Will Sullivan be available?

Apparently the Vandy DB Coach came out in support of Kanye? How dumb can you be?? Looks like school might be wavering on his status a bit.

Login to view embedded media

Evan Hull will be playing in front of his home town crowd in the Twin Cities this weekend. This is his first visit to Minneapolis as a Cat. I am certain he has had this game marked on his calendar since he signed with NU. I can only hope that the coaches and his teammates give it their all to help Evan win this game. Evan has been a relentlessly positive player who has made the most of his skill set. This may be the last year we see him as an NU Wildcat. I can think of no better way to honor his commitment to the Northwestern Football Family than to help him win one in front of his family and friends in Minnesota. Go Cats!

It appears the team has been improving. What do you think about our last three games ? Can we win them all ?

Is his contract.

Fitz committed to NU for life and NU committed to Fitz for life after the Citrus Bowl. He (and his agent) wisely included adequate provisions in his contract that accounted for bad stretches of seasons, like this. I think that given NU’s history it was clearly the right move for the school (and for Fitz) and still is.

However, at 90%+ of other programs, any AD would be negligent if they did not seek a replacement for the head coach after a stretch of seasons like this. Because Fitz’s contract would painfully punish the school if the AD tried to fire him, it gets the AD off the hook for negligence in oversight of the football program.

But (absent any clauses that Fitz has in his contract expressly preventing the school from meddling in the football hiring practices, which if Fitz has, the program may very well be screwed) does not prevent the AD from meddling in the hiring of other football coaches. To do so competently, the AD is going to need to establish an objectively reasonable set of criteria and mandate that Fitz has to follow them to find a competent defensive coordinator. If Fitz doesn’t (again not privy to the contractual exclusions that may be baked in), then Fitz could be let go for cause (basically a “PIP”) - which likely would dramatically impact the buyout for Fitz.

I hope it never comes to that. I hope that Fitz acts independently of any mandate to replace the lack of defensive leadership competence as soon as practicable. But I believe that Fitz’s loyalties will cloud objective judgment and action for what is right for the football program. Thus, the AD must proceed with something similar to the above because of Fitz’s contract.

The above cannot take place in a matter of days or weeks. It is likely that the AD has already started some similar process in preparation for imposing it on Fitz at the end of the season. There could be a “promotion from within,” but I just don’t believe that Fitz would fire a friend in the season. It has to happen at the end of the season, with the AD creating the “for cause” situation so Fitz doesn’t need to be the one to fire his friend.

It’s one official visitor down, and two to go for Northwestern basketball this month.

The Wildcats hosted Missouri point guard Cameron Carr last weekend for his official visit. This weekend, California point guard Parker Strauss will be in Evanston for his official. Then, next weekend, wing Blake Barkley from West Virginia will arrive for his OV.

By the end of the month, the Wildcats hope to have a class to join point guard Jordan Clayton, who committed to the program in August. The goal is to bring in three guards and a wing, so if NU can land all three visitors this month, their work will be done for the class.

At this point, it is not known whether guards Boo Buie and Chase Audige will return for their free COVID year next season. Either way, the Wildcats will be fine with numbers: there are only 10 scholarship players on the current roster.

That scholarship situation gives you an idea of where head coach Chris Collins and the Wildcats are as a program. He is trying to reboot after five straight losing seasons and getting a “win or else”-type of message from his athletic director after last year’s disappointing finish. You can just imagine how difficult that has made recruiting in this cycle.

Our attempts to reach Carr to get his thoughts on his official visit experience have been unsuccessful. But sources say that all went well and the NU staff feels pretty good about its chances to land the 6-foot-5 guard.

It looks like Kansas State will be the primary competition for Carr, who grew up in Manhattan, Kan. His father, former NBA player Chris Carr, was on the women’s basketball staff at K-State, and his sister, Chrissy, played for the Wildcats. But Chris is no longer with the program and Chrissy transferred to Syracuse, so the family ties to KSU are no longer there.

Northwestern has got to be the overwhelming favorite to land Strauss. He announced a Top 6 in early August of Northwestern, Fordham, Colorado State, Wyoming, Southern Utah and Lehigh. The Wildcats are the only Power Six program on the list, and also the best academic school. This will be Strauss’ first official visit.

Barkley, a 6-foot-8 wing who will play in the NEPSAC this season, is another prospect without another high-major offer. He will take an official visit to Akron this weekend before making the trip to Evanston at the end of the month.

Northwestern's staff feels like they've unearthed some "diamonds in the rough" in this class, sleepers who flew under the radar but will be valuable contributors for the Wildcats in the future. However, it's telling that of the 44 combined offers for their three remaining targets -- Carr has 12, Strauss 13 and Barkley 19 -- just one comes from a Power Six program.

Not even law school could keep @mikefitz77 away from WildcatReport! He wants to come back and write on a limited basis. I guess the guy is a glutton for punishment.

At least it's not painted Pink....

The Titans vs Chiefs game last night was a good example of what happens when a team with a one-dimensional and predictable offense -- even one with a decent defense and one of the best running backs ever to play the game -- collides with a team with an accurate and unpredictable passing attack (and at least a modest ability to run the ball). The Titans were fortunate even to make it to overtime.

Super inferior opponent so keep that in mind. Chicago state was athletic but really undisciplined.

Top two players easily are Audige and Buie. Don’t quite understand why there was debate about that on the basketball board.

Need to box out more. They were very bad about getting a body on someone in the 1st half.

Berry lost his man a few times leaving open 3’s

Audige and Buie penetrating then finding an open man seems to be the offense. Some nice passes by both as well as bad decisions by both. A few lazy passes where if they put some pace or did a bounce pass it would have made it there. Not too many bad shots by either. They seem to realize (at least against an inferior opponent) that they need to get their teammates involved and their looks will come.

It’ll be interesting to see how the 5’s do against better competition as both seemed to be in position defensively and make nice plays. Big Matt had some nice hands on few plays where as Verhoeven bobbled a pass down low which if got cleanly would have been a nice dunk.

Defensively this team isn’t that bad by B1G standards. Offensively leaves a lot to be desired. Team will go as far as Audige and Buie carry them. NU will need them both to play very well to win games a well as someone else to step up game to game.

Not gonna find too many positive takeaways as it’s hard to gauge from the level of competition. These games just win big and avoid negative takeaways.

Not even law school could keep @mikefitz77 away from WildcatReport! He wants to come back and write on a limited basis. I guess the guy is a glutton for punishment.

OK, here is my perspective from the distant Northland:

Playing, as the team did, on national TV with the coveted ABC midday time slot (OK morning for me here in Alaska) had to have had positive impact for the Wildcats.

I fully expected the programming to be an OSU love fest, however it was anything but. There were more clips of our Offensive Coordinator in the booth than that of the opposition's. Of course winning the time of possession partly accounted for that. The graphics of the new stadium being revealed to the world was priceless ad time for Northwestern's football program. Even our obligatory NU Commercial was well executed and complemented the play on the field.

Hull in particular came across as the stud of the game with OSU's Heisman hopeful an after thought.

Going by the texts I got during the game signaled that the whole College Football World was on upset alert and we were evidently the story of the day. Apparently across the nation viewers were tuning in to root for the Cats.

By Corey Schmidt
Pioneer Press
•
Nov 07, 2022 at 2:20 pm

Evanston residents expressed concern at a recent meeting hosted by City Councilmember Eleanor Revelle about how Northwestern’s new Ryan Field proposal could impact the area’s culture, saying it could resemble Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood.

Wrigleyville is known for its Cubs games and bar scene and residents are concerned that by allowing more events and concerts at the field that the surrounding neighborhood will be disrupted.

A proposed text amendment is expected to expand the venue’s hosting privileges to 12 community and cultural events — including concerts, allow external event sponsors, and a 25,000-person capacity increase. Current policy allows the stadium to host a maximum of seven community events per year with a 10,000-person capacity, according to a Northwestern University presentation.

“Currently, we have a handful of football games a year that have 35,000 or more fans and you’re proposing to have (a total of 12 additional events) with 35,000 people. At some point, (there is) a point where a line is crossed and the neighborhood changes,” resident John Labbe said. “I mean Wrigley Field is a different type of stadium, different type of neighborhood.”

Northwestern’s Executive Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations Dave Davis said the project will not significantly impact the area’s culture because events will primarily be held during certain times of the year.

“It’s not going to be a dome, it is going to be a canopied facility and so (events won’t be held year-round, it will be) over about a seven-month time frame,” Davis said. “(At) 12 events, we’re looking at one or maybe two events per month.”

Despite Davis’ reassurance, residents are worried about how concerts could disturb nearby residents. Northwestern’s Project Manager Steven Himes, who also worked on the 2018 Welsh-Ryan Arena renovation, said the stadium’s design will help contain noise.

“The stadium would have partial facades that are partially enclosed on its vertical surfaces — not entirely but partially — and then there is a 360 degrees canopy extending from the perimeter over the seating bowl that will help reflect sound into the stadium to contain that sound,” Himes said.

Ryan Field currently has a 47,130-person capacity for all events. This new stadium would put it at 35,000 for all events, which is roughly 15,000 below the next smallest Big Ten Conference stadium.

The text amendment has various obstacles to navigate before gaining city approval. Northwestern will submit an application to city staff to be analyzed and get approved to appear before City Council by both the Land Use Commission and the Planning and Development Committee, according to a Northwestern University presentation. Once approved by those two bodies, it moves on to City Council.

Public comment will be available throughout the process at each step.

The text amendment process is expected to begin in winter 2022 and wrap up during 2023, according to Northwestern’s anticipated timeline.

Northwestern will submit a planned development application, the presentation showed. City staff will review the proposed plans to determine what city code variations will be required. After city analysis, a projected and design review will take place where city staff will provide further comments on the proposed project. It will then appear before the Land Use Commission and Planning and Development Committee before making it to City Council. The anticipated budget outlines this process beginning in winter 2022 to extend through summer 2023 with public input being heard by both committees and City Council.

Northwestern’s presentation said the university wants to enhance the event-going experience for its visitors through concessions and alcohol sales. This will require an updated liquor license request to be authorized by the city. The license will go through the Liquor Control Board, Administration and Public Works Committee and City Council with public input allowed by all three entities, according to the presentation.

“One of the areas we’re looking to improve is providing our guests with a better food and beverage and concessions experience,” Denee Barracato, deputy director of athletics at Northwestern, said. “Alcohol and the offering of alcohol in all of our spaces is an area we intend to improve not just for our premium ticket holders but really all fans in general admission seating.”

Revelle plans to hold a series of Ryan Field meetings that will be advertised in the 7th Ward newsletter.

Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.

Just squashed by Oregon. They scored 100!

It was only a matter of time before the NIMBYS started to check in. I was shocked no mention of public urination.

Just like Fitz:

"This was an ass-kicking, period," Swinney said. "That's what it is. Just flat-out got our tails handed to us. That's unfortunate. It hasn't happened a lot, but it's happened a few times along the way. We've handed out a bunch of them, too. Tonight, we were the bug. We got the bad end of that deal, and we deserved every second of it."

Clemson suffered its worst loss to an unranked opponent since falling by 24 to NC State in 2011. Although Clemson had to rally to beat Syracuseand remain undefeated Oct. 22, the team had an extra week to prepare for Notre Dame, which had fallen to Marshall and Stanford on its home field.

"This was a really bad day and all the criticism was warranted and just should be directed at me, period," Swinney said. "This is one of the most disappointing days that I've had as a head coach.”

"Non-Covid illness"

Collins hopes he will be able to play Friday.

Time for another year of Big Ten hoops. All times CENTRAL. All games nationally televised unless otherwise indicated. I will add announcers as they are assigned.

First, the NU games:

Chicago State @ Northwestern
Monday, November 7
7:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Northern Illinois @ Northwestern
Friday, November 11
7:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

And the rest:

Monday, November 7

Purdue Fort Wayne @ Michigan
5:30 PM, BTN
PxP: Kevin Kugler
Color: Stephen Bardo

Bethune-Cookman @ Iowa
6:00 PM, ESPNU
PxP: John Schriffen
Color: Robbie Hummel

Morehead State @ Indiana
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Niagara @ Maryland
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Northern Arizona @ Michigan State
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Robert Morris @ Ohio State
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Winthrop @ Penn State
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Columbia @ Rutgers
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Maine @ Nebraska
7:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

South Dakota @ Wisconsin
7:30 PM, BTN
PxP: Chris Vosters
Color: Shon Morris

Eastern Illinois @ Illinois
8:00 PM, ESPNU
PxP: Jordan Bernfield
Color: Jon Crispin

Western Michigan @ Minnesota
8:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Tuesday, November 8

Milwaukee @ Purdue
5:30 PM, BTN
PxP: Kevin Kugler
Color: Bruce Weber

Thursday, November 10

Charleston Southern @ Ohio State
5:30 PM, BTN
PxP: Kevin Kugler
Color: Jess Settles

Western Carolina @ Maryland
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Loyola (MD) @ Penn State
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Sacred Heart @ Rutgers
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Omaha @ Nebraska
7:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Bethune-Cookman @ Indiana
7:30 PM, BTN
PxP: Brandon Gaudin
Color: Robbie Hummel

Friday, November 11

Michigan State vs. Gonzaga @ San Diego, CA (USS Abraham Lincoln)
5:30 PM, ESPN
PxP: Dan Shulman
Color: Jay Bilas

Austin Peay @ Purdue
6:00 PM, BTN
PxP: Tyler Terens
Color: Rapheal Davis

St. Francis Brooklyn @ Minnesota
6:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Wisconsin vs. Stanford @ Milwaukee, WI
6:30 PM, FS1
PxP: Jeff Levering
Color: Stephen Bardo

North Carolina A&T @ Iowa
7:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan @ Detroit, MI
8:00 PM, ESPNU
PxP: Jordan Bernfield
Color: Robbie Hummel

Kansas City @ Illinois
8:00 PM, BTN
PxP: Connor Onion
Color: Bruce Weber

Saturday, November 12

UMass Lowell @ Rutgers
1:00 PM, UNTELEVISED (BTN+)

Now that we’re pretty much done with transfers, what do you think our 2022 regular season record will be?

Nebraska (Dublin)
Duke
Southern Illinois
Miami of Ohio
@Penn State
Wisconsin
(bye)
@Maryland
@Iowa
Ohio State
@Minnesota
@Purdue
Illinois

The VB team took Nebraska to five sets today, and almost won it all in the fourth set (lost 25-23). The team really looks good this year; I would not want to play them in the NCAA’s this year.

I realize this is probably a very stupid question but does anyone know if there is anything new/exciting concessions wise? I didn't make the Quincy game and in usual NU Marketing form the gameday information page for basketball hasn't been updated since last year.

Just having the stop at Bluestone pre-game vs. grab something at W-R debate.

I tracked down efficiency stats for NU basketball as far back as this source goes... (https://evanmiya.com)
Only D1 games are included. There are about 355 D1 teams. There are about 75 teams in the Power 6 conferences.

What is immediately obvious is that...

a) under Chris Collins, we have never been a good offensive team.
b) Our best national rank (offensively) in 9 years is 74th. Thats bad.
c) under Collins we have been better on defense than offense 7 out of 9 seasons.
d) the NCAA tournament team was anchored by a strong defense, ranked 19th overall.
e) the injury-riddled team that led to Carmody's dismissal was better offensively than 6 of Collins' 9 teams, but worse on defense than 8 of 9.

...and have any burned their red shirts?