Turning the Tables Around

In the analysis of the upcoming Outback Bowl that is to come, I will add some comments here and there. I am going to start by asking: what would Auburn's record be if they had our schedule and what would NU's record be if we had theirs?

OK, let's start with Auburn. If Auburn were in the Big Ten and had our schedule they would have finished 9-3, possibly 10-2. The two games that would have been a problem for Auburn would have been Penn State at home and Iowa on the road. I also think that Wisconsin would not have caused them too much trouble at home, but that is a plus, minus for me. The other toss up would have been Michigan State on the road. So it it is likely that Auburn would have finished with at least a one game better record than NU due to the Syracuse game. Quite possibly they would have won ten games.

What about NU? I think that given the strength of the SEC, NU would have finished 6-6. We would have come up with three conference wins: Kentucky at home, Mississippi State at home and Georgia on the road. Face it, this is extremely optimistic. Those three teams are way better than the worst the Big Ten has to offer. Furthermore, Auburn had to play West Virginia as a non-conference game, and that would be a tough win for the 'Cats. So I put that one down as a loss.

On paper, Auburn had a much tougher schedule and finished 7-5. If they played in the Big Ten, a weaker conference, then they would have competed for the championship. So don't let the record fool you, Auburn will be a very tough opponent.

B&P

Here is a link to the Auburn's SB Nation site

Here is the first Auburn blog I could find that comments on the Outback Bowl.

Football Team Arrives at the Doorstep of the Big Time

Due to the hard work of our players and coaching staff, NU has finally arrived! Our team represents a new path in college football that will not go away. That is the path that teams from any school can come up and challenge the established programs of the past. Playing in the Outback Bowl against Auburn University on January 1st, 2010 is the day the nation will remember as the day when Northwestern will become a national football power. The changes that will happen will not be those that happen on the field that day, but it will be in the minds of the future players as they realize that they can go to a school that not only fields a good team, but is excellent academically. We will now be able to go up against the so-called better programs to recruit 4 and 5 star athletes. A few years ago we were getting players that were 2 and 3 star rated. Now, almost all of our future players are 3 star rated. Now after winning the Outback Bowl, heads will turn and players will come. Coach Fitz can now take 2 star recruits and turn them into All-Big Ten players. No small accomplishment! As our recruits get better the awards will come. I believe that we will win the game against Auburn and I think that this game will become the defining moment of Fitz's tenure and the entire program for many years to come.

Congratulations to the seniors

Congratulations to the football team for their brilliant victory over Wisconsin on Saturday. I watched the game Saturday and then they replayed it on Sunday morning. One of the best things things about this game was that it was a total team effort. I predicted a trick play and we got one. I predicted that the team would be prepared and playing at their best and they were. But the absolute best thing was seeing the seniors after they had progressed through 4 or 5 years. These are players that we had so much hope for back in 2005 and now we look at the players that have truly reached their potential under Pat Fitzgerald. Many of our players were not ranked or heavily starred but with hard work, dedication and excellent leadership have become studs in front of our eyes. I am proud of the coaches and players and wish them the best of luck in the bowl that they totally deserve. Here is a list of the seniors and their collective achievements while at NU (reproduced from nusports website).

This year's seniors are: OL Mike Boyle, WR Andrew Brewer, WR Carl Fisher, WR Kevin Frymire, DT Adam Hahn, WR Mark Ison, LB/student coach Chris Jeske, QB Mike Kafka, WR Zeke Markshausen, OT Kurt Mattes, QB Joe Mauro, CB Sherrick McManis, WR Kevin Mitchell, SB Brendan Mitchell, S James Nussbaum, S Brad Phillips, S Brendan Smith, OL Desmond Taylor, DT Marshall Thomas, SB Mark Woodsum, DE Corey Wootton. Some of their class highlights (last five years) include:

• Totaled 33 wins in their career (last five years), most by any five-year class since the early 1900s.
• Been a part of four bowl-eligible teams (2005, '07, '08 and '09) -- first class to be associated with four bowl-eligible squads
• Posted a .500 or better record in four of their five seasons (7-5 in 2005, 6-6 in 2007, 9-4 in 2008 and 7-4 thus far in 2009)
• Defeated four nationally ranked teams (Wisconsin in '05, Michigan State in '05, Minnesota in '08, Iowa in '09)
• Posted three straight wins at Iowa's Kinnick Stadium, with the 2009 win coming over the nation's No. 4-ranked team (BCS). The last time NU defeated a team with a better record than Iowa's 9-0 mark was the 1949 Rose Bowl, when NU knocked off 10-0 California. First win over a top-5 team since knocking off No. 1 Miami (Fla.) in 1967.
• Posted an 11-9 record in Big Ten road games
• Defeated in-state rival Illinois four of five times, and claimed the inaugural Land of Lincoln Trophy in 2009.

Thank you guys for the memories!

B&P

This is going to be a great game!

I am not going to come out with a prediction that the Wildcats will win tomorrow against Wisconsin, but I will predict that it will be a very good game. I expect the team to be ready. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain from surprising the Badgers. I expect the defense to start a little shaky and then make some adjustments that will slow the Badgers down in the second half. I also predict big games from Corey Wootton and Sherrick McManis. These guys are seniors and will be pumped. On offense I expect us to be methodical, but I expect a few surprises. If there is ever a time to pull the Andrew Brewer to Mike Kafka pass again, it is this week. I think the Wildcats will leave everything on the field and play their guts out. Whatever the outcome, it may turn out to be one of our best games ever.

As for the rest of the Big Ten here are my quick predictions.

Ohio State at Michigan: God, I hope Michigan wins. But I will go with the *uckeyes.

Penn State at Michigan State: We need a big Penn State win, but MSU has their sights on a better bowl. Our bowl. C'mon Nittany Lions!

Minnesota at Iowa: No letdown for the Hawkeyes. If they can't beat a team that squeaked by South Dakota State, then what is wrong with the universe?

Purdue at Indiana: Purdue will find a way to win. Why? The Hoosiers just have a way to find a way to lose.

Go Wildcats!!!!!

B&P

President Shapiro Concerned about Safety Next Year

Looking at this headline in the Daily Northwestern this week, you can see how much our new president is getting into the football team. President Shapiro let me assure you that one our recruits, Chi Chi Ariguzo, is going to be one of the best safeties the Big Ten has ever produced. Go 'Cats!

Wisconsin is good, so what are we?

This weekend is one of those games that tells us if we are a good team or a lucky, well-coached team. At the beginning of the season I alluded to the non-conference schedule as telling because really good college football teams win games against weak non-conference opponents by big margins, while sitting many of their starters in the second half. Now, we face a really tough Wisconsin team at the end of the season. What are we made of? If we win, I think it means we are quite good and running on all cylinders. If we lose, but in a close game, then again we are pretty good and if a couple of bounces had gone our way, we would have won. If we lose by 3 or more touchdowns, then I'd have to say we had a great season, but aren't that good. So if that happens I am happy with the loss because we will get a better opponent in the bowl. What I want to see is NU getting to a warm weather bowl and then winning. I think playing a team like North Carolina would be great. Playing USC, Oklahoma or Clemson, would not really be that great, although I would take it. Playing Central Michigan in the Pizza Bowl would be terrible, but I could probably go to that game.

For how good Wisconsin is check out these Big Ten Stats.

For who we should be rooting for read Lake The Posts

Also, for a story on our Orlando and Deland recruits in Florida, check this story out. The picture above is our future QB Trevor Siemian against Apopka High School.