[NU Sports] Gary Barnett

[Frank F. Loomis III]

  Listmates,
   
  Please forgive me for raising such a brouhaha about that murky Rocky Mountain News article as to whether Barnett attended a game this fall at NU.
   
  After considering your various opinions and the two schools’ schedules, it just has to be that Barnett and his trainer watched the MSU game on TV. That writer’s words: 
   
  "He watched Northwestern's rout of Michigan State with CU trainer Steve Willard, who was with him in Evanston, Ill.," 
   
  sure misled me, especially the "in Evanston, Ill.," bit. He should have said something like, "who was with Barnett when he coached at Northwestern."
   
  Anyway, with all this hullabaloo, I think we’re overlooking the significance of the following additional words in that article:
   
  "You can't spend seven years of your life someplace and get to know all of those kids and people without being a fan," Barnett said. "I love Northwestern. I love Chicago. I love everything about it." 
   
  Yes, he still loves us.
   
  Though like most I was really upset with him as to the way he left us, what with that infamous email, et cetera, I sincerely believe that all in all, he was a fantastic coach for us; he put us on the map. And a substantial portion of our recent success is because of him. 
   
  In my book , Barnett is the best coach we’ve ever had. 
   
  And I think Barnett’s graciousness in putting on that TV half-time show and saying things like he said above, show that deep down, he’s really a good guy. (We never hear nice words like that from Ara P. He’s all ND.) 
   
  I wish Gary nothing but the best and thank him profusely for bringing NU football to a respectable, higher level.  
   
  Finally, let's never forget his brazen January 1992 words: Let’s take The Purple to Pasadena."
   
  And keep in mind, he "done did it!" 
   
  Frank Loomis