[NU Sports] The finality of it all

[WildElk2 at aol.com]

Sure, we all knew we weren't going any place, but now that it's  official, it 
hurts (although not like the late night punch in the stomach at  Hawaii in 
2004 debacle).  I was looking at the Big 10 standings, and I  wonder if beating 
Duke would have mattered?  When Indiana beat Purdue, and  Michigan St. beat 
Penn St., they would have both jumped ahead of us in the  pecking order.  We'd 
really be pissed if we went 7-5 and stayed  home. Now if we're playing the what 
if game: let's let the loss to Duke  stand.  If we beat Iowa or Michigan (I'm 
not counting Purdue, as they put  it to us in the 4th Q.) , games that we 
gave away and finish 7-5, do we go to a  bowl?
  At 6-6, I think most of us know, what with our easiest schedule in  ages, 
we didn't deserve a bowl.  No big wins, unlike the 2003 season in  which we 
finished 6-6 and corralled Wisconsin (16-7 was it?).  
   I'm not sure how to look at this season.  I talk out of  both sides of my 
mouth.  With Bacher the starter all season, we had a  passing game that kept 
defenses guessing.  That alone merits  improvement.  But 6 wins against a 
mediocre schedule; I wonder if we're any  better than the 2-3 we posted to end 2006 
with Bacher?  Sure, that included  a miracle win by MSU; so say we win that 
game like we should;  Was 2007  better than a 3-2 record Bacher piloted in 
2006?  
   I'm still surprised how weak our defensive front  seven was.  Whether it 
was a bad game or not,  Brad W. from our  list commented how poor our tackling 
was vs. Illinois; in our 12th game.   We looked like a bad high school team at 
times.  The idea is to take 2  and 3 star recruits and get them better after 
two or three years.  That has  happened on offense; but not on defense.  2004 
was the last year we had a  good defense, save the book end losses vs. TCU and 
Hawaii.
   On offense, we moved the ball, but when it was crunch time, we  struggled. 
 Still, our "big" problem is on defense. (Note: our special  teams were 
better; we went from an F in 2006 to a C this season)
   After 6 years, it's time for a change.  Whether it's a  recruiting issue, 
or technique, Colby has got to go.  Giving a person  6 years to get results in 
D-! football doesn't happen anymore.  I'm glad NU  is patient, but as much as 
I believe Colby was safe after the 2005 season in  which our defense was 
porous, it hasn't got much better.
   Oh well. A long off-season begins.
 
               GO  CATS!!!               Eric



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