When Northwestern takes the field Saturday night at Vanderbilt they’ll do so without Corey Wootton, who’s now graduated and moved on to the Chicago Bears. The stud defensive end was a key player for the Cats for four years, and one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the program’s history. But life goes on in 2010, and the adjustment won’t be as difficult as one might think. Wootton was not really himself until late in the 2009 season, and we really didn’t see much of him at all in the first few games of the season. Or at least we didn’t see the Coreysaurus that everyone with Purple Pride knew and loved.
So this unit has learned to survive and thrive without him for an extended period already, and the front seven should be a source of strength for the Cats in 2010.
By Paul M. Banks
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From Nick Roach to Barry Gardner to Napoleon Harris, Northwestern has produced it’s fair share of NFL linebackers recently. And 6-4, 230 pound Quentin Davie could be the next in line. He enters this fall as arguably NU’s best player, and the member of the roster most likely to make an impact at the next level. (Although we might be saying the same thing one day soon about sophomore starting Right Tackle Patrick Ward).
“Davie’s been mentioned a lot because of the 3-4 stuff that people play and he can certainly fill that role at the next level,” said NU Defensive Coordinator Mike Hankwitz.
By Paul M. Banks
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Some college football coaches recruit according to a primary philosophy. They stress one ideal above the others. It can be recruiting to fill positions of need, recruiting specific players that meet the profile of your system, or it could be recruiting players based on scout’s rankings, the star system beside their name. I asked Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald at NU Media Day about what he emphasizes; it certainly isn’t the third one.
“That’s a great question. I have no idea what a star means, I was a negative-star-rated player. No disrespect to those who rate young men, they don’t work for us, they don’t rate for us. What’s important in our program will ever have a correlation to a start program,” he said.
By Paul M. Banks
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Today, big wigs from the Chicago Cubs and Northwestern University came together to unveil the new logo for the Northwestern Wildcats huge college football match with Illinois.
Chicago Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts and Allstate’s Vice President of Marketing, Lisa Cochrane, joined Northwestern Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald and Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips at Wrigley Field today to unveil the official logo for the November 20 event.
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Perhaps no one is better at getting more out of his players than Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald. His recruiting classes are never ranked anywhere the top of the Big Ten, yet his teams have recently been finishing near the top of the conference. And they play better on the road in conference games than most Big Ten teams.
Perhaps yesterday we learned one of the secrets to his success.
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Northwestern head men’s basketball coach Bill Carmody announced seniors Jeff Ryan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) and Michael Thompson (Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Park) have been selected team captains for the upcoming season.
“Jeff and Michael have proven to be tremendous leaders throughout their careers and have set a great example to their teammates through their dedication and commitment to the program,” Carmody said. “They have earned the respect of their teammates as well as the staff.”
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Northwestern junior Drake Dunsmore and Wisconsin senior tight end Lance Kendricks are two of the 32 players named to the 2010 John Mackey Award preseason watch list,which is given annually to the top tight end in the college football. In addition to Dunsmore and Kendricks, three additional Big Ten players were named to the list.
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During his time at the podium at Big Ten Media Day, Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald discussed how his team’s appearance in a New Year’s Day bowl is changing the program’s national image.
“I believe our system is quarterback friendly. It’s amazing, when you come out of the Outback Bowl, I get a bunch of calls from quarterbacks nationally saying: So you throw the ball 79 times? Cool. Okay. So obviously it’s pretty quarterback friendly from the standpoint of development, too.”
Ah yes, the 2010 Outback Bowl, it was certainly one for the ages. Nine FBS and/or NCAA records were set in that 38-35 overtime loss to Auburn. A game where NU out-gained the Tigers by nearly 200 yards, and QB Mike Kafka set a NCAA record for offensive plays (78 passing, 20 running) compiling 562 yards. He also threw for a school (and Outback Bowl) record 532.
By Paul M. Banks
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Last year, Northwestern led the Big Ten in passing offense and were among the national leaders in passing completions and plays per game. Their offense was extremely fun to watch as their QB Mike Kafka was one of the nation’s best in the total offense department, and wide receiver Zeke Markshausen was essentially the Wes Welker of college football; one of the best go-to receivers you can find on third down.
But today, Markshausen is at Chicago Bears camp and Kafka was a fifth round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles.
So this fall, it’s Dan Persa‘s turn to take the reigns.
By Paul M. Banks
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Former Northwestern Wildcats, and current Indianapolis Colts Defensive Tackle John Gill likely won’t play in the NFL this season, and could see his pro career in serious jeopardy. For backup, marginal players like Gill, getting caught doing dumb, illegal stuff like this is especially damaging. That’s because now teams operate under NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s conduct policy, which legislates morality.
Teams will work around star players who get in trouble, not so much for guys barely in the league.
According to the AP:
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Last year, Northwestern’s running game was so below par that it inspired Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald, on one occasion, to utter obscenities in front of the media. It wasn’t so much the running backs themselves, but the offensive line. You might recall Fitz’s “I don’t give a sh** who plays” soundbite, in response to the front seven’s lack of run-blocking during the middle of the 2009 campaign.
But this year, things should be a LOT different. The Offensive Line is returning all five starters; and two of them have lost their starting positions.
That’s the thing about this time of year- lots of programs boast of returning starters, and the experience they bring. And that can be good news or bad news, depending on the situation. However, if you’ve found better players than who you had starting last fall…now you’re on to something.
And NU’s OL should really improve, led by starting Right Tackle Patrick Ward, the highest rated Wildcat recruit in years.
By Paul M. Banks
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“Even Chicago’s got one or two hillbillies,” sang Rascal Flatts lead vocalist Gary LeVox during his band’s promo video for Big Ten Network football broadcasts. During this lyric in the music video, Northwestern football players appear, great symbolism of the wide-range marketing campaign (the first in school history) Northwestern Athletics is launching next week.
And LeVox is right, Chicago does have a few hillbillies (unfortunately, I can show you exactly where). College Football has long been a rural passion. It’s the perfect platform for country music fueled promotions; as they share the same demographic. That’s why the Rascal Flatts-BTN fusion works, just like ESPN teaming up with Big & Rich.
But Northwestern is focused on marketing college football in the big city, not out in the sticks. And the campaign, “Northwestern, Chicago’s Big Ten Team,” launches Monday.
By Paul M. Banks
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When Northwestern Wildcat forward Kevin Coble injured his left ankle during a practice last spring, he took the team’s heightened chances of making the NCAA Tournament with him.
Little did the team, or Coble, know that his ankle would also claim their 2010-11 season and the 6’8″ forward’s college basketball career that had already seen its fair share of road blocks.
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This hire almost makes too much sense. Joe Girardi is a Chicago guy through and through. He starred at Northwestern and came up through the Cubs system. He has long openly coveted the Cubs’ managerial job even while with other organizations. When he was a Cubs catcher, he was a fan favorite for his hard-nosed style of play and cerebral approach to the game.
Matt Lindner’s third in a five part series highlighting who could be the Cubs‘ next skipper.
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Oakland Athletics farmhand Bo Schultz is a long shot at best to make the parent club. The current Kane County Cougars hurler went undrafted after a senior season at Northwestern in which he went 3-8 with a 9.23 ERA. His junior year wasn’t much better, as he produced a line reading 0-2 with a 8.82 ERA in 17 appearances.
Currently, the single A middle reliever is 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA for the Cougars. Sure those are very solid numbers, but he’s not very high on the scouts’ radar. However, these facts didn’t keep him from living the dream last Wednesday night, as he got to pitch in a big league park, as part of the “Road to Wrigley,” an annual Minor League game pitting the Cougars against the Cubs’ affiliate, the Peoria Chiefs.
By Paul M. Banks
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Today, we learned the roster of the USA Basketball Select Team that will train against the National Team during its July 19-24 camp in Las Vegas. Five of the 20 collegians chosen for the Select Team are from the Big Ten: William Buford (Ohio State), JaJuan Johnson (Purdue), Mike Tisdale (Illinois), Jon Leuer (Wisconsin), and John Shurna (Northwestern). These players will help the U.S. National Team prepare for the upcoming FIBA World Championship. The Big Ten leads all conferences with it’s 5 selections.
By Paul M. Banks
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Northwestern University Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips announced today that Mike Polisky, most recently the team president of the Chicago Wolves and formerly president and general manager of the Chicago Rush Arena Football organization, has been named Northwestern’s senior associate athletic director for external affairs. He begins his duties with the Wildcats on Monday, June 14.
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Given the way 2010 is going for the Chicago Cubs, it’s never to early to start thinking about the future. (And just think how many years Cubs have been resigned to adopt this outlook before Flag Day?) Anyways, critical decisions were made on that short term future today, as the baby bears completed the second day of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The club thus far has selected 30 players. The third and final day of the draft is tomorrow with rounds 31-50. The team also drafted Ivan DeJesus (yes, the same exact name as the below average middle infielder they famously traded for the legendary Ryne Sandberg in 1982.
They picked some local products today including Eric Jokisch out of Northwestern University with their 11th round pick (340th overall).
By Paul M. Banks
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Northwestern freshman guard Alex Marcotullio is the latest Wildcat men’s basketball player to earn an opportunity to compete internationally as he has been invited to the Great Britain U20 training camp.
A native of Warren, Mich., Marcotullio appeared in all 34 games for the Wildcats as a freshman during the 2009-10 campaign. He averaged 4.8 points and 14 minutes per game and ranked 15th in the Big Ten with a .369 3-point field goal percentage.
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Michael Wilbon, sports columnist for the Washington Post and co-host of the popular ESPN show, “Pardon the Interruption,” will speak at Northwestern University’s 152nd Commencement on June 18 at Ryan Field.
Wilbon will replace CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, who originally was scheduled to speak but will be out of the country on assignment at that time.
Wilbon, a member of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees, received a bachelor of science in journalism degree in 1980 from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.
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