Bowl Preparation Week vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Almost. The wait is almost over as Northwestern is only a few days away from playing in the Music City Bowl.
THE BAD: Flying by. Bowl season is flying by and there seem to be a large number of blowouts, taking away from some of the excitement.
THE UGLY: One more. Justin Jackson only has one more game left in a Northwestern uniform. He has had a tremendous career, and he will be missed greatly.

Bowl Preparation Week vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Bowl season. We are finally upon the most exciting time of the sports year.
THE BAD: Winding down. The college football season is nearly over, and it was another great year.
THE UGLY: No game. While it is better for the program that Northwestern's bowl game is later in the month, the wait is agonizing.

Bye Week vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Closer. Northwestern is one week closer to playing their bowl, which should be a very exciting reward for a great season.
THE BAD: Almost over. Another season is almost in the books for Northwestern, and this was a pretty successful one.
THE UGLY: Few games. A weekend with this little college football is not a good weekend.

Conference Championship Week vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Bowl destination. Northwestern will play Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. This is nice reward for a job well done by Northwestern.
THE BAD: No game. It would have been awesome to see Northwestern play in the Big Ten Championship.
THE UGLY: So close. If Northwestern just beat Wisconsin, they would have played in the Big Ten Championship. In that game, all they needed was a good performance from the offensive line, and this is why Adam Cushing must go.

Beavers @ Oregon

positives: Nall had a few quality runs and the big td to Hernandez. Other than that nothing was really good.

Negatives: honestly everything. But in particular the defense.

Let’s hire a coach that can run a football program!

Northwestern vs. Illinois

THE GOOD: Defense. Northwestern's defense continued its dominance. They allowed one good drive, and absolutely nothing else after that. They even scored a touchdown, which made up fro the one they allowed.
THE BAD: Start. Northwestern started really slow. They allowed Illinois to march right down the field on their first drive of the game, and during the first quarter Illinois really dominated the game. Once the second quarter hit; however, Northwestern stepped it up and took control of the game.
THE UGLY: Passing game. For the second week in a row, Northwestern struggled to move the ball through the air. Thorson struggled with accuracy at times, but Northwestern was able to lean on the ground game. Northwestern will need to correct this before the bowl game.

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Justin Jackson. The Ball Carrier solidified his legacy as one of the best running backs in Big Ten history. He joined the five thousand yard club and became the second player in Big Ten history with four consecutive one thousand yard seasons. Jackson just continues to show how much he has meant to Northwestern during his career.
THE BAD: Senior day. It was the final home game for so many players who have meant so much to Northwestern football during their careers. Northwestern will certainly miss not only their talent, but also their leadership.
THE UGLY: Pass game. The weather did not help at all, but Northwestern struggled to move the ball through the air. This will need to be corrected in order for Northwestern to finish the season strong.

Purdue vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Defense. Northwestern's defense is quietly one of the best units in the country. They have been great in nearly every game this season. They constantly put pressure on the quarterback and completely shut down the running game. This defensive unit has certainly been Northwestern's strength this season.
THE BAD: Finishing. Northwestern should have put this game away in the third quarter. Instead, they let Purdue hang around and make it close late into the fourth quarter. Northwestern needs to fix this aspect in order to finish the season strong.
THE UGLY: Run game. Northwestern struggled to run the ball all game long. The offensive line got no push and created no holes for the running backs. This needs to be corrected in order for Northwestern to achieve what they aspire to.

Northwestern vs. Nebraska

THE GOOD: Justin Jackson. Jackson had tons of room to run, and he took full advantage of it. Jackson carried the Northwestern offense and continued to break records as he establishes himself as a Big Ten legend.
THE BAD: Clayton Thorson. Thorson was horribly inaccurate. He could not find his receivers for a majority of the game. He threw two horrible interceptions. He needs to find consistency from week to week in order to take the next step.
THE UGLY: Pass rush. Northwestern struggled mightily to get a pass rush. It put the secondary in a tough spot where it had to cover for extended periods of time. There were some key plays made by the defensive line, but Northwestern may have to look into bringing blitzes more often in the future.

Beavers vs. Stanford

Positives: The heart. Cory Hall got the Beavs to put everything on the field. They may have come up short but this showed the Beavs acually cared. Secondly, the offense acually looked OK. They moved the ball.

Negatives: Missed opportunities. We could have had 2 or 3 chances to get an interception. One could have easily went for 6. We capitalize on those opportunities we would have won.

Michigan State vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Backfield. I couldn't pick just one. Clayton Thorson and Justin Jackson both balled out. This was probably the best performance of Thorson's career. He played essentially mistake free football and continually made clutch plays when he needed to. Jackson was held in check from a rushing yards standpoint, but his impact in other areas. He was nearly impossible to tackle in the open field because he was so shifty. To top it all off, he threw a touchdown pass. He showed why he is the best running back in the Big Ten by putting on a show when his team needed it most.
THE BAD: Tackling. This was not a huge issue, but Northwestern missed more tackles than they usually do. Northwestern has been fairly good when it comes to tackling this year, so this was an unexpected area for them to struggle in.
THE UGLY: Coverage. Northwestern got beat far too many times in this game. Northwestern's safeties like to play up in the box, but this presents a challenge when they bite on play action because they cannot get back effectively cover over the top. Northwestern probably should reconsider how close to the line their safeties play in order to prevent getting burned over the top in the future.

Iowa vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Defense. Once again Northwestern's defense was dominant. There was really nothing negative about their performance. They tackled well, they got good pass rush, and they were pretty good in coverage. Probably the only negative was their trouble covering the hitch route by the tight end, but overall, the defense won this game.
THE BAD: Decision making. Fitzgerald needs to put more faith in the kicking game. Kubhander is a good, young kicker and he should get more opportunities to showcase his talents and put points on the board.
THE UGLY: Clayton Thorson. Thorson made just enough plays to win the game. The scramble on third and long was a great example of Thorson making a good decision and using his athleticism to his advantage. He needs to work on getting the ball out faster and not throw into coverage as much as he has been if he wants to take the next step.

Northwestern vs. Maryland

THE GOOD: Justin Jackson. The Ball Carrier finally looked like himself. He was quick and elusive and ran through Maryland's defense all game long. To top it all of, he became Northwestern's all time leader in rushing yards and total yards.
THE BAD: Play calling. I thought Northwestern threw the ball too much in this game. Jackson was dominant, and Northwestern continued to throw. While Thorson had success, I thought Northwestern would have been better suited to pound it on the ground.
THE UGLY: Interceptions. Thorson threw two really, really bad interceptions. They were both overthrows that went right to Maryland defenders. Thorson already has nine interceptions this year, and this has been one of his biggest issues thus far.

Gary Fired

Earlier this week Gary Anderson and OSU mutually agreed to part ways. Gary looked as he finally had the Beavs going in the right direction last year but this year was AWFUL. My biggest issue with Gary and this season is the QB issues. Gary had Seth his first year. Seth was an ATHLETE. Seth was plaqued by injuries that year and Gary wasn't satisfied. Gary then thought let's go th JUCO route for the next two years neither of them worked. Gary was a fun and energetic guy but not a good coach for the BEAVS in their rebuilding stage. Cory Hall is the interim coach. I don't expect the former assistant coach to win every game but I want to get the BEAVS to play with heart and win a few games.

Penn State vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Defense. Northwestern was dominant on defense once again. The kept Barkley completely in check for three quarters. The only problem is the offense can't move the ball at all, so the defense is absolutely gassed by mid way through the second half. The defense continues to give Northwestern opportunities, which is about the only positive from these last two weeks.
THE BAD: Wide receivers. Northwestern has talent at receiver. They just can't use it because their offensive line can't block anyone. Northwestern is forced to rely on short passes to try and move the ball through the air because if they try to throw the ball down field, Thorson gets sacked. As much as I like Skowronek and Nagel, they just aren't quick enough to get adequate separation on these quick passes. The answer to this could be as simple as getting youngsters such as Jace James and Riley Lees more action, or as unexpected as lining Matt Alviti up in the slot. As unfortunate as it is, this is what Northwestern's offense has come to.
THE UGLY: Offensive line. FIRE ADAM CUSHING RIGHT NOW. FIRE ADAM CUSHING RIGHT NOW. FIRE ADAM CUSHING RIGHT NOW. FIRE ADAM CUSHING RIGHT NOW. This is a joke. This group is a pathetic excuse for Division 1 athletes. How Adam Cushing still has a job is beyond me. He has never coached a good offensive line, and this year is the culmination of his ineptitude. The amount of times I see players standing around not blocking anyone makes me want to injure myself. HOW CAN CUSHING ALLOW THIS. If Northwestern had a semi-competent offensive line, they could be 5-0 and at least 4-1. Cushing's inability to do his job is preventing this team from achieving its potential. I can't do this anymore. Playing offensive line is simple, HIT SOMEONE ON THE OTHER TEAM. While there is youth and inexperience at the tackles, there is no excuse for Hance and Doles to be as bad as they have. The only explanation is Cushing's inability to prepare them, or they are just completely inept on a football field. Honestly, I think it is a combination of both at this point. I'm sick and tired of watching this group go out there and get absolutely manhandled week in and week out. JUST HIT SOMEONE. It's not even technique, they literally stand around and don't hit anyone half the time. Either Fitzgerald fires Cushing, or everyone goes, including Fitzgerald.

Northwestern vs. Wisconsin

THE GOOD: Defense. Northwestern's defense played their best game of the season. Forcing three first half turnovers kept gave Northwestern a chance in this game. By the second half, they were gassed because they played so much due Northwestern;s offensive struggles. This was a great sign from a unit that had struggled with consistency earlier in the season.
THE BAD: Clayton Thorson. Thorson had some very good moments and some very bad moments. When he had time to throw, he was able to find receivers and pick up solid yardage. While his offensive line did him no favors, he needs to be more willing to move out of the pocket when he feels pressure. He also made one of the dumbest plays I have ever seen. All I can say is THROW THE BALL.
THE UGLY: Blocking. Northwestern got dominated by Wisconsin's blitzes in the third and early fourth quarters. Some of this falls on Mick McCall for not calling quick hitting passes to get the ball out of Thorson's hands before the blitz got there. Ultimately, though, it falls on the offensive linemen. It's not hard to HIT SOMEONE. If someone is getting through unblocked, MOVE AND HIT THEM. This group needs to wake up and use their eyes. It simply comes down to being physical and HITTING SOMEONE.

Beavers vs WASU

POSTIVES: Nothing
Negatives: Everything, Ryan Nall has not impressed me yet. Jordan Villiman has acually played better than last year so far. FIRE GARY! ALL HE HAS DONE IS CREATE QB ISSUES. FIND A FRESHMAN QB AND DEVELOP HIM!

Bye Week vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Rest. Northwestern is beat up, especially in the secondary. This bye week gives them time to rest and recover ahead of Big Ten play.
THE BAD: No game. A Saturday without Northwestern football, is not a good Saturday.
THE UGLY: Rhythm. Northwestern had one of their most dominant performances in a while before the bye week. Northwestern's offense and defense need to keep the momentum going heading into Big Ten play.

Bowling Green vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Run game. Seeing Justin Jackson have holes to run through was a great sight. I honestly thought I may never see it again, but there were some huge holes for the running backs to run through. The offensive line was horrible to start the year, but they answered the bell. Now, all they need to do is keep it up.
THE BAD: Turnovers. Northwestern fumbled twice in the second half. While neither fumbles were from starters, they both were drive killers. Northwestern needs to clean this up because teams in the Big Ten will take advantage of miscues like these.
THE UGLY: Defensive line. The defensive had trouble stopping the run for the third week in a row. Sam Miller looked great, but the rest of the group got pushed around way too easily. Luckily the linebackers, especially Nate Hall, were flying around the field and making plays. The defensive line and needs to step up and hold their ground, or things could get ugly in Big Ten play.

Oregon State vs. Minnesota

positives: Honestly nothing.

Negatives: offense and defense. The BEAVS were unable to break off a good run or even pass the ball in general. The defense just couldn't do anything at all. I felt like it was an automatic td when the gophers got the ball.

Northwestern vs. Duke

THE GOOD: Nothing.
THE BAD: Mike Hankwitz. Mike Hankwitz should be unemployed right now. Why he keeps putting the corners ten yards off the line is beyond me. It gives the other team a free first down. I don't know if he doesn't watch the games or what, but he makes no in game adjustments. He honestly seems like he has no clue what he is doing. It's getting ridiculous. He also seems to have not taught his defense how to tackle. Launching yourself at someone's knees IS NOT TACKLING. WARP UP. It's not hard. Hankwitz needs to figure it out, now.
THE UGLY: Offensive line. This is pathetic. MAN UP AND HIT SOMEONE. The amount of times I see linemen standing around doing nothing is unacceptable. It's not hard to hit someone. This is by far the softest group of football players I have ever seen. This group of softies could cost Northwestern a successful season if they don't man up and figure it out.

Beavers vs. Portland State

Positives: Jake Luton. I think Jake can cut down on interceptions, but he made some HUGE throws. On the last drive he showed some big guts and showed he already trusts his recievers.

Negatives: Ryan Nall and the defense. The BEAVS need Ryan Nall to be at Justin Jackson level to make a bowl game this year. The defense can't give up 32 points to a inferior team.

Note: When the BEAVS are on PAC-12 Network I can't watch because I don't get PAC-12 Network on my new tv service.

Nevada vs. Northwestern

THE GOOD: Clayton Thorson. Thorson balled out in this game, that's all there is to it. When it was looking really bad for Northwestern, Thorson put the team on his back and led Northwestern back. I have never seen Clayton Thorson play as good as he did. It was a thoroughly dominant performance from Thorson and proved himself as a team leader.
THE BAD: First half defense. Northwestern's defense got pushed around in the first half. A mix of low effort levels, poor open field tackling, no pass rush and horrible play in the secondary allowed Nevada to march up and down the field at will. In the second half; however, the defense, led by Joe Gaziano, locked down and gave Northwestern the edge.
THE UGLY: Offensive line. The offensive line was horrendous. They got no push and as a result Northwestern struggled mightily to run the ball. The amount of times offensive lineman were standing around while Nevada defenders ran through untouched is mind boggling. Northwestern's offensive line needs to step up and actually play physical, tough football if Northwestern wants to go anywhere this season.

Most Iconic Pictures in Northwestern Sports History: #7

Photo originally found in Sports Illustrated Magazine

Historically speaking, Northwestern has not been very good at football, so when they are good it's a pretty big deal. In 1995, Northwestern was pretty darn good. Darnell Autry was the face of the surprise Wildcats and it landed him in a place not many wildcats have been, the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Most Iconic Pictures in Northwestern Sports History: #8

Photo originally found on wnursports.com

This is simply a legendary photo. This was one of the most epic games in Northwestern history. It is often referred to as the "33 game" (I explained why on a podcast, so listen to find out). The look of pure joy on the Northwestern players and the look of defeat on the Ohio State players perfectly sums up how monumental of an upset this was. In the end, this picture captures one of the biggest upsets in Northwestern football history.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #1

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: White (Black "N")
Jersey: White

Pants: Black

Look great, play great

This uniform combination was AWESOME. The perfect balance of black and white, with a little purple mixed in. My favorite part of this uniform was the addition of the black facemask. It just gave the look a completeness and took this combination to another level. In my opinion, this may be the best uniform combination in Northwestern history. Northwestern wore their best uniform combination of the year in arguably their best performance of the year.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #2

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: Purple (White "Cat")
Jersey: White

Pants: Purple

Lookin' real good

This uniform is so similar to the last one, so really everything I said in the last post applies to this one. The only difference is that I like the "Cat" logo better than the "N" logo on the helmet.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #3

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: Purple (White "N")
Jersey: White

Pants: Purple

Lookin' good

I really like the purple and white in this uniform combination. This uniform is basically the inverse of the last one and they both worked really well. The continuity with purple and white on all three elements creates a really clean look.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #4

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: White (Purple "N")
Jersey: Purple

If only Northwestern played as good as they looked

Pants: White

This game (vs. Western Michigan) was not one of Northwestern's finest performances, to say the least. Their uniforms; however, were at the top of their game. The white combined with purple gave these uniforms an "icy" feel. The fact that these were worn for an afternoon game make it even better because the way the sun reflects off the white helmet and pants is truly awesome.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #5

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: Purple (White "Cat")
Jersey: Purple

Smooth

Pants: Black

Once again, Northwestern proved purple and black is a great combination. As I've already said, this was one of my favorite helmets that Northwestern wore last season. The pairing of the helmet with the purple and black pants created a combination that was a treat to look at.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #6

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: Black (Purple "N")
Jersey: Purple

Two games, two wins

Pants: Black

Another solid combination that revolves around black and purple. This is the only uniform combination that Northwestern wore more than once. They wore it for their first win (vs. Duke) and their final win (Pinstripe Bowl vs. Pitt). The presence of both purple and black on all three elements is a real nice touch. Overall, a solid combination that brought Northwestern success whenever they wore it.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #7

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: Black (Silver "Cat")
Jersey: Black
Pants: Purple

Too much sun

This is one of my favorite uniform combinations that Northwestern wears. I like the combination of black jersey with purple stripes and the purple pants. The only problem I have with this combination is that Northwestern wore it during the day. Just like the last combination I wrote about, the way the lights reflect off the jersey and helmet is awesome. Wearing this combination during a day game just causes the uniform to lose that quality.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #8

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: Black (Silver "Cat")
Jersey: Black
Pants: Black

Back in Black

This begins the part of the rankings where I like every uniform. This is a uniform that in my opinion, Northwestern can only wear at night. The way the lights reflect off the logo on the helmet and the white numbers is truly a very cool sight. The purple stripes are a nice touch, as well. Overall, this was a strong uniform combination.

Beaver Football Schedule Prediction

Sat, Aug 26	@	CO State      W- close one		1:30 PM
Sat, Sep 2	vs	Portland State  W- easy		1:00 PM
Sat, Sep 9	vs	Minnesota W- 10 pt win		9:00 PM
Sat, Sep 16	@	Washington St  L-  hopefully can make it close and win		4:30 PM
Sat, Sep 30	vs	Washington L- Washington is very good		TBD
Sat, Oct 7	@	USC L- very tough game on the road		TBD
Sat, Oct 14	vs	Colorado W- close win		TBD
Thu, Oct 26	vs	Stanford L- tough but we may pull it out at home		8:00 PM
Sat, Nov 4	@	California W this will be tough on the road. CLOSE GAME!		TBD
Sat, Nov 11	@	Arizona L- very close on the road could go either way		TBD
Sat, Nov 18	vs	Arizona State W- Blowout		TBD
Sat, Nov 25	@	Oregon-  WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW		TBD

BeavCast #2 will be coming out soon it will be a preview for Beavs Football next season.

Beaver Basketball Review: Big G

Big G is a fun team player. Big g seems like he is always having fun. He puts 100% effort every play he is in. Big G had a good season. Averaging about 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists. He puts good points and rebounds for his skill level. He is a player that impacts the game on and off the court. Offseason: Big G had a great season and I am content with his stats. He could be a better scorer and rebounder but his stats were fine.

Beaver Basketball Player Review: Kendal Manuel

Review: Kendal is coming off a broken leg injury. Therefore, he was just a freshman this past season. Kendal had an average season, but considering he was coming off a horrific leg injury I think he did fine. Kendal would have very good games with 10+ points but then he goes out and scores 0-4 points some games. His season high was 20 points, and his low was 0. Kendal never put up whopping assists and rebound numbers. Offseason- Kendal could work on every thing. Next year I would like to see him have 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists. This will be hard but Kendal can do it.

What Will Northwestern do at Linebacker in 2017-2018?

Anthony Walker Jr. was arguably one of the best defensive
players in Northwestern history.

"The Franchise" was a steady force in the middle of Northwestern's defense the past three seasons. Now he has taken his talents to Indianapolis and will try to help shore up the Colts' defense.

Joseph Jones was only a one year starter (last season), but he was a very good outside linebacker. His combination of speed and toughness made him ideal to match up with Big Ten offenses. He is now fighting for a roster spot with the Dallas Cowboys, where he signed as a highly touted Undrafted Free Agent.

It will be a challenge for Mike Hankwitz and his defensive staff to replace these big time contributors. They do; however, have a couple experienced building blocks to be the foundation for the linebacker group. These building blocks are Nate Hall and Brett Walsh. This duo has combined to make 17 career starts (12 by Hall, 5 by Walsh). Hall has seen a good amount of playing time in each of his first two seasons at outside linebacker. Walsh saw most of his playing time last season while replacing an injured Jaylen Prater. Hall is a similar build to Walker Jr. and has a similar play style. They are both big and strong, but have the quickness to be effective in coverage and make tackles in the open field. Walsh, on the other hand, is extremely undersized for a Big Ten linebacker— weighing only 215 pounds. His lack of size did not impact his effectiveness, though, as he used his quickness to avoid blockers and make plays.

While it is pretty much guaranteed that Hall and Walsh will be starters at linebacker, it is no guarantee what positions they will play and who will join them. The top contenders to play alongside Hall and Walsh are Warren Long, Nathan Fox, and Paddy Fisher.

Long was a running back up until the start of this offseason and a pretty good one at that. He ran for 329 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2015 as the primary backup to Justin Jackson. A broken hand sidelined him for pretty much the entire 2016 season (He only had one carry for nine yards). Long is now an outside linebacker. The only way he could start is if Hall moves to the middle linebacker spot. This is an interesting thought because Hall is a similar player to Walker Jr., so there is reason to believe he would thrive in the middle. This would allow Long and all his athleticism to see much more action at outside linebacker. Long's knowledge of offensive schemes, along with his vision, quickness, and strength make him an ideal fit at outside linebacker. This option is unlikely, though, because it seems to be too risky to move Hall out of the outside linebacker spot in which he has thrived for the past two seasons and risk him struggling in the middle.

Fox (45) appeared in all 13 games last season

Fox and Fisher are both unknowns. Fox is a redshirt sophomore and Fisher is a redshirt freshman. Fox appeared in all 13 games this past season, while Fisher did not see the field. Fox has recorded 11 career tackles. The only real evidence of these guys' abilities is spring practice. Even that doesn't really help because both of these guys had very strong springs. In the end, I think both of these guys will see time in the middle to start the season, and Hankwitz will wait for one to separate themselves and earn the starting job.

Northwestern has plenty of options at linebacker, but it all depends on how the players meet the challenges of playing linebacker in the Big Ten.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #9

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: White (Purple "N")
Jersey: White
Pants: White

Eh

This uniform is basically the same as the last one. It was all white, and it was a little bland. The only difference is that I like the "N" logo more than the Wildcat one.

BeavCats Cast #6

- Top 5 Lists

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9qmd59K_u44dEkwMS0yaGw4RHc


(Intro song: "Comin' To Your City" by Big & Rich)

Most Iconic Pictures in Northwestern Sports History: #9

Photo originally found in Northwestern Magazine

This picture pretty much sums up the history of Northwestern Football. Pat Fitzgerald has meant everything to Northwestern Football. Whether as a player or a coach, Fitz's intensity has taken Northwestern to new heights. I thought this picture is a great representation of the constant intensity Fitz has brought to Northwestern football.

Northwestern Football Uniform Combinations: #10

Over the next few weeks, I will rank  Northwestern football's uniform combinations from the 2016 season  from my least favorite to my favorite (going from 12 to 1).

Helmet: White (Purple "Cat")
Jersey: White
Pants: White

Eh

This uniform combination was not bad at all. I typically like when Northwestern wears all white uniforms, and this one was no different. To put it simply, this uniform combination was bland. It was all purple and white, which got a little boring. Coincidentally, Northwestern played pretty bland and boring in this game against Minnesota. Overall, this was a solid uniform combination, but it could have benefited from a third color to change things up.

Most Iconic Pictures in Northwestern Sports History: #10

Photo originally found in Larry LaTourette's Northwestern Wildcat Football

This picture does not have any real significance. It shows lightning striking over Dyche Stadium (now Ryan Field) during a football game in 1953. I always thought this was a cool picture and it is a great way to kick off the new series.

Beaver Basketball Player Review: Jaquori McLaughlin

Jaquori had a wonderful freshman year. Before I start I want to congratulate Jaquori on making the most threes by a freshman in Beavs basketball history. Let's get started! Jaquori took part in all 32 of the Beavs games and started in 30 of those games. He averaged 10.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 0.8 steals. I believe Jaquori was a dead eye shooter who could pass the ball. Jaquori will be a key player next season. Congratulations on a wonderful freshman year Jaquori McLaughlin. 



OFF SEASON- I think Jaquori could work on his passing. His scoring is fine considering Ethan Thompson will be joining the Beavs. I want Jaquori to average 5 assists at the least. If Jaquori can feed Tres and Eubanks I think the Beavs could be a tournament team.  

Pete Nance commits to Northwestern

Mood

Chris Collins just came up huge. After landing Jordan Lathon, a four star point guard in the class of 2018, on Sunday; he just got the best recruit in Northwestern history. Pete Nance is a four star small forward from Ohio. The 2018 class is very important for Northwestern because that will be the first group of freshmen after McIntosh, Lindsey, and Skelly graduate. With two four star recruits already committed, Collins has a chance to make this one of the best classes in the Big Ten, if not the country.

These two commitments are a huge step in the right direction for Northwestern hoops. While they aren't quite on Duke's level yet, Northwestern is becoming an elite college basketball program. They are winning games in March and landing big time recruits. All they need is an NCAA investigation and they'll fit right in with North Carolinas and Dukes of the world.

Please no, I was just kidding; leave us alone, NCAA.

BeavCats Cast #5

- Baseball recap

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9qmd59K_u44cTN5QW51ZGc4RzQ


(Intro song: "Homecoming" by Kanye West)

'Cat Facts #1: Pat Fitzgerald

**On this new series, I will give a bullet point list of facts, stats, etc. about a former Wildcat player or coach. I don't have a specific time frame yet, so don't count on a routine schedule for these**

For the first edition of 'Cat facts, I decided to focus on a Northwestern legend. Fitzgerald is the face of Northwestern athletics and has brought more success to the football program than anyone could have imagined.

•  Fitzgerald is from Orland Park, which is only about an hour drive from Evanston
• As a linebacker at Northwestern, Fitzgerald was a two-time winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bedinarik Award, both of which are awarded to the best defensive player in the country.
• Fitzgerald never played a down in the NFL. He was signed as an Undrafted Free Agent by the Dallas Cowboys, but was cut before his rookie season began. 
• Fitzgerald became the head coach in 2006 after Randy Walker passed away. At the time, he was the youngest head coach in Division 1 college football.
• Probably the stat that most effectively shows how much Fitzgerald has meant to Northwestern football is the fact that Northwestern has participated in 13 bowl games and Fitzgerald has been involved in 11 of them (as a player, assistant coach, or head coach).

Northwestern Basketball Player Review: Barret Benson

Over the next few weeks, I will review each player on Northwestern's basketball team and go over what they need to improve  for next season. Up next is freshman center Barret Benson

**This is the last player review. Thank You for all the support on this series!**

Benson played very few minutes, but was able to be fairly
effective on the defensive end.

Season Review: Benson was extremely raw this past season.  An early season injury to Dererk Pardon allowed Benson to gain valuable experience and allow him to get into a rhythm before Big Ten play started. During the Big Ten season, Benson was effective on defense, but committed fouls at an alarming rate. He never really found much of an offensive game, which forced Collins to play him sparingly. Overall, Benson made positive strides in his freshman season, but was not consistent enough to play big minutes.
Off-season: Benson simply needs to make his game more well rounded. If he can continue to make a positive impact on the defensive end, while cutting down on the fouls his minutes should increase substantially. In addition to increasing his defensive efficiency, if Benson can add some post offense, he could be a major part of Northwestern's team next season.

Baseball: Oregon State vs. Washington State Recap

Game 1- W 4-3: Luke Heimlich pitched good but not his best. The Beavs had over 3K fans again. The Beavs ended this on on a walkoff. Then, in the ninth, Trevor Larnach singled to open the inning. Elliott Carry, pinch running for Larnach, moved to second on a sac bunt. Andy Atwood earned the first walk of the ninth, then Nick Madrigal, with two outs, walked to load the bases. Then Jack Anderson walked and the Beavs won.

Game 2- W 5-0: Jake Thompson pitched complete game shutout. WOW! Adley Rutschman went 3-4 and Trevor Larnach had 2 RBI's. A team win for the Beavs.

Game 3- W 14-3: THE GAME HAS COME! DOUBLE-DIGIT RUNS!!!!!!!! Madrigal hit a dinger and had 5 RBI's. The Beavs won their 27th Pac-12 conference game. They have surpassed Arizona State for most Pac-12 conference wins. 

Northwestern Basketball Player Review: Gavin Skelly

Over the next few weeks, I will review each player on Northwestern's basketball team and go over what they need to improve  for next season. Up next is junior forward Gavin Skelly

Skelly always brought valuable
energy when he came off the bench

Season Review: Gavin Skelly may not be the prototypical sixth man, but he filled that role extremely well for Northwestern. He brought an instant burst of energy whenever he got into the game. When he was shooting the ball effectively, he brought a valuable dimension to the offense with the pick-and-pop. Skelly averaged 5.9 PPG and 3.7 RPG, which are fairly good numbers for someone coming off the bench. The only problem with Skelly's season was that he really struggled to shoot once Big Ten play started, and I mean REALLY STRUGGLED. He only scored double-digits twice in conference play (the opener at Penn State and at Illinois in late February). In both those games, Skelly shot 2-2 from three. Another big moment for Skelly was his two late threes against Rutgers to help save the 'Cats from a season derailing loss. Overall, Skelly was a high energy player whose season will be most remembered by his extended shooting struggles.
Off-season: Obviously, Skelly needs to work on shooting the ball consistently. He is most effective on offense when he shoots the ball well. If he can consistently hit open threes, he will become an even bigger match up problem for opposing big men. Another area where Northwestern really needs Skelly to improve in is his quickness on defense. If Skelly gets quicker, he will be able to guard more perimeter oriented players. This past season, when Scottie Lindsey was out, Skelly really struggled when he was asked to guard perimeter players because he was not quick enough. A quicker Skelly would give Northwestern more lineup options and help compensate for the loss of Sanjay Lumpkin. If Skelly can become more versatile on both offense and defense, he could become one of Northwestern's most valuable players.

Northwestern Basketball Player Review: Isiah Brown

Over the next few weeks, I will review each player on Northwestern's basketball team and go over what they need to improve  for next season. Up next is freshman guard Isiah Brown

Brown was always looking to score,
no matter the situation

Season Review: Isiah Brown's role seemed to change from game to game. For example when Maryland came to Evanston, Brown scored 19 points and almost single handedly won the game for Northwestern; then 4 games later, when Michigan came to town, he recorded a "Did Not Play- Coach's Decision." Brown has supreme confidence in his ability to score. He was never afraid to shoot or or attack the basket, no matter the situation. This often lead to him finding himself in Chris Collins' doghouse. When he was hitting his shots, he was a force; when his shots weren't falling he was a liability. Brown averaged 6.3 PPG, which is good for a true freshman coming off the bench. The most telling stat; however, was Brown averaging 1.2 APG; this is a pitiful number for a point guard. This just further shows Brown's narrow-mindedness on the offensive end. Overall, Brown's tremendous talent was marred by his tendency to shoot without any discretion.
Off-season: Brown needs to learn how to play team basketball. As I have already mentioned, he is both extremely talented and extremely confident. Because of his talent, if he can learn to play as a part of the offense, I could see him starting at shooting guard next year. Playing within the offense will also help Brown's numbers because he will get higher percentage shots and will get more opportunities to showcase his abilities. In the end, Brown is probably the most confident Northwestern basketball player I have ever seen. Most previous Northwestern players have been timid and afraid to attack, but the words timid and afraid are not in Brown's vocabulary. If Brown can play more mature basketball, the sky is the limit for his offensive numbers.

Northwestern Basketball Player Review: Dererk Pardon

Over the next few weeks, I will review each player on Northwestern's basketball team and go over what they need to improve  for next season. Up next is sophomore center Dererk Pardon

If Pardon can consistently hit his free throws, like he did against
Vanderbilt, he could be a force on the offensive end

Season Review: Dererk Pardon made the most memorable shot in Northwestern basketball history. While that is what he will be remembered for, he was one of the most important players for this team. He averaged 8.6 points and 8 rebounds per game. He consistently gave strong effort on the glass, which is why he was the 'Cats best rebounder. He seemed to always start the game off with a dunk. Most of these dunks came off the pick and roll with McIntosh, which was when he was the most effective on offense. One of Northwestern's biggest issues on offense was struggling to get Pardon involved. Especially when Northwestern got into a funk on offense, they needed to look to Pardon much more often than they did. He easily could have averaged 15 points per game, if he was more involved. Overall, Pardon was somewhat of a forgotten man in Northwestern's offense, but when he got opportunities, he was always effective.
Off-season: Pardon needs to work on two things, his strength and free throw shooting. These two go hand-in-hand. Many times Pardon would be fouled when going up for a dunk and he would loose the ball. Then he would go to the line and struggle make his free throws. If Pardon can get stronger and finish off those and-one dunks, then consistently hit his free throws, he could easily average 15+ points per game.