Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is the type of guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve, and so it went when he spoke of his admiration for Penn State coach Joe Paterno. Paterno won his 400^th game against the Wildcats in 2010 in State College, Pa. and Paterno tied the all-time record for Division I victories against the Wildcats this past October -- right before Jerry Sandusky was arrested. And it was at that October game at Ryan Field, with Paterno sitting up in the press box that the 85-year old coach asked to meet Fitzgerald's three boys during halftime. It was a moment that Fitzgerald treasured, even though his boys may not have understood the impact of it yet.

Paterno always had a place in Fitzgerald's heart and vice versa. After that 400^th victory in State College the two huddled together, head to head, but Fitzgerald never divulged what Paterno told him. "I'd rather keep that between us," he said at the time.

Upon Paterno's death Sunday morning, Fitzgerald released this statement:

"Coach Paterno poured his heart and soul into a football program and university, helping countless young men reach their dreams and goals on the football field before moving on to successful careers and lives as adults. It's hard to fathom the impact that coach Paterno has had on college football and at Penn State."