[NU Sports] OSU game highlighted Randy Walker's shortcomings

[NEONRye at aol.com]

This is getting really ugly and ridiculous.  No doubt Coach Walker has  
weaknesses, as does any coach and any of us.  He also has strengths that  militate 
in his favor--loyalty to NU (He doesn't always seem to be looking to  move to 
another gig); fantastic graduation rates which make all of us proud;  putting 
aside the Wheeler Tragedy (which is not the easiest task);no scandals to  
tarnish our reputation; exciting games and heart-stopping finishes (which  usually 
turn in our favor--I don't attribute that all to "luck"--skill, heart,  
conditioning, desire, and pride play a bigger role); and a decent, if not  
spectacular, record (won-lost; BT titles; Bowls; etc.).  He also is  respected by the 
media, in particular the TV announcers who work our games,  which can only 
help with recruiting.  We need to have better attendance,  for which he may bear 
some, but certainly not all, responsibility.  
 
I like the "Fitz" as heir apparent scenario that has been bandied  about.  If 
RW decides to go with a new DC, whether now or in a year or two,  I would 
hope Mark Murphy would encourage him to look first at Fitz, so that he  could be 
groomed to succeed RW down the road.  He is the logical "next HC"  at NU if 
the timing can be worked out.  He has the pedigree, the commitment  to the 
school, and the smarts.  And maybe then he can groom McGarrigle as  his successor, 
as sometimes I think they are the same person, ten years  apart.:-)
 
Why can't we celebrate this year's successes, rather than dwelling on the  
negative?  Sure, the OSU and UM games hurt (a lot), but we are not going to  
beat either team many years--especially, the Bucks, who seem to have a hex on  
us.   We should have beaten Joe Pa this year, which really kept us  from having 
a spectacular season.  Instead, his team went out and grabbed  that "ring", to 
their credit.  
 
We are a truly great academic institution with an improving football team  as 
part of a now-solid athletic program, which has the backing of the University 
 Administration--something which was sadly lacking in my days at NU.  Is  
there anything wrong with that--or do we aspire to become USC, Miami or Texas  
here?  I don't, because were we to go in that direction (and I doubt we  could 
ever make it anyway), we assuredly would have to make a pact with the  Devil in 
terms of the academic side of things.  Let's stop trying to be  something we 
are not and enjoy what we are--one of the most exciting teams in  the nation 
this year, with good things on the horizon.
 
Paul Levinson