By Paul M. Banks Chicago’s hometown Big Ten team, the Northwestern Wildcats, began the season in a manner that most predicted they would. Granted it was against Towson, an FCS (formerly I-AA) opponent, but a 47-14 win is still a 47-14 win.Quarterback Mike Kafka made a lot of plays, starting 7-8 passing and finishing 15-20 for 192 yards. The strength of the team, the … [Read more...] about Northwestern 09 Season off to Fantastic Start
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Senior Safeties Lead Way for Wildcats
By Paul M. Banks Watching Illini football closely for the past couple of decades (wow did that sentence sound masochistic) I’ve noticed that the seem to have a good season, at least defensively, when they have to good senior safeties. When they don’t have that talent and experience at that position, they struggle mightily on defense. I wonder if that can be extrapolated … [Read more...] about Senior Safeties Lead Way for Wildcats
Northwestern led by Stellar Secondary
By Paul M. Banks With the college football season set to kick off on Saturday, time to forecast how I think Northwestern will finish. But before that, I’ll profile the team’s biggest strength: the DBs. Very few secondaries in the nation return four starters, who each earned postseason recognition in 2008. Northwestern has both its cornerbacks (Sherrick McManis and Jordan … [Read more...] about Northwestern led by Stellar Secondary
DE Corey Coreysaurus Wootton leads Northwestern’s Defense
By Paul M. Banks In 2008, Northwestern finished just one win shy of the school record. They found success primarily because of their defense, as the ’Cats set a single-season defensive rushing record, holding their foes to 126.4 yards per game. Ahead of the previous school record from the Wildcats’ mythical 1995 Rose Bowl season. Newly installed defensive coordinator Mike … [Read more...] about DE Corey Coreysaurus Wootton leads Northwestern’s Defense
Pat Fitzgerald Previewing Northwestern’s Upcoming Season
By Paul M. Banks College Football season is a little more than three weeks away, and when things get underway September 5th, Northwestern will look to build upon last year’s success. In 2008, they finished one win shy of the single season school record for wins. “We’re Chicago’s Big Ten team,” Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald proclaimed at NU Media Day. I’m sure many people at … [Read more...] about Pat Fitzgerald Previewing Northwestern’s Upcoming Season
Mike Kafka: Northwestern’s Record Setting QB
By Paul M. Banks This fall Northwestern breaks in a new starting quarterback, one with a few starting games under his belt. One of those games was extraordinary. “All Mike Kafka did last year with his opportunity was run for a Big Ten single-game record (for a quarterback) 217 yards. You’ll see if you come out to practice that he’s throwing the ball as well as he has in … [Read more...] about Mike Kafka: Northwestern’s Record Setting QB
Big Ten Predictions
By the TSB Staff 1.Ohio St. 2. Michigan State 3. Penn St. It will be tight at the top once again this year. Ohio State's Terrell Pryor is going to come into his own this year; combined with an always stout defense, the Buckeyes will be hard to keep from the title. Michigan St. returns 14 starters and will compete for the title if they can find suitable replacements … [Read more...] about Big Ten Predictions
Northwestern Running Back Derby is Wide Open
By Paul M. Banks In the past decade or so Northwestern produced about a handful of NFL running backs (Jason Wright, Noah Herron, Damien Anderson, Darnell Autry) Although neither of the two tailbacks they lost to graduation this off-season will follow in their footsteps, they were pretty good. Had Tyrell Sutton, the team’s best all-around athlete, stayed healthy his senior … [Read more...] about Northwestern Running Back Derby is Wide Open
Northwestern Alums Drafted by UFL, What’s the UFL?
By Paul M. Banks The United Football League (UFL) held its inaugural "Premiere" Season Draft June 19th. After the league' worked out players in Orlando and Las Vegas. Three of them are former Northwestern Wildcats including: Last year’s Quarterback C.J. Bachér, (I’ll give you a dollar if you can pronounce his name correctly, hint: it’s not “back her” or “bocker”) Starting … [Read more...] about Northwestern Alums Drafted by UFL, What’s the UFL?
AD Jim Phillips Boosting Northwestern’s profile
By Paul M. Banks and Rikki Greenberg These days, anyone who follows Chicago sports is well aware of how Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz, with the help of Vice President John McDonough, re-branded the Blackhawks from obscure afterthought into main event of the Second City. Northwestern Athletic Director Jim Phillips could likely be the next executive to accomplish such a feat. … [Read more...] about AD Jim Phillips Boosting Northwestern’s profile