[NU Sports] End of season thoughts

[WildElk2 at aol.com]

   It's been awhile since I posted; the Hawaii game was such a downer!  Then 
with the holidays, etc. yada, yada...
   Another 6-6 year?  Yes, but to the anti-Walkers, this team achieved their 
record without Duke, and posted a watershed victory, then wiped out 8 years of 
misery against Purdue. And I was at State College when we won AT Penn St. The 
run defense and pass rush were better, wide outs (before Philmore went down) 
and quarterbacking were better.  
   For the record, there have been times that Walker's decisions have had me 
foaming at the mouth.  The fake punt against ASU was a bomb, and taking the 
first 6 games to figure out that Herron was our feature back was questionable.
   Still, I'm convinced that Walker has done more good for this program than 
harm, and I'm counting the lawsuit in on that statement.  RW runs a clean 
program, and has  signed many great players, even under some of the toughest 
academic standards in the country.   As for the argument that TV and Barnett has 
more to do than any success RW has generated, let's remember that "great" 1998 
team that went 3-9 or whatever it was, the bloom was off the rose.  And TV?  
Hell, Duke is on TV here in the east about every weekend (I'm talking football) 
and I don't see all this wonderful exposure helping them.
   I he a Knute Rockne? No.  But he's no Rick Venturi, either. RW's a winner 
and a good recruiter.  I see alot of Frank Beamer in Walker; no BS. When Va. 
Tech was at the crossroads, they kept Beamer.  Just look now.
   I went on this here list and said a losing record would be grounds for 
RW"s dismissal in 2004.  But I saw progress, and I also see RW building depth on 
both sides of the ball.  I can't wait to see Rick McDole get a shot; he's as 
big as Streif. (Streif made the all Big 10 team per AP; along with Herron and 
McGarigle.  I didn't see much on the list about their honors)
   About hawaii, the 41 points was misleading, as more than 1 poster has 
commented.  We really needed to play ball control , and except for here and there, 
that didn't happen.
   And of couse, another excruciating loss to a mid-major team.  TCU really 
mailed it in after Texas Tech hung 70 on 'em; they weren't the same team that 
we played.
  Schedule/start times:  the only thing I can add is try to go on the road 
the first week of the year, or schedule a team with some sort of local or broad 
fan appeal, such as Northern Ill. locally, or someone like Navy/Air Force, who 
always brings a crowd.  You can bet we'll have trouble getting 21,22 thousand 
for the opener against Ohio.  
   May I suggest a 6:00 PM Central kick-off?  I love that starting time, as 
someone near Evanston would have a good part of the day to themselves and still 
be able to tail-gate, go to the game and get home at a decent hour.  FWIW: 
the Baltimore Orioles are starting alot of their Saturday games at 4:30 for the 
reasons I've mentioned.  
   Hope all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, although it would 
have been better in Nashville!

                      GO CATS!!!      Eric