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Taphorn commentary on the broadcast

Listened to the Varsity stream on and off in the second half. Taphorn was doing commentary/analysis/color (whatever it's called). What I heard was good stuff. Sharp, on-point, quick, cogent.

Billy McKinney is an NU icon, and forever deserves a star on the NU walk of fame (OK, there is no such thing) but he's not great on the radio. Based on the small sample size, I much prefer Taphorn.
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Our future

I can list a litany of things that got us here, somewhat similar to the white sox poor decisions coming to a head. I think NU is in real jeopardy of our future in the BIG, and either the administration becomes more flexible or we need to accept our new path forward. Combination of stubbornness, poor coaches, poor leadership, recruiting misses, admissions, and no real NIL. The new landscape is all $ driven and if we are not adding to the equation we are at risk. I have yet to see the NU administration become flexible, so we are what we are.
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FOOTBALL Why are there conference championships?

It seems making these conference championship games are only beneficial if you are out side the 12 playoff field. So, Clemson. Now now Ward Manuel says there is a path for Alabama to pass SMU if Clemson wins that game. What? So the current 11-1 team and regular season champion plays a championship game losses and drops out of the top playoffs for a 3 loss Alabama team that lost to Vandy and a pedestrian Oklahoma team. That’s BS. SMU is better off not being in the game.

Now the B1G and the SEC continue to beat each other up going into the playoffs. If Oregon beats PSU, it drops PSU a few notches and makes their first round game more difficult. Ohio State catches a break and will only go up and they likely pass PSU and maybe even Texas if they lose. Who would you rather be going into the playoffs now PSU or OSU.

I guess it’s about the money.

WILDCAT REPORT OFFICIAL SIGNING DAY THREAD

Good morning and happy Signing Day! The era of the National Letter of Intent is over and Signing Day has been moved up nearly three weeks from where it was last season to accommodate for the portal opening soon on Dec. 9.

Northwestern enters the day with 19 public commitments and the chance for at least one more when running back Daniel Anderson announces his decision at 11:30 am. In place of NLIs, players will sign financial aid agreements that nominally serve the same purpose of solidifying their commitment and making it a violation for other programs to contact them until they hit campus.
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  • Poll
Poll: which is the least loyal fanbase in the Big Ten?

Which is the least loyal fanbase in the Big Ten?

  • 14. Rutgers

    Votes: 5 16.7%
  • 13. Northwestern

    Votes: 13 43.3%
  • 12. Maryland

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 11. Purdue

    Votes: 3 10.0%
  • 10. Washington

    Votes: 1 3.3%
  • 9. Indiana

    Votes: 3 10.0%
  • …another B1G Team! 😂

    Votes: 5 16.7%

According to this big ten news site, we’re the second least loyal Fan Base in the Big Ten (surprise… @rutgersal ‘s alma mater is #14).

Where do we rank? I included Washington’s for good measure (#1 ranked Oregon fans seem pretty loyal).

Here’s how each Big Ten team stacks up against each other.

14
Rutgers Scarlet Knights​

rutgers-at-michigan-8906.jpg

Photo: Isaiah Hole
We’re sorry to always put you last, Rutgers, but you generally don’t show out very well. And, even when you do, if things go south in a hurry, your stadium clears out rather fast.
SHI Stadium isn’t a guaranteed full-house, regardless, and when your program has resorted to selling season tickets at Costco for under three bills, it’s not exactly a vote of confidence. What’s more, Scarlet Knight fans don’t particularly travel well. That’s not to say it’s not a good fan base — it is — but compared to the rest of the conference, it’s not in the same league — except for maybe a handful of teams.

13. Northwestern Wildcats​

michigan-northwestern-24711.jpg


Northwestern fans are among the nicest you’ll ever meet, and if you’re a fan of another Big Ten team that has a large, rabid fan base, they will gladly cede their position inside Ryan Field, so you can come watch them play a game.

The Wildcats have a nice, congenial fan base, but even in the small stadium it calls home — the smallest in the conference — it doesn’t regularly sell out, and the fans don’t travel particularly well.


12 Maryland Terrapins​

Michigan-football-vs-Maryland-9722.jpg

Photo: Isaiah Hole
The last time we saw Maryland fans really foaming at the mouth was in 2014, the year they joined the Big Ten. Since? It’s been kind of hit or miss.

That’s in large part due to team performance. The Terps have had some really great starts in recent memory. Then they get to that prove it game, and they tend to fall apart. Early high attendance gives way to lesser crowds, and from what we’ve seen, games against the big dawgs — Michigan, Ohio State — don’t sell out and have more road fans in attendance, much like the aforementioned others.

FB RECRUITING Interview with QB official visitor Conner Harrell (2021 thread)

I talked to three-star quarterback Conner Harrell tonight. He was in Evanston for his official over the weekend. My take? I think he's going to be NU's quarterback in this class.

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Here are a couple quotes:

"The visit went great. I loved everything about it. I love Coach Fitzgerald and Coach Jake. It was a great visit."

"I have a great opportunity at Northwestern."

"I went with my Mom and Dad and brother, and they loved it too. It was a great experience."

He took an official to Arizona State on June 4-6. He was thinking about taking an official to Duke, but he's no longer going to do that. He has one scheduled to UNC on June 25-27. He said he's going to go, but I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls the trigger before then, honestly. He said Michigan is also still in the picture, but he only had a vague "I'm going to try to visit at some point" answer. I asked about a timetable, and he said, "It could come soon."

I think Harrell is a great fit for this offense. He's mobile, he can extend plays and he can really throw the deep ball. Me likey.

+/- for the consolation against UNLV

The Cats earned a much-needed win against a capable opponent in the desert.
I didn't count the last 27 seconds because it was a free-throw shooting battle and the Cats held a 64-55 lead when Collins started subbing offense for defense.
That sort of scenario doesn't reflect overall performance and punishes the defensive substitute in this analysis.

PlayerMinutesNU PtsUNLV PtsRaw +/-Player +/-Net +/-
Barnhizer396453+11+8.05+10.25
Leach213826+12+5.51+7.91
Nicholson294843+5+5.38+6.38
Mullins182827+1+2.31+2.51
Hunger101612+4-1.48-0.68
Windham91513+2-2.63-2.23
Smith308-8-0.65-2.25
Martinelli375846+12-5.68-3.28
Ciaravino4611-5-2.95-3.95
Berry284736+11-7.88-5.68

Brooks Barnhizer was the star of the game, with strong support from Jalen Leach and Matt Nicholson.
Leach was excellent in the minutes he was on the court, playing with foul trouble, making 3 of 3 from distance and 5 of 6 overall.
Nicholson's box score is frenetic with 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 for 10 from the foul line and zero turnovers.
Nick Martinelli turned the ball over 4 times, so he got dinged hard for that. Ty Berry went 0 for 5 and didn't put much in the box score.
Hidden within the numbers is the re-assuring fact that the starters (Nicholson/Martinelli/Barnhizer/Berry/Leach) went 31-18 against the Runnin Rebels in about 17 minutes.
The starting lineup has played together for the 4 games since Barnhizer returned. They struggled against Pepperdine, but have been very effective in the other 3 games.
31-18 against UNLV, 34-23 against Butler. 36-21 against Montana State.

EXCLUSIVE: Northwestern will be 'very aggressive' in early portal window

Armed with more NIL money, sources say the Cats are ready to rebuild their roster with transfers next month.

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