[NU Sports] report from State College

[DPENDERG at aol.com]

I think it may be overstatement to say we've never had the talent to  compete 
with elite football schools.  Our record in the Big Ten  championship years 
certainly illustrates a reasonably high talent level.   Unfortunately, we have 
not been able to consistently sustain that level from  year to year.  
 
Looking back at the PSU game, it must be remembered that the Lions are in a  
basically rebuilding stage.  Only two defensive starters return from  2005 and 
at this point a very average, inexperienced quarterback.  The  Wildcats -- 
with a lot of returning starters -- simply have not performed  anything close to 
their potential this year.  The quarterback position, of  course, remains 
unsettled and uninspiring, but I think the new, young QBs  would be much better 
if our supposedly strong offensive line had played well. 
 
The conventional wisdom that the NU defense is better this year does  not 
convince me. In the UNH, UNR and PSU games, I saw the same sloppy tackling,  pass 
coverage breakdowns, and nonexistent pass rush that we have deplored  for 
several years.  Penn State is at best just an average Big Ten  offense.  Giving 
up 500+ yards to PSU hardly qualifies as "improvement,"  although with so many 
returning starters this year, the Cat defense should be in  fact better, 
although any improvement right now is marginal at best.
 
 
 
In a message dated 10/1/2006 6:40:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
tbng at comcast.net writes:

<We  have never had [talent] and never
will have the talent these schools  get

The first is true, but I am sick and tired of hearing the second,  not that 
the opinion is unique to Brad Wilson.  GET the talent, or  switch to a weaker 
conference.  There are plenty of selling points  for Northwestern.  Sell 
them.  

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