[NU Sports] Stunned sadness (fwd)

[NEONRye at aol.com]

One of Randy Walker's strongest points--at least for this 'Cat fan--was  that 
he WANTED to be the Coach of Northwestern University.  He didn't have  
"wanderlust", he was proud to be wearing the Purple and White, and he put true  
roots down in Evanston.  Given the "stepping stone" that the NU job was  before he 
arrived (and I am not just thinking of Gary Barnett, but going all the  way 
back to Ara Parshegian and then his successor, Alex Agase, the Coach when I  
was a freshman and sophomore, who left for Purdue and found that the pasture was 
 not "greener"), RW established a precedent and a legacy that will hopefully  
stand forever and in many ways eclipse even the wonderful record his teams  
produced on (and off) the field.  He may have been short in stature  (although 
not compared to this alum), but his shoes will be tough to fill.  
 
And to hear his players at the Press Conference (which I just viewed online  
thanks to Joe T.), you saw what a teacher and role model he was to them.   The 
only thing that fills me with hope for the future at this sad time is that I  
have faith in Mark Murphy and President Bienen to make a wise and reasoned  
choice--after the appropriate period of mourning has passed (and the true  
mourning shall carry on for a long, long time)--on how to go forward.
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Levinson