New players are a perfect fit

I think the most exciting part about national signing day is knowing that we get to see 17 new boys turn into men for the next five years. Some of these guys have promise, some of them something to prove. I am convinced after reading all of their bios that each new player is a perfect fit for our system. This is the key to our success and coach Fitz knows this. So welcome our new players and watch them turn into our future stars.

B&P

Scout article on past recruiting classes

Interestingly, Scout did a very nice article on our past recruiting classes, much better than my effort. Click here to see it.

Looking Back

Now that national signing day is upon us I went back and looked at our 2006 signing class. This was a class that included several of the stars from last years team. Sherrick McManus and Brad Phillips, the cornerstones of our defensive backfield were two star recruits, neither had a national rank. Nate Williams, Sydney Stewart, Stephen Simmons were also two star recruits without national rankings. Stefan Demos, had a #9 national ranking for his position, the highest among that years class. Quentin Davie, a bona fide stud, had a #57 national ranking at LB. I think knowing how our program improves players, our new class should be pretty happy. Most of them are three star recruits with seven having national player rankings. Fans should be happy because, we know what Fitz and his staff can do with "lower rated" players. When these guys are better, our team will be better too.

B&P

Apologies

Apologies to anyone who has checked this blog for the last month or so. I was very busy at work and at home so I did not have time to make any posts. I have been following several things though. I am relatively confident that the mens basketball team will get to the 20 win plateau this year. Chicago State represents a possible 15th victory and we have home games against Michigan, IU, Minnesota, Penn State and Iowa. These are winnable games. If we win these alone, and Chicago State then that gives us 20 wins! If we can steal any of these games on the road, it will be gravy: MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State and Indiana. I am hoping, and winning on the road in the Big Ten is hard, that we win one of those games. That means we go 7-4 the rest of the way and finish 21-10, 9-9 in the conference going into the Big Ten tournament. That will look good for the tournament. If we go 1-1 in the Big Ten Tournament then we finish 22-11. So if this happens I think we make it.

I am also following national signing day for football and looking at an excellent, excellent freshman class. I predict that a lot of red-shirt freshman will be making a big impact in 2011.

Women's basketball is improving and is 13-9 this year. The Bog Ten schedule has been brutal and the 'Cats have gone 2-7 so far. My student is a trainer on the women's basketball team and she says the coaching staff pushes these girls hard. She says that practice is a litany of F-bombs from start to finish. Good, it's starting to work!

Wrestling is 5-6-1 but considering the loss of Jake Herbert, it might be expected to be a down year.

So far mens and women's tennis are undefeated in 2010. Fencing is good, but I don't understand duals. Swimming is swimming, ha ha.

Anyway, NU teams are doing well and the BBall team has a chance to do what none of their predecessors has every done, and that is exciting.

B&P

Game for the ages!

Win or lose, this game showed the country what Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern Football are made of: true grit and determination. There was nothing to hang our heads about today. The players played their hearts out and we should have won, given all of the times Auburn gave us chances to win. The game was beautiful, entertaining and my heart was pounding. Congratulations to the team and I will publish my awards next week.

Bring on the Dan Persa era!

B&P

AAAAAHHH!

Great game, although I feel like I've been punched in the stomach five times. We went for the win, but maybe should have gone for the tie. I will go throw up now.

Unbelievable!!!

We gave them the game and took it back!