[NU Sports] Expectations (Was: Walker to get long-term contract)

Joe Thiegs thiegs at umn.edu
Mon Apr 24 16:34:59 CDT 2006 

Boy, if happiness were a criterion for posting, list traffic would be pretty
sparse many weeks!  I do get weary of repeated negativism, but if the poster
really cares about the program--as I have come to believe John does--then
it's tolerable, even if I happen to have a differing opinion.  (Plus,
sometimes even legitimate concerns are expressed!)  ;)

On to the topic at hand....

I like Randy Walker.  Like many others, I was really disappointed when Gary
Barnett left in the middle of the night.  At the time Walker was hired, I
thought it was a brilliant decision, and I felt that opinion was validated
with the 'Cats' 2000 Big Ten Championship.  I have to admit that I had some
serious doubts about whether he was the right guy for NU in the wake of 2001
and 2002, but I held off on judging too harshly because of the Rashidi
Wheeler ordeal (notwithstanding that some might argue that the Wheeler
fiasco is a reason for judging _more_ harshly).  However, since the second
half of the 2003 season I've been happy to have RW as our coach.  Why?  He's
met what I think should be reasonable expectations for a Big Ten football
coach.  Here are my expectations--subject to a reserved right to amend--in
no particular order:

1.	Win a conference championship and/or go to the Rose Bowl at least
once every 11 years, preferably more often.
2.	Go to a bowl game at least two out of every three years, starting
with the coach's fourth year (when his first class of recruits are juniors).
3.	Go to a top-tier bowl game at least every five years.
4.	Never go winless in the conference schedule (it almost naturally
follows from this that a team should not finish the season with fewer than
three total wins).
5.	Run a clean program and graduate players.

So far Walker's met four out of five of these expectations, and I think we
deserved a higher, top-tier bowl in 2000 (unfortunately, so did Nebraska).
Of course, others are free to have different, more demanding expectations.
I'd love to be dominant year in and year out as much as anybody, but the
problem is that there are more than a couple of schools in the Big Ten whose
supporters all want the same thing.  To make matters more difficult, there
are a few schools in the conference that are at a competitive disadvantage
to some of the others from a recruiting standpoint:

NU (higher admissions and academic standards, a mild social scene, and
in-state competition from Illinois)
IU (the least football tradition in the Big Ten and in-state competition
from Purdue and Notre Dame)
Purdue (location in West LaFayette and in-state competition from Notre
Dame...and, I suppose, IU)
MSU (usually operating in the shadow of Big Blue in football)
Minnesota (lousy stadium situation and comparatively poor game-day
atmosphere...for a few more years, anyway)

Thus, winning consistently at any of these places is particularly tough, and
I think a coach's performance at one of those schools should be evaluated
keeping that in mind.  This is not a call for mediocrity.  I simply mean to
encourage some rationalism for our expectations and point out the relatively
impressive job Walker has done at NU.  Have there been problems?  Sure.  The
defense and special teams need quite a bit of improvement, but I don't know
of too many teams that can't stand to improve in some regard.  The fact of
the matter is that we have a winning Big Ten record over the last three
years (almost a 5-3 average), which is a good sight better than the 5-19 we
went during my first three years (almost a 2-6 average) at NU.  Furthermore,
my sense is that Northwestern is now respected by most knowledgable football
fans across the country--there's still some carry-over from the bad old days
and a few naysayers who maintain that 1995, 1996, and 2000 were flashes in
the pan--but overall the last couple of years have gone a long way toward
quieting those who used to laugh at the 'Cats.  Most importantly, teams can
no longer pencil in a win against NU...or, rather, they can, but they do so
at their own peril.

I guess the ultimate test for me personally is whether I truly believe the
'Cats can win another Big Ten championship and/or make it back to the Rose
Bowl with Walker.  If my honest answer is "no", then there's absolutely no
point in keeping the coach beyond his current contract.  Fortunately, I
think they can do it, and that's why I'm pleased by today's news.

-Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of Jeff Beamsley
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2006 11:06 AM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Walker to get long-term contract

When did happiness become a criteria for posting on this list?

I think John has every right to express his opinion and though I don't often
agree with him, I'm happy he is willing to so regularly stir the pot.
Conflict is, after all, the spice of all good drama.

I am not a big RW fan either, but I believe he earned this extension by
getting results on the field.  

Hopefully this extension also justifies continued high expectations (win
more than you lose) by fans and the administration.  If so, then everything
will sort itself out because his future will be determined (as he should be)
on running a clean program, and wins and loses.

Jeff

 



 

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of jason
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2006 10:58 AM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Walker to get long-term contract

John,

At this point, might it not just be easier for you to go root for Michigan,
Ohio State, or even The Evil Empire? Then you could always be happy, instead
of so miserable, because unfortunately, we're just regularly better than
we've ever been, but still not a powerhouse. 

Me? I'm pretty happy and expect to stay that way with an occasional bump in
the road befitting a program that maintains a belief that school actually
counts. After winning three games in my FOUR YEARS as an undergrad...what
they do now? Pretty damned exciting stuff!

So, I'm sorry you're not enjoying it, but they've got 100,000 seats at The
Big House...I'm sure you could find a seat or two.

So, with respect, MAZEL to RW!

Jason Singer, SP86


On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 23:45:43 -0400, John A. DeGroat 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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