[NU Sports] Morrissey's article

[Dennis W. Brandt]

Mr. Morrissey wrote, "But if some of these people would take a step back, 
they might realize they're obsessing on kids playing a kid's sport."

I wish it were so, Rick, but t'ain't.  Frankly, sports writers obsess just 
as much on those collegiate athletes.  If not, they wouldn't have jobs.

Morrissey added, "Please don't tell me that if they're old enough to fight a 
war, they're old enough to be ridiculed."

There are lots of folks in this country saying much worse things about 
Howell-aged boys and girls fighting in Iraq - not the policy, the kids 
themselves.

I say, good for Coach Walker.  He stood up for his player, and that was the 
right thing to do.  I suspect the crowd reaction, tasteless as it may have 
been, was less aimed at Joel Howells than the long string of bad kickers and 
special teams players Walker has recruited.  (Howells did not lose the Sun 
Bowl however badly he kicked; a pathetic defense did.)  But one reason for 
Walker's success in 2000 was a fellow named Tony Long who hit the big ones. 
Since then, special teams on the NU football team hasn't been a job, it's 
been an adventure, too often one with an unhappy ending.