grateful for the role he had in four bowl championships and nine postseason appearances. https://t.co/Zm6PmuW6Eo
— Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) December 1, 2019
It didn’t take long for the speculation to start:
Both serious, and...less so!
my dream is for Northwestern to hire Mike Kafka but on the other hand going from Patrick Mahomes’ QB coach to Northwestern’s OC could ruin his career
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 1, 2019
Simply firing Mick McCall isn’t fully sufficient by itself to solve the problems at NU. Pat Fitzgerald must also evolve in his offensive philosophy. He doesn’t have to go all LSU and start chucking that pig skin everywhere, but he must change what he is asking for (1/several)
— Adam D Seidel (@AdamDSeidel) December 1, 2019
I won’t be surprised if Northwestern takes a look at Notre Dame QB coach Tommy Rees as a potential OC replacement. Rees, who is a former Wildcats GA, will likely have some OC options this winter.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 1, 2019
Thoughts on some possible Northwestern OC replacements: Tommy Rees, Mike Kafka, Kevin Johns, Matt Canada
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 1, 2019
my northwestern sources have revealed the new hire at offensive coordinator pic.twitter.com/HfJu5A2r83
— BYCTOM (@BYCTOM) December 1, 2019
Reality kicked in...
What will be the future rallying cry of the NU fanbase?
Northwestern fans trying to figure out what to vent about now that Mick McCall is gone. pic.twitter.com/WQiSHGAwkl
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) December 1, 2019
Northwestern’s 2020 B1G West Title hopes: pic.twitter.com/Y3FBnF1xOX
— We Fired Mick McCall (@FireMickMcCall) December 1, 2019
do i need to install flight tracking software or something, help me out we're in uncharted territory
— BYCTOM (@BYCTOM) December 1, 2019
Things got really weird:
Overall, it was a wild day that ended with perhaps the dumbest speculation of all. If you can’t get enough of this whole thing for some reason, feel free to indulge.
Anyways, McCall is gone. Something fans have been wanting off and on for six years finally, after an offensive bottom-out like nothing virtually any Power 5 program has seen this decade (especially in the passing game), happened. But now that everybody’s gotten off their jokes and takes, the question remains: where does Northwestern go from here?