[NU Sports] what next?

[Brad Wilson]

... I find myself in the less-harsh camp, after a
loss, but I must agree with Dennis and Chuck. An utter
disgrace. I will never be ashamed of our young men who
play the game (unless their behavior is
unsportsmanlike or classless) but today I am close to
being ashamed of the men who "lead" them. 

Now: where do we go from here? 

I cannot imagine a more daunting situation -- coming
off a horrid, emotionally draining collapse with road
games at Ann Arbor and Iowa City followed by a trip to
Columbus. (I am going to assume Bacher is OK -- let's
hope so.) I cringe at the thought of what is to come.
Imagine how tough those games would be even coming off
a rousing win -- and now ... 

I would say this: try and remember that what you're
doing on offense is to nuture confidence and make
Bacher feel like he's going to be a good Big Ten QB.
So try and keep him in good situations (while trying
to win, of course). It does appear that with the
passing game better, running appears possible, so make
every effort to get Sutton going. Use Lane and
Peterman more. Perhaps start to play kids who figure
in the future -- i.e. next season when the schedule
becomes easier.

On defense -- for God's sake, attack. I don't care if
big plays get made every now and then. Attack, attack,
attack. Scrap the sit-back-and-watch-us-lose
wait-and-see defense; since the odds are heavily
against us, what do we have to lose? Blitz safeties
and corners, try stunts and tricks, keep attacking.
I'd rather go down swinging than passively taking
haymakers in the face.

Special teams -- What, don't get punts blocked? Make
field goals? Don't let kickoffs die at the 1? In
short, get a clue!!!! Anything else?

Coaches: I think this is a real test for Fitzgerald.
If his strengths are motivation, enthusiasm and
personality management, as have been said by many, we
will see; somehow he has to get the 'Cats off the mat
and back ready to play. If he can do that, it will be
a very good sign. But if the next three games are
62-3, 38-7 and 55-6, well, I wonder ... 

Brad Wilson







 

 

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law.

"We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular." -- Edward R. Murrow, 1954.

"Quis ipsos custodes custodiet?" -- Juvenal

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