[NU Sports] 4Q: Michigan State game ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

For once, I don't think we need to buckle up for a
cardiac finish.

- A fine drive to start off the quarter (four straight
scoring drives!) ... Baz is still in an absolute
friggin' ZONE and Sutton is just running over people.

- 49 unanswered after a quick MSU start. 49-7 Cats and
there's 11+ minutes left.

- Howells makes a nice TD-saving tackle on the
kickoff.

- This team is really coming together ... the D knows
it has weak spots but is forcing the issue with
pressure and hard hustle instead of letting other
teams pick 'em apart. The O is just on an unbelievable
roll (and unlike the 2000 team, I don't think you shut
the O down by stopping the run because Baz and the
deep game are too good).

- We would have never though this a month ago, but
Walker's a frontrunner for Big Ten coach of the year
now and Baz is the frontrunner for player of the year
and Sutton is THE freshman of the year. After that
heartbreaking PSU loss coming off the ASU debacle to
slip to 2-2, this team could have packed it in easy.
But they regrouped during the bye week and have come
out on fire ever since. That PSU loss stings still,
but we're using it as fuel instead of a detriment.

- SHOULD be another turnover by the D, but the refs
bailed MSU out with forward progress. Tenacious D!!!

- Sparty finally ends the streak (to a sarcastic
ovation from the stands) and gets a TD, but the D
didn't make it easy. 49-14.

- Love that aerial shot of a half-empty Spartan
Stadium. We're homecoming wreckers once again!

- Four drives in the second half, at least 6 plays and
at least 60 yards on each. GREAT JOB O-LINE!!!

- Good to see C.J. getting some practice for the last
7 minutes. It's gonna be a shock to lose Baz next year
and in our cardiac games, the backup QB doesn't get
much game-time practice, so this will be helpful.

- This is a dominating performance and with the O
clicking and the D improving, it really speaks volumes
about the leadership -- coaches and players -- on this
team and bodes well for the future.

- Some garbage yards late will hurt the stats, but
this was a BIG day for the young defense and hopefully
a sign that they've turned the corner for the year.

- Final Score: NORTHWESTERN 49, Michigan State 14

CATS!!! WIN!!! CATS!!! WIN!!! CATS!!! WIN!!!

Nice to breathe easy for a fourth quarter for once.:)
HUGE win for the Cats, and it sets up a MONSTER
MATCHUP for homecoming next week with Michigan under
the lights (and a possible Game 6 in Chicago as well
that night? Could be a dandy weekend in the Windy
City).

Between Michigan's penchant for last-second finishes
this year (looks like OT in Iowa City) and the Cardiac
Cats' history in Evanston for the past decade, this
should be one hum-dinger next week!

WEAR PURPLE!!!
GIVE OUT SOMETHING PURPLE AS FANS WALK IN!!!
MAKE NOISE!!!

I want a PURPLE HAZE in the stands next week and a big
win over the Wolverines to keep the momentum going!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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


	
		
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