'Cat2K: The GoUPurple Review
of the 2000 Season  

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Camp Kenosha is just a few weeks away, and Big Ten football isn't be far behind.  Most of the national college football gurus are expecting modest results from NU this year.  The 'Cats might not be playing for a conference title this fall, but look for them to surprise a lot of people very early into the season.

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With 'Cat2k almost here, it seems that many fans are concerned about the rollover to the new 2000 season, and the possibility of the meddlesome "'Cat2k Bug."  Experts point to prophesies of doom and to last season's 3-8 record and predict the worst.  Gullible fans, in typical knee-jerk, run with the herd, group-think fashion, are stocking their basement survival shelters with canned goods, ammunition, bottled water, bottled beer, DSS hookups, and copies of Athlon and Street and Smith's.  Some even think that the lights won't work the night of the season opener-- the 'Cats will be playing in the dark, and returning to the Dark Ages.

This, of course, will not come to pass.  NU will do just fine, and everyone will breathe a big sigh of relief (and regret that they spent $500.00 on 300 cans of Chef Boyardee Chili-Mac and $4.99 on Lindy's Big Ten/Notre D*me Preview).  Sure, the Big Ten season will be tough, but there is no reason to expect that NU won't be a tough team as well.  Walker has had a year and a half to settle in, and the players also have had time to adjust.  The offensive line should be much improved, the receivers are all Big Ten-level and should be healthy, Damien Anderson is poised to carry on the success NU's running backs have had for much of the last decade, and Zak Kustok....  well, we shall see, but I expect Kustok to be a conference surprise.  Kustok could very well repeat what Kurt Kittner achieved Downstate last season.

The defense was ready last year, and it (and its potential) remains ready this season.  Once NU's time of possession improves (as it undoubtedly will), the defense's potential will be realized.  Aside from its time on the field last year and the problems this caused the defense, are there other opportunities for improvement?  Of course, but the needed improvements are a fine-tuning, not a major overhaul.  Fans complained about the number of blown, near interceptions.  What hasn't been as widely discussed is that NU shattered its season record for passes broken up (60 PBU's last season, breaking the record of 44).  Blackmon now already holds NU's career record for PBU's.  All it will take is a little less time on the field, a few more errant balls caught, a few more turnover battles won, and-- watch out.

The experts believe 'Cat2k will bring mediocrity; they ask, "why believe otherwise?"  There is a mountain of reasons to believe otherwise.  The bigger question is, do the players believe otherwise?  Do the coaches believe in the team?  Do the players have the will and attitude of a Winner?  They have the tools; do they have the will and belief?  That is the true unknown on the eve of 'Cat2k.  My prediction is that the team won't be in a bunker this fall-- they'll be on the field as champions, and the gurus, experts, consultants, and pundits will be wrong.

It won't be the first time.

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The NU football team left last week for The University of Wisconsin at Parkside's campus near Kenosha for pre-season practice.  This is the ninth season that the Wildcats have sweat it out at "Camp Keno-where," one of the many improvements to the program that came during the Barnett era  (NU was the first Big Ten team to institute an off-campus training program).  Some fans who wonder if Randy Walker's training style might be too rigorous should keep in mind what Barnett said about the Kenosha program: 

"The day we leave Kenosha is total jubilation for the players.  .  .  . We don't take our team pictures until after Kenosha, because I don't want anybody who didn't survive Kenosha in that picture."

"Our number one goal is to make a bowl game.  We're going to be a lot more focused this year, a lot more disciplined, and at the end of the year we'll be playing somewhere warm." --Kevin Bentley, preseason All-American

"By experience alone, the Wildcats should be better this season. Randy Walker did an amazing job in his first season considering the low talent level and injuries that decimated units of his team. They worked hard to get stronger in the off-season, but every program does 
that. The key is to get solid play at quarterback as the running game and defense are good enough to keep them in most games.... Don't be surprised if they pull off an upset at home against Illinois or Purdue. A five win season is within reach but they have to stay healthy."  --College Football News

"...Another concern is that I hope there is enough room on the bandwagon to accompany...  all the naysayers when they jump on board for the ride as we head into the Big Ten with a 3-0 record."  --A Purple Reign poster (DaCat)

"Uh, are you gonna eat that last bear claw?"  --Barry Alvarez

"Northwestern will finish 86th in the nation."  --Sports Illustrated, which also ranked our schedule the seventh toughest.

"We've made great strides with our conditioning program.  The guys are taking it all to heart. We've improved physically. We're stronger, bigger and faster than we were last year.  Now we get the fun part. I love playing football. And we get to start playing football now. We've spent the last nine months preparing for the 11 weeks of the season. We're at that point now where we get to play the game we love." --Randy Walker

"Why can't we go to a bowl game? The sky's the limit for us."  --Damien Anderson

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The ninth annual NU football practice at The University of Wisconsin at Parkside's campus near Kenosha concludes this Tuesday, August 22.  The team held its pre-season scrimmage on August 19 and, while early reports from camp were very positive, reports from Saturday's scrimmage described a less than glorious performance by the NU offense.  Zak Kustok went 3 of 9 and gained just 18 yards.

Kustok (and others) pointed out that the defense performed as most expected:  "I'm not going to say the defense had an advantage, but they had a good idea of what we were going to do," Kustok said afterwards.

Tony Stauss fared better (and played for one series with the first team offense) with 50% of his passes complete and 55 yards.  He was, however, picked off by Chasda Martin for the day's lone interception.

According to Kenosha County's sports reporter, Walker  has liked Stauss's recent performance.  "I think Tony's had a very good camp and he's moved himself into position to compete.  We wanted to give him a go (in practice) with the (starters) and he's earned that."

Damien Anderson was on the sidelines with a minor injury, as was a host of other Wildcats.  Jon Schweighardt, although not 100% healthy, did participate.   Schweighardt caught 5 passes for 40 yards, including the one TD pass of the day, thrown not by Kustok or Stauss, but by Matt Danielson.  However, the airborne assault we have been told to expect this Fall was not, by most accounts, present Saturday.  Has the 4 WR set slipped from the top of Walker's playbook?  Were the wide receivers simply not healthy enough Saturday to execute it?  Or are our offensive weapons now "in hiding," at least until next Thursday?  We'll find out in a matter of days.

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The Wildcats lead this series four wins to none, with one tie.  NIU has had some rough luck during the off-season: two of their best running backs, William Andrews and Ivory Bryant, are gone because of academic problems. . . .

Pre-season mags predicted (before Andrews and Bryant departed) NIU 65th or higher, and 2nd in the MAC west.  They might still be correct-- NIU could very well finish with a winning season.  Their last winning season was 1990.  This is also the last year that the 'Cats played NIU.  Northwestern won, 24-7.

Will the Wildcats prevail this time?  The more important question heading to Saturday is: Will the United T-Shirt Gun finally have the thrust it needs to deliver into the cheap seats?

Last year, NIU coach Joe Novak said, " The time is now.  It is time.  You can't rebuild forever.  Hey, I'm not predicting a championship caliber football team.  I will say this: we can be competitive.  We have a chance every Saturday."

They will be competitive.  However, we play 'em on a Thursday. . .  No chance.

Prediction: NU 35, NIU 10.  NIU goes on to a 7-4 record.

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Northwestern got the season underway with an auspicious start, beating Northern Illinois 35-17 Thursday night at Ryan Field.  The NU score was the highest so far for the Walker era, and it was also the largest margin of victory for the era.  The Wildcats had a few problem areas (pass coverage, kickoffs, and occasional lapses in focus which resulted in penalties and problems at the end of the game), but they were eclipsed by the team's strengths-- there were plenty of strengths on display!

Zak Kustok seemed comfortable and in control.  His passes were accurate, and his underthrow problem from last year seems eliminated.  His deep passes looked well-thrown.  Kustok had no interceptions, and went 16 out of  27 for 176 yards, with two touchdown passes.  He  did, however, cough up the ball twice.  He recovered the first fumble.  The second went to the Huskies, who scored on the resulting drive at the end of the game.   Zak can run, and had several great rushing plays, gaining  33 yards on the ground.  The wide receivers looked good, especially Schweighardt and Foster.  Simmons was simply fantastic.  He looked All-World on several punt returns, with Musso-like speed and moves.  All of the running backs were solid, including true freshman Torri Stuckey, who really gutted it out to get some tough yards.

The defense was spotty, with occasional bursts of truly inspired play.  Particularly outstanding was the third quarter goal line stand, when the 'Cat D denied NIU a score after what seemed like 30 downs from within the NU 5. Missouri and Bentley looked  possessed.  Blackmon had a great game as well

Walker's game plan was varied, yet methodical.  Randy also showed that he can play as aggressive a game as anyone out there, going for it on 4th and 6 at mid-field (with a deep pass!).   The Wildcats are now 5-0-1 all-time against Northern Illinois, and  will meet them again (scheduled tentatively) in 2005.

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Duke leads this series 7-3.  NU lost at home to the Devils in 1998 in one of the most miserable games in Wildcat history, then won last year in (NU’s first ever) overtime, 15-12, at Wallace Wade Stadium.  Duke has a second-year coach who went 3-8 last year, is depending heavily on the performance of its quarterback, is picked to finish near the bottom of its conference, and has the potential to improve to a surprising degree (sound familiar?).

Duke is young.  There are at least 19 red-shirt and true freshman listed as either backups or starters.

On offense, while Duke finished 36th in the nation in passing, the Blue Devils finished 111th in rushing. .  .  .

On defense: a unit that returns only three starters is already hurting.  6-8, 248-pound tackle Nate Krill has yet to return to practice following offseason surgery on both shoulders. . . 

Franks will get the job done at Duke, and the Airborne Assault will prevail, but it will take at least the first half of the season to ramp up.  Results might not be seen until 2001.

Prediction:  NU 17, Duke 10.  The game won’t be as close as the score might imply.

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11-0.  10-1.  TCU fans are predicting nothing short of a BCS bowl for the Frogs this year.  Anyone daring to forecast 9-2 or less is considered a heretic.  This is TCU's final year in the WAC, before they bolt for Conference USA.  Even if TCU runs the table this year, chances are that their WAC affiliation (and the Sister-Catherine's-School-for-the-Blind-easy schedule that comes with being in the WAC) will send the Frogs back to the Mo-Bile Bowl again, rather than to the BCS. 

Last year's meeting was the first between Northwestern and Texas Christian, and the 'Cats upset TCU 17-7.  Sam "Damn!" Simmons torched the Ryan Field sod with an 87 yard punt return for a touchdown, and Nick Kreinbrink turned in what was actually quite a good performance: 11 completions for 220 yards and no picks.  More importantly, NU shut down TCU's starting QB (Batteaux) and held Tailback LaDainian Tomlinson under 100 yards.

Tomlinson, a 2000 Heisman contender, will be back, and he and his amphibious playmates won't have forgotten what happened in Evanston.  Also returning from last year: no fewer than nine starters from the Frog defense.  Whether or not this is a good thing has yet to be seen (the defense gave up an average 18 points per game last year).  We'll know more when the Frogs take on-- and likely wax-- Nevada on Sept. 9.

The Wildcats will face a ranked opponent, tons of revenge-minded frogs, and a sun-drenched Carter Stadium.  Whether or not they face these triumphantly will depend on one thing: NU's pass defense.  Our offense will prevail, we will stop Tomlinson again, but what about QB Casey Printers?  Prediction: the objective prediction is TCU, 24-21.  However, what the hell good is a fan Web page if you're going to be objective? NU rallies in the heat of the fourth and pulls out that last-minute Kustok to Schweighardt jaw-popper.

It's NU over TCU, 28-24.

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Northwestern beat Duke last Saturday, 38-5, a convincing and impressive win that told us a lot about this team and its character.  One thing is certain: as advertised, this team is improved from last year.

Positives from the Duke game include a fantastic performance by Damien Anderson (187 yards in 21 carries and touchdown runs of 56 and 66 yards).  Kustok also looked good, going 16-of-27 for 197 yards and two touchdowns.  Zak has yet to throw an interception this season.  Wide  receivers were also very good, especially freshman Roger Jordan, who played mission-focused ball and has potential to be a real star.  As for the defense, what more do you need to know than four interceptions and six sacks?  Bentley once again showed why he is a pre-season All American.

Another positive can be seen in how the team responded to the penalties in the first half (and there were a lot of penalties in the first half.  By the end of the day, NU had lost 135 yards in penalties).  Walker, apparently not the kind of guy to get all weepy and "Win one for the Gipper" at halftime, did something he had never done in 11 years as a head coach: he addressed the entire team at the half.  "I felt we needed to make a statement and it needed to come from me,"  Walker said, referring to his message to the troops regarding their focus.  It worked.

Negatives from the game?  Sure, there were some-- NU's play in the first quarter was surprisingly sloppy  and kickoff coverage remains an issue (despite Brian Huffman's outstanding debut-- he has incredible leg strength!).  However, the four biggest disappointments for me from this game did not even involve the team.  They were, in order:

#4: The Chicago Tribune.  Just a suggestion: when your local Big Ten team plays at home and routs a team, try to at least mention it on the front page teaser, mmmm-kay?  Thanks.

#3: The PA system.  Just so I have it straight: NU is a Big Ten team, and one that just spent umpteen million dollars to renovate its stadium, and it can't get a decent set of speakers?  This is the third season straight that the PA has screwed up during a game.  Benny's World of Wedding DJs  tests its speaker systems more extensively than does NU. 

#2: The  officiating.  Yes, NU was very undisciplined for a surprising amount of the game and suffered many legitimate penalties, but the crew for this game was just gawd-awful.  An ACC crew Duke brought with them, they didn't even try to behave like they weren't homers; that is, when they weren't totally confused and trying to find out where in the game they were.  And you have to love them picking up non-call flags, thrown in order to stunt NU's no-huddle offense ("Oops! Sorry!  hee-hee....").

and the #1 disappointment:  23,209 last Saturday (and just over 23,000 the week before).   There is no excuse.  None.

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OK, first the good news: NU did not suffer 135 yards in penalties again last Saturday.  The bad news: just about everything else.  TCU proved the better team and deserving of its #20 ranking as they waxed the Wildcats 41-14 in front of a surprisingly small crowd in Ft. Worth.  I say surprisingly small because of the draw of TCU tailback LaDainian Tomlinson, a Heisman Trophy candidate who showed more than enough power to back up the hype.  Tomlinson scorched the Texas earth and NU's D. for 243 yards.  Just a thought: 243 yards would place a Wildcat runner third, all-time, in NU's record book.

There were some 'Cats who had good performances Saturday, despite the outcome.  Napoleon Harris and Billy Silva looked very good.  Brian Huffman continued his end zone assaults on kickoffs.  And on offense, wide receivers Kunle Patrick, Sam "Damn!" Simmons, and Roger Jordan were all solid.

The Wildcats must work hard this week to ready for Wisconsin.  For the third week straight, kickoff coverage was weak.  The team and the coaches seemed to lack focus and did not seem prepared for TCU. . . .

So, what does one make of the Wildcats and their chances for 2000 after the TCU game?  Is TCU that good, is NU that bad, or was it just a day when nothing went right?  One quote to keep in mind:

"It just didn't seem possible that this could happen.  After all we'd been through... to get where we were, this was shattering.  It was so humiliating to lose that way.  I guess the best way to describe my feeling was 'traumatized.'"

Kustok?  Walker?  No, of course, the quote is from Barnett after the loss to Miami.  Is the TCU loss akin to our loss to Miami in '95 or Wake Forest in '96?  Or, is it more foreboding, like the '98 Duke game?  I believe it is somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, but closer to the former.  It is a game from which (assuming Walker is the coach we think he is) much can be learned.  More than any game in the last three years, lessons can come from this loss that will help the team through the rest of the season.

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Ron "If you can beat 'em, eat 'em" Dayne is gone, and 26 players have been temporarily sidelined by the great shoe scandal of 2000 (they received unadvertised discounts at a shoe store), but Wisconsin is still a force to be reckoned with.  QB Brooks Bollinger is better than most people think, and Michael Bennett is taking his place as Dayne's successor as running back deluxe. . . .

Also spectacular in Wisconsin's 27-23 win was star cornerback Jamar Fletcher, with three interceptions.  However, fear not, 'Cat faithful: Fletcher will be riding pine and wearing regulation street shoes when the Badgers play NU. . . .

Keep this in mind, NU players: Fletcher got to choose which games to sit out (the NCAA never ceases to amaze!), and he chose to play Oregon and skip Cincinnati and NU.  "I just felt that Oregon was a tough team, especially on offense."  We'll see how wise that choice was very soon. 

Suspensions or not, Wisconsin has looked very flat so far.  They will play a game soon that will fire this team up; if NU happens to be that game, the 'Cats are in real trouble, and could be blown out.  However, if Wisconsin comes out flat again, and if NU is sufficiently angered over its performance last Saturday, there is an upset in the making.  Prediction: upset in the making-- NU 17, Wisc. 14.

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The wait is over, the secret is out, and the shot has been heard around the country.  On Saturday Northwestern played with the attitude of true Wildcats, the hearts of warriors, and the savvy of a big-time football program, as the team shocked Wisconsin, edging them 47-44 in double overtime.  ESPN named Zak Kustok the player of the game before the game was decided; in fact, it appeared Wisconsin would pull the game out.  Kustok deserved the accolade-- his performance was a defining moment of the last three years of NU football.

'Cats Look Good Early
NU struck first, when Kustok kept the ball and ran 28 yards for a touchdown.  One would have thought that the Camp Randall announcer had just declared the reinstatement of prohibition-- 75,000 hostile screaming voices went wonderfully still.  Somewhere in the distance a dog barked and a brat began burning to a cinder on an unwatched grill.

Wisconsin claimed the next three scores, and the 'Cats trailed 16-7 at the half.  However, NU blew two additional scoring chances: after Michael Bennett ran 16 yards for a TD, the point after kick was blocked and was run back for what appeared to be a Wildcat two point conversion.  Unfortunately, the 'Cats were called for a block in the back on the run-back, and the play was declared dead.  Tim Long also missed a field goal that sailed wide right.  Even though it was a nine point game rather than just a four point deficit, there was definitely an electricity at halftime, a feeling that the other shoe was about to drop (as it were...) for the Badgers.

Tim Long: The Kick of His Career
Wisconsin appeared to have itself back on track at the start of the third quarter, and then Dwayne Missouri introduced himself to Brooks Bollinger and politely explained to him that the track went the other direction.  Missouri smacked Bollinger from the side, sending the ball into the eager and nurturing arms of Kevin Bentley.  NU was poised, two points from the lead.

After a Badger TD strike and a 22 yard FG by Long, NU entered the fourth quarter down 23-17.  Damien Anderson ran 69 yards into the endzone, and NU enjoyed a 24-23 lead.  The Anderson run was simply a perfect play.  The Wildcat O-line was textbook in its execution.   Just over a minute later, Bennett ran wild on our secondary, Wisconsin converted yet another third down, and-- a two point conversion later-- Wisconsin was up 31-24.

Northwestern answered with one of the most spectacular touchdown passes in recent memory.  Kustok found Derrick Thompson wide open in the endzone and connected for 28 yards.  The game became knotted at 31 each, and the Camp Randall faithful became uglier than Barry Alvarez after an eight-day doughnut bender.  With 51 seconds left, Wisconsin kicked what seemed to be a game winning 47 yard field goal.

Zak Kustok proceeded to show what a championship quarterback looks like.  Kustok remained calm and poised as he guided the 'Cats to two first downs and put them into field goal range with two seconds and no time outs left.  As the clock dribbled down, Tim Long kicked the ball from 46 yards.

Tim Long had never hit from 46 yards.  Never.  He has been the subject of relentless abuse from NU fans, who expected him to lose most of his kicking duties to the spectacular freshman Huffman. 

Tim Long hit from 46 yards.  Northwestern swapped TD's with Wisconsin in the first overtime and found itself a field goal down in the second overtime.  Damien Anderson then gave NU its biggest win in over three years, running 13 yards into a barely guarded Badger endzone.

Let the Fifth Quarter begin!

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Among the superlatives of the Wisconsin game: the last time NU scored 47 points against a Big Ten opponent was the 48-0 pounding of Illinois in 1970.  NU had never before scored so high against Wisconsin.  NU's 17 point explosion in the fourth quarter was the best output by the Wildcats in a fourth quarter since the 1997 Penn State game.

The game snapped Wisconsin's 11 game winning streak and effectively ended their dreams of a Rose Bowl three-peat.

This was NU's first double overtime game, and its second overtime game ever.  NU is now 2-0 in games that move past regulation.

Kudos in this game go to just about every single player, and to the entire coaching staff.  Anderson was truly special, and had 174 yards.  Roger Jordan, Sam Simmons, and Teddy Johnson got the job done.  Bentley, Harris, Silva, Missouri, Covington, Huffman and Long were fantastic.  Zak Kustok had 76 yards... rushing.  Kustok had 278 yards passing and no picks. 

Finally, what can you say about Randy Walker and his staff?  His game plan was brilliant, an incredible feat considering the previous week's plan and execution.  Walker, Wilson, and Brown were cool, collected, and methodical all day.  Walker is on his way to taking his place alongside Thistlethwaite, Waldorf, Voigts, Parseghian, and Barnett. . . . 

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Michigan State might just be as hard to fathom as NU is for its Big Ten opponents.  The Spartans are undefeated, but did not look terribly impressive in their first wins of the season, against Marshall and Missouri.  They made several critical errors against Notre Dame, but managed a last minute victory. . . .

. . . [Bobby Williams] is 4-0 as head coach, and Michigan State has won nine consecutive games at home.  Prediction:  MSU should extend that streak to 10 games in a very close match.  MSU 34, NU 31.  However, I'm less confident of predicting this game than any other this season.  MSU could very well come into this game riding high from the Notre Dame win and looking past NU.  A quick NU lead might completely deflate the Spartans.   If the first quarter ends with NU having even a one point lead, then my prediction is moot, and NU will win

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So, what are the excuses now?  What, no cries of "fluke" in overtime?  No suspensions to hold up the lion's share of blame and disappointment?  No "their gimmicky offense took us by surprise"?  What are the excuses for not believing NU is for real?

Again: the secret is out, and the excuses are wilting like roses in Madison.

Northwestern showed Saturday that they can now play anytime, with anyone.  That includes playing on the road for the third straight week.  That includes playing in the middle of the Big Ten season.  And that includes playing another ranked, undefeated opponent.   In a display of dominance, the Wildcats took Spartan freshman QB Smoker and near-freshman coach Williams and hazed them brutally into the Big Ten as NU cruised to a 37-17 win.  For Smoker, it was a long day that would not end.  His one week-long status as BMOC and Irish killer ended quickly, however.  For Williams, 4-0 coming into the game, it was a nasty Big Ten debut. 

'Cats Never Trailed
Northwestern looked good from the beginning, with Kustok scrambling for first downs and Anderson moving the 'Cats into field goal range.  NU and M.S.U. swapped field goals and touchdowns in the first quarter.  With the score at the end of the first quarter knotted at 10 each, the same electricity that charged the air at halftime in Madison fired up the air again Saturday-- there was a feeling that NU would win, again.  The Wildcats appeared confident and businesslike, while the Spartans spent much of the rest of the day frustrated and shaking off disbelief.

The feeling began to blossom into outright celebration in the second quarter as Anderson raced into the endzone for a 33 yard touchdown run, and the NU offense began piling on first downs.  Anderson went into the Spartan's zone again in the third quarter, after a spectacular 41 yard run.  Damien had a great day, racking up a career high 224 yards.

Another Incredible Game
Kustok also had another fantastic weekend and tore through the air for 160 yards.  He missed some long passes, but he hit them when it counted.  Overall, the NU offense piled up 504 yards, its second straight game gaining over 500 yards.

There are some clear opportunities for improvement.  Yet again, NU's kick coverage was poor.  This area is actually getting worse.  The only silver lining on the kick coverage is that it is at least coming after an NU score!  The Wildcat pass defense also has had some bumps in the road.

These problems are minuscule, however, compared to the stellar performances by almost everyone on the team.  While Anderson took breathers from blasting the Spartans into next Tuesday, Kevin Lawrence showed that he is a terrific rusher who can make plays.  The wide receivers and the offensive line were great, and the defensive line looked much better.  Missouri had another blinding hit that resulted in a fumble.  The linebacking corps were also very impressive. . . .  How great is it that Salem Simon is back at 100%?  Simon was dependable and gritty, and his fumble recovery helped to seal the deal versus M.S.U.

Yes, I wrote last week:

"MSU 34, NU 31.  However, I'm less confident of predicting this game than any other this season.  MSU could very well come into this game riding high from the Notre Dame win and looking past NU.  A quick NU lead might completely deflate the Spartans.   If the first quarter ends with NU having even a one point lead, then my prediction is moot, and NU will win."

Thank God my prognostication ability is awful.  This was the first week I predicted the 'Cats to lose, and it just might be the last. . . .

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