Bob Stoops intrigued by Pat Fitzgerald’s unorthodox playing of music in meetings

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is playing music in team meetings to help prepare players for their trip to Penn State this weekend. AP PHOTO

Back in 2004, Stoops explained the ploy: “We play their song a bunch so the guys get used to hearing it. We play Boomer Sooner a little bit. I’m usually driving myself nuts. I do my best to tune it out.”

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald took that philosophy a step further this week: He’s even playing music in team meetings.

“We’re playing music in meetings to distract the guys,” Fitzgerald said in this video from the Chicago Tribune.

“Not the whole meeting but a little bit of it, just to get completely and thoroughly annoyed.”

Stoops was asked after Wednesday’s practice if he’s heard about Fitzgerald’s unorthodox method of preparing his players for hostile environments, like the one the Wildcats will face Saturday at Penn State.

“Pat’s a lot braver than me,” Stoops said.

“Interesting … I should probably follow it; those guys are smart guys up there.”