[NU Sports] Walker's Future

[Roy Lamberton]

Since I've been mentioned by name here I will take time from my busy
professional day...

I'm not sure what Murphy's comments mean in regards to Randy Walker's future,
but I know that unless your kid has been "run off" by the Walker regime, or
imagines that he's been "run off" by Walker, most NU players of this era players
think they've had a pretty decent time under Randy Walker.

Let's look at the record:
Quoting Walker's Bio on NU sports [easier to cut and paste]:
1. He's maintained NU high academics - what made Trevor Rees such a
disappointment was that he's the first NU starter to be academically ineligible
in his 6 years here.

2. On the academic front, his recruiting class of 1998-99 all graduated [100%]
winning NU the 2005 AFCA Academic Achievement Award, tying Duke. 
 
3. In 2003, Northwestern earned a trip to the Motor City Bowl by winning four of
its last six Big Ten games. That was Walker's second bowl season after his
magical 2000 season when Northwestern went from last to first in the Big Ten in
just his second season at the Wildcat helm. For his 2000 achievements, Walker
was named the Dave McClain Big Ten Coach of the Year and the Region 3 Coach of
the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

4. Since the modern era began for college football in 1947, Northwestern has won
six or more games in back-to-back seasons just twice -- in 1970-71 and 1995-96.
Walker became the third Wildcat coach to accomplish the modern-era feat this
past year following NU's 6-6 season. Should the Wildcats get another six-win
season in 2005, it will mean a third bowl appearance under Walker, making him
the first NU mentor to guide three different teams to the postseason.

5. Since arriving in Evanston, Walker also has a number of firsts and
significant accomplishments under his belt:

. first NU football coach to own victories over all 10 Big Ten Conference foes
. first NU coach since Pappy Waldorf (1935-46) to record three six-or-more-win
seasons
. first NU coach to beat Ohio State in Evanston since 1958, and the first to
beat the Buckeyes since 1971
. first NU coach to beat Penn State at Beaver Stadium

Anyway, those who don't like RW's style, etc, seem to hang on any and every
excuse to get rid of him. I happen to like the concept of the same coach for
more than 4 years. NU as a way station to a better coaching job led to 30 years
of defeats. Even St. Gary saw the handwriting on the wall after the Rose Bowl
year, and started looking around.

Gee Bob, weren't you the guy who report on the NU Assistants all checking out
homes in Austin when he was rumored to be getting the Texas job?

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 ====================
Every time I think I've got this Computer 
Biz handled 
            -- There's another upgrade.
============ Beat 'em All ================== 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com 
> [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of BSchooler at aol.com
> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 12:11 AM
> To: jleonard518 at yahoo.com; nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Walker's Future
> 
> 
> Regarding Walker's future, I think it's important to remember 
> what Mark 
> Murphy said in his first interview after being hired as 
> Northwestern's AD. He said 
> something like our student athletes having a positive 
> experience is just as 
> important as wins and losses. I applauded these sentiments; 
> some thought it was 
> settling for mediocrity. 
> 
> In any case, I don't think Mark Murphy's rather progressive 
> criteria for 
> evaluating success bodes well for Randy Walker's future. That 
> and the continuing 
> shortcomings with recruiting, special teams and the defense. 
> I know Roy 
> Lamberton and others will disagree, but that's my opinion 
> based on what I know. 
> 
> Bob Schooler
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com 
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>