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

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Freedom of speech aside, I am stunned that some
> folks would choose this as the time to talk about a

Oh well - some folks just can't be satisfied I guess.
Whatever works, I guess. But I just think this
celebration of the 1995 Rose Bowl team should put
things in perspective. A decade ago, a bunch of
student athletes came together to remind us what
teamwork can achieve and how great things can happen
when you work together. (My UW alum friend at the
Wisky game where the Rose Bowl team was introduced
remarked "how many of those guys would be recognized
outside of Evanston? I countered with not many would
be recognized *in* Evanston:) ).

Since then, the last decade (11 years - a "Big Ten"
decade) has been a wild ride for NU fans. Three league
championships ... five bowl games ... six seasons of 6
or more wins ... and enough fantastic finishes to last
a lifetime.

> place or 10th place.  I wanted to have us have more
> consistency, so that we could have a chance to reach

There's the big thing that's pleased me about this
season the most -- we're putting together some
consistency. You don't just have three 9-win seasons
in a row, it has to build on something when you're
starting a program from basically scratch. The .500 or
better mark in league play is a big plus to build on
as well.

Had Bates not been hurt in 1997, I think we would have
had that sixth or seventh win and had three straight
bowl seasons. But we didn't and with Barnett's
wanderings, things started to fall apart. Now Walker
has put building blocks in place again and it'll be
interesting to see where we can go from here with --
for the first time in decades -- some foundation to
build on. Next year may be tough replacing leaders
like Baz and McGarrigle, but this extra bowl practice
will help the O-line and Sutton a lot and we can build
on that exciting running game for 2006 and 2007 (maybe
even find a defensive lineman or two as well:) ).

But that's looking ahead a bit -- let's keep Sweet
Sioux and run over the Illini this weekend and then
start preparing for a BOWL GAME VICTORY!!!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


	
		
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