[NU Sports] Christmas Day is coming fast!

Sat Aug 21 13:11:14 CDT 2010

    Early Birds on Thurs., Fri.,  then it's friggin' Christmas Day!

   Non Conference woes:  The game that's worrying me is Rice.  I believe we'll handle Vandy, as there has to be some sort of down-size from a team that changed coaches in July; that even by its own minimal standards,  fell back more than just a notch last season.  They did have injury problems, but losing to Army?
   Rice is considered one of Phil Steele's teams "Most improved offensive points" and "Most improved defense" points.  Add in the intangibles: it will be Rice's 1st home game, as the game against Texas is at Reliant Stadium.
   Additionally, we won't get much of an idea how good they are, as they'll get clubbed by Texas, and do like-wise at Sun Belt bottom feeder North Texas.  
   I predict 8-4 and 5-3 in the conference, assuming Persa stays healthy,  but Truog's Rule of One Non-conference Loss Assurance will hold fast.  Then we'll get on a roll, winning (5) straight before splitting our last 4.
  I like breaking down the season in components.
1)  Non-conference:   3-1
2) 1st half Big 10:      3-1
3) 2nd half Big 10:     2-2

   Depth:  politely disagree with Harry;  depth is good/great at OL, RB,WR, DL,LB and DB.  The only place I'm worried is QB.  Whoever wins the #2 job needs to be ready, as there's a high probability he will start and/or play this season.
   RB:  we'll run the ball better as our offensive line will be better run blockers.
   Special teams: should be improved as Demos will be only doing what he does best.
   I think staying healthy at QB and an average (not great) running game will prohibit our team from a BCS type of year.  Our defense will keep us in every game we play, but I think we'll have trouble putting points on the board, from time to time.  I think Persa will be fine; but I also believe he'll get knocked out of a game or two, and the inexperience of our #2 will lead to unpleasant results.

GO CATS!!!                     Eric

-----Original Message-----
From: hakirsch at aol.com
To: SjT (Stephen J. Truog) <sjtruog at yahoo.com>; nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Cc: David Vranicar <northwestern.scout at gmail.com>
Sent: Sat, Aug 21, 2010 9:50 am
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 27

I just wanted to give a big thumbs up to Stephen on the day by day write ups on 

the last decade. For those who aren't interested it is easy to hit the delete 

key. But I must admit it has helped me get more psyched for the upcoming college 

football season. I look forward to reading them every morning ,many of them with 

suspense. Of course as he gets closer to number 1,the suspense lessens

  It is nice to have such a passion 

Harry

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----

From: "SjT \(Stephen J. Truog\)" <sjtruog at yahoo.com>

Sender: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com

Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:56:58 

To: <nwu-sports at tssi.com>

Cc: David Vranicar<northwestern.scout at gmail.com>

Subject: [NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 27

Hooray for weekends ... and only two more regular weekends until they become 

those extra special super college football weekends!

FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL

######################

> DAYS 1-10: The top coaches of the decade

10) Glen Mason, Minnesota

09) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin

08) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

07) Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin

06) Randy Walker, Northwestern

05) Lloyd Carr, Michigan

04) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

03) Joe Tiller, Purdue

02) Joe Paterno, Penn State

01) Jim Tressel, Ohio State

> DAYS 11-20: The top games of the decade

10) 2000: Purdue 32, Michigan 31

09) 2001: Michigan State 26, Michigan 24

08) 2005: Michigan 27, Penn State 25

07) 2003: Minnesota 37, Wisconsin 34

06) 2004: Northwestern 33, Ohio State 27 (OT)

05) 2008: Penn State 13, Ohio State 6

04) 2009: Ohio State 27, Iowa 24 (OT)

03) 2002: Ohio State 10, Purdue 6

02) 2000: Northwestern 54, Michigan 51

01) 2006: Ohio State 42, Michigan 39

> DAYS 21-30: The top players of the decade

10) Laurence Maroney/Marion Barber, Minnesota

09) Antwaan Randle El, Indiana

08) Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin

07) Dallas Clark, Iowa

06) Troy Smith, Ohio State

05) Damien Anderson, Northwestern

> DAYS 31-40: The top teams of the decade

TOP PLAYERS

###########

04) Braylon Edwards, Michigan

For a school that's not well known for offensive innovation, Michigan has had 

more than its share of wide receiving superstars, and the 2000s were no 

different. David Terrell got the decade kicked off, and Steve Breaston and Mario 

Manningham stood out before the RichRod debacle began. But it was Braylon 

Edwards who stood out not just as Michigan's #1 "No. 1" of the decade, but as 

the Big Ten's best wideout.

Edwards burst onto the big stage in 2002 with a 1000-yard season, and the totals 

increased each of the next two years. He wound up holding most of the Michigan 

receiving marks and a few Big Ten ones as well. In 2004, Edwards won the Silver 

Football Award and was an All-American for the Big Ten champion Wolverines and 

had a personal high 189 yards in a 3-score game against rival Michigan State.

When you play for Michigan, though, there's really only one game that matters. 

And although the Wolverines only beat Ohio State once out of three games with 

Edwards starting, it certainly wasn't because he failed to show up. Edwards 

topped 100 yards in all three games against the Buckeyes. The Wolverines also 

only won one of the three bowl games from 2002-2004 (beating Florida in Tampa 

and dropping two Rose Bowls), but Edwards again put up big numbers and topped 

100 yards in each game.

The crowning moment came in Edwards' final game for Big Blue in Pasadena against 

Texas. In what was one of the most consistently entertaining bowl games of the 

decade, Michigan fell to Texas 37-38 on a field goal at the final gun. Along 

with Vince Young of Texas, Edwards was the star of the game, catching three 

touchdowns and nearly pulling off the upset for the Wolverines.

Cleveland didn't quite work out for Edwards after being drafted by the Browns, 

but the J-E-T-S may be more to his liking with their talented lineup this 

season.

Coming Sunday: Doubling down

GO CATS!!!

-SjT

* * * * * * * * *

STEPHEN J. TRUOG

sjtruog at yahoo.com

GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!

Super Bowl XLIV Champions!

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