[NU Sports] excellent point on tradition, Steve

[Roy Lamberton]

Thanks for the kind words, Brad.

For the record, the "template" theory on NU not getting calls, was originally
advanced here, either back at the end of the Barnett Era, or during Walker's
first year. I just picked it up and keep using it because it seems to be
accurate.

Referees have long memories. They remember penalty filled games during
snowstorms where they'd have preferred being in the University Club sipping
scotch instead of out on the field. NU has a long way go to beat that rep of not
being able to play with the "big boys."

Check out your local HS game some time. See which coach whines at the refs all
the time, then see if they ever get a close call. 

I teach my kids to take one of the refs aside and point out that their opponent
is doing something illegal. We usually get a call from that ref for that
infraction withing a series or two.

rsl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
Computer Applications & Support Associates
and Publisher of Purple Reign, 
The Scout.com Northwestern University Site
(http://www.purplewildcats.com)
AIM Handle: CoachRoy74
======== Go Cats -  Beat 'em All ===========
Every time I think I've got this Computer 
Biz handled 
            -- There's another upgrade.
============================================

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com 
> [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Brad Wilson
> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 5:28 AM
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: [NU Sports] excellent point on tradition, Steve
> 
> 
> In the midst of a generally terrific post, SjT made a
> superb point about the importance of tradition in
> college football, a point often ignored or underrated.
> 
> I started following college football in the early
> 1970's as the son of a fanatic Penn State booster.
> Early on I paid attention nationally. And what did I
> see in 1970 or so?
> 
> The best team in the East was Penn State. Today, the
> best team in the East is ... Penn State.
> 
> The best teams in the Midwest were Ohio State and
> Michigan and Notre Dame. Today, the best teams in the
> Midwest are ... Ohio State and Michigan and Notre
> Dame. 
> 
> The best team in the old SWC was Texas. Today, the
> best team in the old SWC is ... Texas.
> 
> The best teams in the PAC-8 were USC and UCLA. Today,
> the best teams in the Pac-10 are ... USC and UCLA.
> 
> The best teams in the SEC were Alabama, LSU and
> Tennessee ... and today the best teams in the SEC are
> Alabama, LSU and Georgia/Auburn.
> 
> It works pretty well with the bad teams, too; bad then 
> (Kentucky, Washington State, Wake Forest, Mississippi State, 
> Rice, Indiana) bad now.
> 
> I realize you can't push this too far -- Miami's rise
> is an obvious flaw, ditto Arkansas' fall, and I know
> some teams have had rises and then falls (hello,
> Kansas State) - but you get the idea. As Steve notes,
> those that fall from the heights without NCAA
> probation (SMU, Alabama) or administration stupidity
> (Nebraska) are pretty rare.
> 
> As a sportswriter, I see many, many CFB articles from
> around the nation, from all sections and conferences,
> and almost every Northwestern mention, even
> complimentary ones, makes a reference to "traditional
> doormat" NU or "traditional Big Ten cellar-dweller" NU
> or some such thing. This, despite three BT titles
> since 1995 -- more than anybody but Michigan -- and
> four bowl games! Just ask Barry Alvarez who's a
> doormat, say. But because, from 1974 to 1994 NU was a 
> laughingstock, we're still the "traditional" doormat. Heaven 
> help us. This kind of thing does not help recruiting.
> 
> I work with an otherwise bright guy who says teams
> like NU and Indiana have "no right" to be good and
> when they are they "ruin" his enjoyment of CFB
> "because people only care about Penn State, Ohio State
> and Michigan, the traditional powers" (as you might
> guess he's a PSU fan). 
> 
> It takes a very long time in CFB to shake the
> deadening hand of tradition. NU may, at last, be
> starting to in football. But never undestimate the
> power of tradition to help the top teams (Penn State,
> say) and hurt the weaker ones in ways you may not
> imagine; Coach Roy's theory on why Michigan gets calls
> vs. NU ("NU can't be this good") is a good example.  
> 
> Brad Wilson  
> 
> 
> 
> "Entertainment is what which you receive without effort. Art 
> is something where you must make some kind of effort, and you 
> get more than you had before." -- Charles Wuorinen
> 
> "Quis ipsos custodes custodiet?" -- Juvenal
> 
> 
> 	
> 		
> __________________________________ 
> Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
> http://mail.yahoo.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com 
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>