[NU Sports] One week from today....

[DPENDERG at aol.com]

I still maintain with all of the experience we bring to 2006, the Cats  
should beat at least lesser opponents, including Miami.  Regardless of past  
Miami/NU results, the Redbirds (or whatever they're called  after surrendering to 
political correctness) this year have a roster  dominated by freshmen and 
sophomores and really should not be able to compete  with a veteran-loaded 
Northwestern team.  Provided we're prepared and ready  to play next Thursday.
 
Despite the universal enthusiasm greeting Fitz's appointment, I do not  think 
that we somehow give him a free pass to learn on the job for a year or  two.  
Either he is the NU head coach -- accountable for the team's results  -- or 
he's not.  I want him (first NU alum head coach since, I guess,  Bob Voights) 
to succeed, but he was selected because we associate him with a  winning NU 
tradition.  I will be disappointed if that does not  continue.  
 
 
In a message dated 8/25/2006 6:00:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
rstetson at capps-assoc.com writes:

I am  approaching the game with Miami with a certain amount of trepidation  
given
that we have yet to beat them in the modern era.

Given Coach  Walker's history with his former school, and our history playing 
 the
Red-whatevers I've decided to expect the worse and be happy when its  better.

On the quote #1 below: While I had a lot of respect for the  seniors on 
Defense
who graduated last year, I think this year's team will  be better just because
they're more on the same page in terms of  experience. We lost Barry C, but we
now have 4 defensive linemen [Mims,  Ngene, Gill and Koehn] with a decent 
amount
of experience, and a couple  more with a lot of playing time. This is the 
first
time in several years  where there are no true frosh on the 2 deep up front 
on D.

I think our  Linebackers are deeper than last year, and so are our d-backs. 
Once
again,  there only one RS-freshman, listed on the media guide 2 deep. Are  
they
better? Only a couple of games will tell the tale. Anyway, I'll be  surprised 
to
see any true frosh start or even appear on the 2 deep next  Monday.

Quote #2 below: Be prepared to be disappointed this year as  Fitz learns how 
to
motivate all 95 players on a football team, and his  assistant coaches. 

Randy Walker was an expert at the well timed locker  room explosion and while
Fitz saw a few of them, there's a sense of timing  you need to develop. I've
worked with guys who knew when and how to do it,  and as I take over a head
coaching situation this Fall, I'm almost as  concerned about when to use the 
KITA
theory vs the other ways of  motivation, as I am about teaching the kids the O
and D.

I will be  disappointed at any game where we get blown out by 25 or more 
points.
I'll  be unhappy with close losses, but even Randy Walker was going to have  a
real challenge with this year's  schedule.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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 ===========
"You have a  Republic Madam --
If you can keep it" - Benjamin  Franklin
============================================

>  -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com 
>  [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Beamsley
> Sent:  Friday, August 25, 2006 2:35 PM
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
>  Subject: RE: [NU Sports] One week from today....
> 
> 
> All  that you have said is true, but we also had a defense 
> that gave up  over 5 yds a carry last year.  We graduated a 
> couple of our  defensive leaders. 


> 
>  
> I must say that  I'll be very disappointed with Fitz and the 
> team if we lose to  Miami.   


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