[NU Sports] Some Crucial Stats

[Jeff Beamsley]

Dennis,

It is difficult to argue with you sometimes because in the past I've also
posted similar comments when folks called 6-6 a winning season.  So I don't
have any problems with high expectations. 

What I do have a problem with is the suggestions that schools like
Northwestern, Stanford, etc. should CHANGE their admissions policies in order
to win more football games.  That's why Harbaugh called out Michigan.  It is
probably one of the top public academic institution in the country, yet they
encourage their players to select courses of study specifically structured to
maintain academic eligibility.  In Harbaugh's case it was history. 

I know that a disproportionate number of football players at NU major in
communications studies, but as others on this list point out that is still a
rigorous major with a good reputation in the industry.

You seem to associate this commitment to education as an excuse for losing.
I don't.

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of Dennis W. Brandt
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:00 AM
To: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Some Crucial Stats

> I just looked through the list too and there are also none of those 
> top 100 committed to Stanford, Vanderbilt, Duke, Rice, the ivy's or 
> any of the other schools that put academics ahead of football either.

First, those schools don't win often either.  In fact, they're worse than NU.
Second, I don't care what these schools do.  Quit using them as an excuse to
fail.

> The kids on that top 100 list aren't interested in any of those 
> schools because they are planning on a pro football career, not a 
> career that depends on what they learn in school.

Nonsense.  Of those 100, few will actually play in the NFL, and even fewer
will make a lifetime living of it.  If you're good, the NFL will know it and
give you the big contract no matter where you went to college.  I believe
John Elway did play for Stanford.  Of this year's top 100 players, some of
them have to be academically oriented.

> If you look compare the NU and Stanford lists, though, it looks like 
> we are both going for a lot of the same kids.  That's really my 
> measure of whether or not PF is doing a good job getting the word out.

Then your measuring stick is too short.

> The bottom line is that we don't need top 100 recruits to win.  ND 
> gets way more of them than we do every year and couldn't even muster a 
> winning record against the service academies.

Notre Dame is one example.  Have any others?  How about Michigan, Ohio State,
LSU, Florida, USC, Texas, Auburn, etc., schools for which a four-loss season
is a disappointment?  What is happening at Notre Dame is a recent mystery,
not an explanation, and it sure shouldn't be an excuse for our failure.

> We are never going to be OSU or Michigan in this league, but we should 
> expect to go bowling 75% of the time (just missed it this year) and 
> every four years or so make a run at the BT Championship (next year 
> should be one of those years).

If Northwestern had this attitude academically, it would be a junior college.
I cannot buy into this attitude of perpetual mediocrity.


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