Big Ten 2010 // Northwestern Spring Field Guide
by Jonathan Franz on Apr 25, 2010 11:10 PM CDT
in Northwestern
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PrintIt's finally pleasant enough to wear a t-shirt on the north shores of Evanston. That means it's time to visit a perennial conference overachiever.
SEVENTH IN A SERIES: THE NORTHWESTERN SPRING FIELD GUIDE
Northwestern at a glance...
First Season: 1876
Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (4th Year, 27-22, .551 winning percentage)
All-Time Record: 458-600-44 (.436)
2009 Record: 8-5 (5-3 Conference)
Offseason Cliff Notes...
It's become somewhat of a cliche to say that these cats have nine lives, but forever resilient Northwestern keeps on chipping away at entrenched stereotypes. After closing out September with back to back losses at Syracuse and to Minnesota in 2009, Pat Fitzgerald's Wildcats battled back -- clawing out wins against Purdue, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin to earn a New Years Day bowl bid. What followed was frankly the most amazing football game I've never watched. (I listened to the Outback Bowl on the radio while racing across the desert from Las Vegas to Pasadena, and almost wrecked the rental car on four occasions). After battling back from two first quarter interceptions, Mike Kafka went on to throw five touchdown passes, and another three interceptions. Our writers praised Northwestern's heart and drive, but lamented the fact that the season ended with a whimper, a sigh, and an overtime loss.
The Wildcats' reward for back to back exhilarating postseason appearances? A prognosticated 7-5 record in 2010, and birth in the Eagle Bank bowl. When we look at the purple we see steady improvement, and a system that pays dividends. For his resilience, Fitzgerald earned a B+ grade on the season. In fact, resilience was our word of the decade for the Wildcats.
This California native is just what the doctor ordered.
In February, Northwestern signed a 17 member class with ten three star athletes, including running back Adonis Smith, who ditched his commitment to Washington State to join the good guys. His breed of running (hard, fast, and mean) will immediately help a Wildcat offense that averaged just 117 rushing yards per game in 2009.
In the cupboard...
Total Returning Starters: 16 (8 Offense, 6 Defense, 2 Special Teams)
For me, the loss of gun-slinging veteran quarterback Mike Kafka means the end of daily literary allusions. For Pat Fitzgerald, it means a need to replace 3,430 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and a scramble threat. Fitzgerald is counting on Senior Dan Persa to continue the metamorphosis. (Last one, promise). In mop up duties in 2009, Persa displayed a knack for using his legs to evade would-be tacklers. Whether his arm is capable remains to be determined.
Pat Fitzgerald says Dan Persa has taken "the next step."
On the plus side, the Wildcats return all five starters on the offensive line, and their top four rushers. As USA Today reports, "The better news is that redshirt sophomore Alex Daniel, who missed last year with an ankle injury, and redshirt freshman Mike Trumpy jump into the mix and figure to increase the competition even more." Plus, there's the aforementioned Adonis Smith. Whatever the end result, the competition at running back figures to look more like USC than Northwestern.
On defense, the Cats "must find replacements for a decorated fivesome (DE Corey Wootton, DT Adam Hahn, CB Sherrick McManis, S Brandon Smith and S Brad Phillips) that combined to make 196 career starts." Frankly, that's not going to be easy -- but Junior Safety Brian Peters learned the ropes last year, when injuries forced him to take an active role in the Nickle Package. The defensive staff has moved OLB David Arnold back to the secondary to try and ease the burden -- but Northwestern still needs help on the defensive line, where it must replace two anchors.
$60,000 Questions
1. After finishing 8th in rushing offense in the Big Ten in 2009, will the glut of capable backs buoy Northwestern's ground game into the top half of the conference?
2. Will Northwestern continue to lead the Big Ten in passing offensive in 2010?
3. Will defensive youth hamstring the Wildcats in conference play?
4. Will Northwestern win its first bowl game since 1949?
The Road Ahead...
2010 Schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| 9/4/2010 | @ Vanderbilt |
| 9/11/2010 | Illinois State |
| 9/18/2010 | @ Rice |
| 9/25/2010 | Central Michigan |
| 10/2/2010 | @ Minnesota |
| 10/9/2010 | Purdue |
| 10/23/2010 | Michigan State |
| 10/30/2010 | @ Indiana |
| 11/06/2010 | @ Penn State |
| 11/13/2010 | Iowa |
| 11/20/2010 | Illinois |
| 11/27/2010 | @ Wisconsin |
For the second year in a row Northwestern doesn't have to play Ohio State or Michigan. Will they ride a favorable out of conference schedule and key home games to another eight win regular season?
This week...
MONDAY: Spring Field Guide
TUESDAY: Northwestern's Achilles Heel
WEDNESDAY: Wildcat Roundtable
THURSDAY: MVP Profile
FRIDAY: Keeping the Enemy Close
***
More Big Ten 2010...
Indiana | Michigan | Illinois | Minnesota | Purdue | Michigan State
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I'm glad tOSU isn't facing them this year
They are that dangerous underdog team that i think could finish 3rd in the conference.
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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on Apr 26, 2010 6:37 AM CDT reply actions
I agree...
Although that defense is really gutted. They could end up looking a lot like Michigan last year.
The Rivalry, Esq.
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Jonathan Franz on Apr 26, 2010 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions
I tend to think that's a break for the 'Cats
For some reason, OSU seems to be the one team that consistently just brutalizes Northwestern. The Wildcats also seem to be the one team in the conference that Jim Tressel consistently seeks to pummel unto and beyond the point of total humiliation. I wonder if maybe he’s still mad about the ’04 game. It must have been a little embarassing to be the OSU coach responsible for the first loss to Northwestern since the Nixon administration.
But since the 2004 game, every OSU-Northwestern game has been a major bloodletting. There have been a lot of late-game scores by OSU, though in fairness, several of them have come on plays where the Buckeyes weren’t really trying to score. There are a fair number of Northwestern fans who really dislike Tressel because they think he’s piled on them. And you can sort of see where they’re coming from.
But for whatever reason, even when it looks like maybe the games should be at least a little competitive, they just haven’t been. The 2007 game, when a rebuilding OSU had a 45-0 lead AT HALFTIME (how often does OSU score 45 in a game, let alone one half?), was one of the most dominant physical beatings I’ve ever seen. With Northwestern breaking in a new quarterback against what looks to be another dominant OSU front 7, I’m not sure the outcome would be any different if the teams played this year.
by Findlay Buckeye on Apr 26, 2010 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions
Trust me...
…the only team that consistently strikes fear in Northwestern fans is Ohio State. That 2004 game was nice, but it’s been a never-ending string of beatdowns since then….
Indeed, the last hurdle (or should I say Mt. Everest-size mountain) for Northwestern to jump over is NOT winning a bowl game (I’m pretty sure they’ll do it this year, so long as they don’t get a poor matchup), but rather winning a game at Columbus, which they haven’t done since 1972, I think (it could be longer).
Of course, winning in Columbus is hardly easy for any team…but Northwestern is particularly snake-bitten by the Buckeyes.
Thirding that
with stats.
08 45-10 NU ranked #24 going in
07 58-7
06 54-10
05 48-7
(04 33-27 NU wins!)
These are 4 of the 5 worst losses by NU since 05 and only two others are by more than 21 (at Wisc and at PSU in 06, the year everything went badly). The 06 loss is the worst margin of any home loss since the beginning of time (95).
It’s not that I really expect Northwestern to consistently beat OSU, but the complete lack of any competitiveness (average margin of loss:42 points) in the past few games is a little disappointing.
At least the Wildcats have a win over OSU more recently than Michigan.
$60,000 Questions
You forgot…
5. Can Northwestern beat Iowa for a third year in a row, or does that magic only work in Kinnick?
You're a smug, unhappy little man aren't you?
And a band member to boot?
Yikes.
I guess we’ll find out come November. We’ll meet you there. You’ll be the guy in purple right?
A Voice From Kinnick - A Hawkeye Blog
Woah, there
Just a gentle nudge, that’s all. As internet trash-talking goes, I figured mine was pretty mild. But please, no grave insult was intended.
But I mean, when you haven’t won a bowl game since 1949, you take your bragging rights where you can get them. There’s no doubt that Iowa will be competing for a Big Ten title this year. Iowa’s definitely a team on the rise.
So, yeah, I enjoy it more when we beat Iowa than when we crush the Towson Tigers or Illinois State or whoever, or even Indiana or Purdue last year. What harm is there in celebrating unlikely success?
To disagree with my good friend TDozer,
Some grave insult is most certainly needed for Hawkeye fans. I can’t think of a more rabid or delusional fanbase in the Big 10 than Iowa’s, and for good reason. They command the steadfast loyalty of most of the state, but only because the only things to do for entertainment in that godforsaken state are a) watch/blog about Iowa football, b) drink until you forget how awful your state is, and c) all of the above. Liking a team because there are literally no other options isn’t fandom, it’s Stockholm Syndrome.
Enjoy the offseason though, and all of the talk of a potential Big 10 title, because come fall I think you’re in for a rude awakening. I’m sure nothing bad can come from taking a quarterback who was essentially a walking interception machine behind a veteran O-line and throwing him behind an extremely green new unit. If your running backs can avoid the usual slew of injuries you might manage to actually be relevant up until the Northwestern game where we’ll extend the streak to three in a row and you’ll get to spend another year making fun of us for everything except the actual on-the-field performance.
In summary, I don’t like you, I don’t like your team, I don’t like your entire goddamn state. Let the haterade flow.
Welcome to TRE Batman
You’re really going to riled up on Rivalry Friday.
by Graham Filler on Apr 26, 2010 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Pat Fitzgerald's strategy vs Iowa
“Do whatever it takes to hurt their best player!”
He broke his leg playing Iowa and missed the chance to play in the Rose Bowl, so now he encourages his team to play dirty vs Iowa.
I hope he has Ferentz’s attention.
by HawkeyeRecon on Apr 26, 2010 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
+1000....
…. for /HaydenFry-ing all of Iowa’s fandom.
I notice no one is denying Fitzgerald's despicable strategy...
by HawkeyeRecon on Apr 26, 2010 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Fine
On Shonn Greene’s injury in ‘08, there was some helmet-to-helmet contact, but the safety didn’t lead with his head. The refs didn’t flag it. That’s just football, go cry about it.
Stanzi’s injury was a clean tackle and just a fluke that he landed badly on his ankle. #90 didn’t facemask him as some people have said. Maybe you shouldn’t have run a naked bootleg right at our star defensive end.
Fitz definitely puts a lot of emphasis on the Iowa game every year and pushes his players to play hard, but they’re not out there headhunting.
Not headhunting
Maybe not, but it does seem to be a fortuitious happenstance. Every year.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Fine I'll admit it
You got your asses whipped by a bunch of goddamn nerds.
It's funny, but I hate all of Northwestern's fanbase
for the same reasons I hate elves, leprechauns, mermaids, goblins, ogres, martians…
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Apr 26, 2010 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
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The Buckeye blog for every fan!
by Ian_InsideTheShoe on Apr 26, 2010 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Northwestern fans = Iowa State fans
Hey look! We beat you 5 years in a row! That means something right?!
Uh, we beat you 20 straight years. We still have twice as many wins over you. So when you want to even come close to evening that number, you should come talk to me and my delusional fanbase.
Until then we’ll continue to settle for new years day bowl games. You just stick to driving Ferraris and losing bowl games.
A Voice From Kinnick - A Hawkeye Blog
Threre are some similarities
but having spent pretty much my whole life in Chicagoland and claiming several cousins who attended Iowa State, I can tell you there really aren’t that many commonalities between the two groups.
It’s not so much the winning that ever bothered me about jNW, It’s the fact that there was absolutely zero interest in any of their programs until Barnett took them to Pasedena. Then once they had success, privileged jags came out of the woodwork asserting that they had been fans all along. Having attended every Iowa/jNW football and basketball game in Evanston between 1985 and 1997 I can tell you that’s simply not true. Part of what brings you into the larger community of sports fans is the experience of tying yourself emotionally to a team through the highs and lows (Illinois had great basketball attendance during an NIT season) and continuing your association with said team outside of the actual games. I still see plenty of Indiana fans wearing gear around Chicago even though they pretty much have nothing to cheer for but I never saw a piece of jNW clothing on someone (under 70) until after the ‘96 Rose Bowl. Success breeds interest, so there are some jNW fans out there, but most of them are tourist who will be gone the split-second a 2-10 campaign comes down the pipe (and that day will come again because, c’mon, they’re just Northwestern).
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Apr 27, 2010 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
To be fair
I was 9 years old in 1995 and did not yet have an opportunity to be a college football fan. There are others like me. Not all of us who became fans after ’95 did so because of bandwagoning.
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
What are you talking about?
Plenty of people are fans of teams well before they reach 9 years old. Now, generally, they will tend to be fans of the teams one or both of their parents roots for, but not always. But most people grow up identifying with a team, like you did with Wisconsin. By your own prior admissions, it wasn’t until you went to grad school at jNWU that you became a fan.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
So, wait...
Maybe I’m just slow today (midterm season at Northwestern), but I don’t get what you’re criticizing hmlee for.
S/He (hmlee? Sorry, don’t follow closely enough) denied being a bandwagon fan, and said there are other non-bandwagon fans. Becoming a fan after going to grad school at NU doesn’t contradict that, it explains an alternate route to fandom. What’s wrong with that?
I don’t know what Kyle McCann’t is talking about, though. I’ve never met a Northwestern bandwagon fan, so they must have all faded away around 1998 or so. I have met a lot of bandwagon NU-haters, because it’s trendy, even at Northwestern, to talk about how bad we are at sports. I really enjoy that we embrace the nerd image— it makes winning that much more satisfying.
As for me, I didn’t grow up identifying with any team. I grew up in an awkward spot in Michigan near the Ohio border where UofM, OSU, and MSU fans were all about equal, and I didn’t feel like I belonged with any one of them.
But frankly, the geographic-proximity fans of those schools, who were fans since before they were 9, always struck me as the least loyal. Not that they’ll ever switch allegiances. A Michigan fan won’t switch to OSU. But they’ll lose interest the way Kyle suggested and move on to something else. If the Detroit Lions were any good, I think the last two seasons would have killed the Michigan fan base.
Actually, hmlee's own admissions
paint him/her as the quintessential bandwagon fan: didn’t follow the team until s/he got to Northwestern as a student, a period in time that also conincides with Northwestern football doing wel/generally exceeding expectations, in other words, on an upswing. Thus it is easy to become a fan, a fact that Kyle was pointing out is a Evanston trend: when jNWU is doing well, all of a sudden everyone is decked out in clothing and going to games. The key will be if/when Northwestern has a couple of disappointing seasons. I can’t fault hmlee for not having experienced that yet, but s/he is a self-admitted recent fan, one who hasn’t been tested by the downtimes yet.
And that is one of the most important aspects of fandom, sticking by a team even when they aren’t doing well. It’s easy to back a winner, it’s much more difficult to stick by a team that’s losing. And sadly, Northwestern fans have a reputation for abandoning ship the second they slide back in the pack.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Well
I guess I just don’t see it the way you do. I don’t know what Evanston you’re walking around in, but it’s incredibly rare to see a purple-wearing non-student or non-alum. It’s not Evanstonians who are filling up our stadium. As pretty much everyone reminds us… no one is filling up our stadium.
I’m saying, despite the recent success of NU football, I don’t think there’s much of a bandwagon effect, especially when you look at the attendance data. The 2009 season— which earned us a January 1 bowl game— averaged 24,190 fans/game, the lowest since 1980. The 1981 season— which featured Northwestern setting the record for the most consecutive losses— averaged 24,370.
That doesn’t look like much of a bandwagon effect to me.
So it’s definitely not popular to be a Northwestern fan right now, despite exceeding expectations. There’s no social pressure in Evanston or Chicago to wear purple. The only people doing it are the genuine die-hards.
The fact that hmlee is a grad student— who are notoriously disconnected from undergrad happenings at all universities— and even a law student not the Evanston campus suggests to me that s/he’s sticking around out of genuine interest.
But
It goes without saying I’d LOVE to see a bandwagon effect going. I’d love to see NU become Chicago’s team. Heck, I’d love to see Barack Obama trade his White Sox cap for a purple-and-white N cap. I’m hoping the Wrigley game and the more aggressive stance the athletic department is taking to marketing will help bring those about.
But when anyone complains about Northwestern bandwagon fans, I just don’t see it. Walk around campus some time— you’ll probably see an Iowa sweatshirt or two along the way.
And that's right
I actually have to make a lengthy trip up to the real campus when I want go to a game (football or otherwise)…
Not that I’m complaining, really. The downtown campus location is awesome. And we have a better view than the evanston-ers. :)
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
Good god
you guys comment a lot in a short period of time. It’s true that my Northwestern fandom has yet to go through the significant downtimes yet — and hopefully I won’t ever have to. But as that is likely not possible, I can assure you I will still be around. I am a Cubs fan after all. I know what that’s like. Oh do I ever…
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
I don't think becoming a fan after attending the school makes someone a bandwagon fan.
I hated baseball growing up. Absolutely despised it. I was invited to attend a Cubs game during the weekend the Hawkeyes took over Chicago in ‘05, and thought it’d be a good time. I fell in love with Wrigley and have become a casual Cubs fan ever since. I’d follow the Cubs thru the rough times, just as I’d imagine that hmlee will support jNW during the downtimes. Being a new fan does not necessarily mean that anyone’s a bandwagon fan, just that they were late to the party.
Hell, I grew up in Charlotte in a household that had never sniffed college, and didn’t fall in love with the Hawkeyes until moving back to Iowa during my middle school years. Fandom doesn’t require a storied history, but rather a consistent passion.
by The Mexican't on Apr 29, 2010 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I went to work immediately after I posted
and come back to find it sparked a debate. Excellent.
I don’t know what Kyle McCann’t is talking about, though. I’ve never met a Northwestern bandwagon fan
this is interesting when followed by this:
But frankly, the geographic-proximity fans of those schools, who were fans since before they were 9, always struck me as the least loyal. Not that they’ll ever switch allegiances. A Michigan fan won’t switch to OSU. But they’ll lose interest the way Kyle suggested and move on to something else. If the Detroit Lions were any good, I think the last two seasons would have killed the Michigan fan base.
First off, you’re referring to Evanston, which is just one (despite being the home of jNW) of dozens of large Chicago suburbs. The “bandwagoners” aren’t even necessarily people who are decked out in purple (likely because they’d be justifiably mocked), but rather those who gloat in the wake of a jNW win despite being conspicuously silent about their “allegiance” until said occurrence. I’ve been running into them “conveniently” for years.
Secondly, you’re calling out a fanbase’s loyalty (in the case of Michigan) who, despite their position of universal hatred from the rest of their conference brethren, have actual tradition. No, Michigan matters to the locals, just as Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa matter to their local populaces. It’s a way of life for those people that jNW “fans” could never understand because U of M fans did grow up with it; it’s part of their identity and a key element of local culture. Part of this lack of understanding is actually not the fault of jNW supporters as a) much of their student body comes from far-flung places (a large percentage from out-of-country even, which can’t help interest in American sports) and b) their marketing department has done an absolutely horrible job of selling Big Ten football to a rabid sports metro area. Chicago is always pegged as a “Pro” town, but when DePaul basketball was good and their marketing was clicking, Chicago was rabid for Blue Demon hoops. Chicagoans are irrationally proud by nature, just give them something to latch on to. If jNW was wise, they’d throw a boatload of money at former Cubs/current Blackhawks marketing wiz, John McDonough because he’d be able to make it all back for them in a few years. jNW, as much as I hate to admit it, has a good product and a quaint but better-than-advertised stadium. If the powers that be were as smart about sports as they were academics, the Wildcats fans could actually outnumber the opposition at Ryan/Dyche/Charlton Heston Memorial Field someday.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Apr 27, 2010 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Well
I have a feeling that most of the people you’re complaining about are less “Northwestern fans” (bandwagon or no) and more “douchebags.” It’s not a phenomenon limited to NU— if any other school had the same bizarre ability to beat Iowa against all odds, the same type of people (and maybe the same individuals) would still be gloating.
That’s not the same as being a fan, even a bandwagon fan, at least not in my mind. Being a fan involves some emotional investment in the team, some excitement over their accomplishments. The people you described are finding an excuse to cheer for themselves, not Northwestern. So, yeah, hate them. But believe me, genuine NU fans do exist!
When you said bandwagon before, I read that more as fair-weather fan than douchebag fan. I think there’s a distinction, and I don’t think NU really has many fair-weather fans.
On Michigan— I wasn’t meaning to call anyone out, though it came off that way. I just meant that a non-alum non-student non-parent fan who’s just a fan because everyone else is doing it is less likely to stick with it through hard times. There is an element of local culture and tradition to it, sure. But most of what I saw growing up was social pressure, and social pressure is more variable than a personal connection to a school. I could be wrong, of course.
I do think, though, that you diagnosed the problems NU has with attendance/excitement, and I do think Chicago would be receptive to a good marketing strategy. Jim Phillips, our AD, is apparently friends with McDonough— hence NU-Illinois at Wrigley.
And on a totally unrelated note, purple is sexy. I type this while wearing a purple t-shirt, and I will likely wear another one tomorrow. You should give it a try some time.
Hold on
I have a feeling that most of the people you’re complaining about are less "Northwestern fans" (bandwagon or no) and more "douchebags."
There’s a difference?
Obviously jNW fans exist; hell, there are fans of the Campbell Camels. However, given the stature of the league to which they belong and their accomplishments in said conference, I can’t help but show more than a little disdain for the group that considers themselves their “fanbase”. Where’s the knowledge of history? Of tradition? Of pride that doesn’t revert back to social superiority upon every on-field setback? Alright, kitties, you’re making progress. Call us when you learn how to tailgate without a take-out menu.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Apr 28, 2010 1:01 AM CDT up reply actions
Dude
Now you’re just being obnoxious.
Sigh
This is relatively common. The funny thing is they usually tag us with the label of driving ferraris and all that. I WISH I was driving a ferrari. I’m a poor law student who feels her wallet strain if she decides to go out to Portillos for a treat…..argh.
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
We didn't start the ferrari driving label.
Some jNW troll wandered over to BHGP to brag and discuss their armani wardrobe. The ferrari driving is a result of that moron.
by The Mexican't on Apr 29, 2010 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Ah. Interesting.
And actually kind of amusing… wish I had the resources of that douche.
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
Last time Iowa came to Evanston
You lost to Jake Christensen. A product of the burbs.
Don’t you just feel used?
A Voice From Kinnick - A Hawkeye Blog
Slight correction...
…Persa is a redshirt junior, I’m pretty sure. He has 2 more years (2010 and 2011) in which he can QB the Cats, unless backup Evan Watkins (who is a beast — 6’6", 235) ends up playing due to injury or because he surpasses Persa in practice/on the field.
As a fan, though, I have to applaud you for your solid, balanced review/preview of Northwestern. You clearly realize the good job Northwestern has done over the past 15 or so years in being generally an upper-half of the conference team…..too many writers nationally do previews of Northwestern as if they’re still in the midst of their 34-game losing streak in the 1980s, and fail to acknowledge a team that has won 3 Big Ten titles since conference expansion in 1993 (as many as any team not named Michigan or Ohio State), and who competes in one of the best conferences in the country while operating under stricter academic eligibility requirements than almost any other BCS-conference university (Stanford is the only other school that might beat Northwestern….the dirty secret is that Duke lowers its standards for athletes).
The only reason it isn't biased
is because I didn’t write it……
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
3 Big Ten titles...
Wisconsin’s in the same boat, more or less. Even if we did wind up in a tie for the conference lead for the first ever Rose Bowl win (curse you forever Minnesota)…
Northwestern’s had some horrible streaks, but then they’ve had some great streaks to go with them.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Apr 26, 2010 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Consistency is now the key
As well as a bowl win. It is somewhat telling about how inconsistent Northwestern has been that it wasn’t until 2008-2009 that Northwestern had back-to-back winning seasons. The problem since the 1995-96 run has been inconsistency on Northwestern’s part: a good season followed by mediocrity (or worse). Fitz seems to have them on an upward trajectory, but this season could be telling. The key difference since Fitz took over has been a much improved, and consistent, defensive effort, a far cry from the early decade teams that simply tried to outscore everyone they played (think Texas Tech). But this year’s defense will, as noted, be missing key components from the past few years and will be relatively young. I think this season will be very detrminative of Fitz’s ability, win 7/more and go to a bowl and Northwestern can break into a more permanent place in the Big Ten’s upper-half.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Tougher Schedule than it looks
Good article Law Buck….I do think that Northwestern has a tougher schedule than people think. Sure dodging Michigan/OSU is always good but who plays 2 non-con road games? That is just asking for trouble.
@ PSU and @ Wisconsin are always tough and they will play an improved MSU and league contender Iowa at home.
Northwestern gets a lot of respect from me for what they are able to accomplish but I think this is going to be a 6-6 type year.
by RickTheBloggerMartel on Apr 27, 2010 9:01 AM CDT reply actions
This year I would much rather have Michigan
than PSU on the schedule. Says something, doesn’t it?
The Rivalry, Esq. - Judging the Big 10 since 2008
northwestern never plays Iowa at home
nor many other teams for that matter
Keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either, Dude.
by AcrimoniousAngerererer on Apr 29, 2010 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions
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