[NU Sports] Walker to get long-term contract

[Jonathan Hodges]

OR it tells us that:

1) Walker has improved NU from being last or second-to-last in the Big
Ten to regularly competing in the league and placing in the top half
if not higher.

2) Playing the coaching carousel does not accomplish anything, and
after attaining some sort of winning stability it would be pointless
to lose coaching stability.

3) After making it to 3 bowls EVER, Walker brought the program to 3
bowls under his tenure.

4) The program may not attract assistant coaches, but instead it
produces them - giving our last 2 OC's big demand as they left the
program.

5) NU games do sell out once a year or so (even if it is when OSU or
Michigan come to town), and a true college football atmosphere is felt
at most of the Big Ten games.  Memorabilia sales will never be the
same as Michigan and NU will never be able to sell out 100,000 seat
stadiums, but that is not what the school is about.  NU embraces what
it is, or at least it is beginning to, and it is a smaller but
well-rounded and very highly regarded school academically with quality
athletics to complement that.  NU is NOT a large state school with
vast funds to throw at athletics and a school with millions of alumni
and in state fans who is just a run of the mill academic institution.

Is extending Walker's contract another 4 years the right thing?  YES,
he has done nothing but what was asked of him and more (which has been
discussed on numerous occasions).  The trib article was good in
summarizing both the good and the bad and pointing out that he has
created stability in the program.  Maybe he has not produced a
1995-type season, but what he's done consistently over time is better
than a flash in the pan.  Now the team doesn't have to worry about
some new coach and a possible step back in the program as the coach
institues their style, whatever that may be.

Jonathan


On 4/23/06, John A. DeGroat <johnadeg at bellatlantic.net> wrote:
> Giving Walker a five year contract tells me that 1) Murphy didn't think
> that he could get a better coach for NU than Randy. Or wasn't allowed to
> look for one 2) that NU will be satisfied with mediocrity meaning an
> occasional second level bowl game and middle of the Big Ten finishes, 3)
> that the stadium will be half empty except when Illinois or Wisconsin
> show up., 4) that no assistant coaches from major programs will have any
> interest in coming to NU, 5) low memorabilia sales levels.  All this
> translates finally into lower than need be revenues which ultimately
> will hurt the football and other athletic programs.
>
>   <>John DeGroat
>
> Roy Lamberton wrote:
>
> >I was also told that RW is moving to a new house a few blocks north of the
> >stadium complex.
> >
> >Tammy wanted a "newer" house than the one they're in right now.
> >
> >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 Jim Bendat
> >>Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 12:14 PM
> >>To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> >>Subject: [NU Sports] Walker to get long-term contract
> >>
> >>
> >>http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-0604
> >>22nufootwalker,1,2754001.story?coll=cs-home-headlines
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
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> >
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> >
> >
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--
Jonathan W. Hodges
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