[NU Sports] Post-Mortem

[hakirsch at aol.com]

It was a pretty dense crowd------Original Message------From: neonrye at aol.comSender: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.comTo: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.comSubject: [NU Sports] Post-MortemSent: Oct 31, 2009 7:34 PM

I watched game at Sports Bar in Westchester County with some other alums (a new NU Club of NY tradition that started today).  Unfortunately, there was no sound on the TV, so it took some time for me to realize that Kafka was out for the game.  I assume he pulled a hammy or quad--never did hear what the injury was.
The good:  We played very tough and poised for 3 quarters, and really would have had a chance if our QB didn't go down.
The bad:  No "O" in Second Half; little protection for Persa, and his inability to pick up second and third options or to get rid of ball before going down.
The good:  Persa is one fast athlete.  He is intriguing for the future, although his lack of size worries me, along with, as noted, the happy feet.
The very bad:  While the NU fans looked good and frenzied on the tube (as I said, I could not hear them), the sparse crowd really worries me.  We used to pack the house for Joe Pa.  I can't imagine we had more than 30,000 today, if that--for a nationally televised, under-the-lights, Halloween Purplelapooza event vs. one of top teams and attractions in Big Ten and in the country.  If we can't get a better crowd under these conditions--with decent weather to boot--I fear that maybe the conference will begin to think we are not holding up our end of the "bargain".  We simply are not drawing enough fans, and the visuals on TV are awful.  As I write this I am watcdhing Oregon hosting USC at Autzen--packed house; Minny hosting MSU--full boat; Tennessee sticking it to Spurrier's Gamecocks--the usual 100,000 plus at Rocky Top.  And yet up the Lake from the thrid largest city in the nation we have nowhere near capacity--in "intimate" Ryan Field.  This trend is very, very troublesome.  Our "crowds" make it appear that we compete in the MAC, not the Big Ten.
More bad:  With Illinois' rout of Wolverines the game in 2 weeks now looks, at best, like a "push"--and that's only if Kafka can play--and at top level.  Next week has the potential for looking like the Alamo--and I am not talking about the Bowl or the Stadium--given our offensive inefficiency after Kafka went down.  Our bowl hopes are teetering.  Meanwhile, Minny is now up 14-0 on Spartans, who are well into their annual swoon.    It's tough to figure who will end up as bowl-eligible.  Even Michigan is currently "on the bubble" after today's disaster.
Paul Levinson
Paul Levinson_______________________________________________nwu-sports site listnwu-sports at tssi.comhttp://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports

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