[NU Sports] Despite the loss, why I'm happy tonight (fwd)

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> I would argue that Walker had quite a
> few signature wins: Wisconsin and
> Michigan in 2000 (Wisconsin was in the top 5 at the time),
> and even Ohio
> State in 2004 (they, too, were in the top 5, although they

Definitely -- all three of those were signature wins. Wisky didn't get as much attention, but they were top ten and unbeaten. Michigan was a nationwide game that made big-time highlights and OSU was an evening game against an unbeaten and top five team

I do agree, though, in that Fitz and Walker teams are similar in the majority of their big-time showcase games (see MSU last year) and not ready to make that step up in general.

However, Syracuse wasn't a big-time game and we blew it ... as Barnett did with Miami and Wake and as Walker did.

We're just never going to be that football factory school that can come out against a MAC-like foe, put on the jersey and have a 28-point win. We can compete with anyone, and we can lose to anyone. Last night, it didn't seem like we came out ready and dug a huge early hole. Granted, we dug out of it, but that takes a lot of the energy and we seemed to be lacking that late.

Looking at our Big Ten slate, we're capable of beating any team on there (we skip OSU, our mental block game where they win by putting on their unis, and Michigan who seems to be playing with the most energy now) -- even PSU because they have momentary lapses of focus as well. However, we can lose to any team as well - especially given how Indiana and Purdue have shown they can play at times.

I understand the defensive injuries, but the overall defensive game just disappointed me. We need them to set the tone early. We need to avoid those 17-0 holes. But if anyone knows that league play is a whole new slate, it should be NU after the last decade or so. Go get them Gophers!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT