Big time TE prospect Lincoln Watkins (26 offers), out of Port Huron Northern HS in Michigan picks up an NU offer.

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For those wondering why MKE? I'm gonna intuit that this had to be a neutral site game, and this date is after both schools' finish finals.

The eighth question in our Ten Questions series.

Includes a strange comment regarding the “renovation” of Ryan Field. Safe to assume Dodd didn’t make it to Central Stret when writing this piece. 🤦‍♂️

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NU released the full non conference schedule. No home games of note this season.

Thankfully, Chicago State is not on the schedule.......

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@lou v talked to Northwestern target Matthew Able about his official visit to Evanston and his recruiting outlook.

Guess who's on the list

Looks like the official roster has updated height and weights: https://nusports.com/sports/football/roster

There are a lot of guys +/- 5 pounds or so, but that’s usually not terribly material. Some more notable observations:

• Porter at 213 vs 220 last year is interesting. Perhaps an attempt to get him a little more explosive?
• Flakes at 291 vs 280
• Magee at 223 vs 205, though he’s still got a LONG way to go
• Komolafe at 208 vs 195
• Kilabne at 267 vs 250
• Roberts at 280 vs 295 (down 15)
• Thompson at 301 vs 315 (down 14)
• Birsa at 308 vs 290
• McGuire at 302 vs 310 (down 8)
• Knox at 326 vs 300. Dude is built like a fire hydrant, but that’s a lot (especially for a guy coming off a broken ankle)
• Petrucci at 246 vs 225

After more than a decade on hiatus, EA Sports' college football video game franchise is back. I broke down what Northwestern looks and plays like in the new game.

The women's non-conference schedule has been released. This seems pretty manageable for a team that really needs to be better than the last few seasons.

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Edey went #9 overall.
That certainly surprised most of the "experts."
However Clingan went #7.
I realize the NBA is a different version of basketball, but if you swapped Edey and Clingan in the NCAA championship game, UConn would have won about 100-20.

The top 8 picks consisted of...
3 French kids
2 UConn players - a freshman and a sophomore
2 Kentucky freshmen
1 guy from the G-League.

Then Memphis said "Lets take the giant."

Indiana's sophomore Kel El Ware went #15.
Soon to be 24 years old, Illinois senior Terrence Shannon went #27.
Creighton's Baylor Scheierman was another college senior taken, at #30. He's also approaching 24 years old.

Here are the promised photos to accompany my previously posted YouTube Video of our Grizzly Bear encounter from this past weekend while hiking the trail to Alaska's Kenai River. The location was in close proximity to where Dan Brigley was attacked and nearly killed by a Grizzly Bear on a similar trail close to the Russian River. Dan, who was blinded in the mauling, is the subject of a 2022 Documentary titled, "I survived being mauled by a bear" and is the author of an earlier book titled, "Beyond the Bear."

FWIW, a former client Larry Kaniut has written a series of books about bear attacks in Alaska. In his "More Alaska Bear Tales" which came out in 1989 he included a table of Bear Maulings in Alaska up to that date which totaled 170 recorded bear mauling incidents. A more recent compilation by "The Alaska Frontier" added another 66 for the time period between 2000 and 2017.

A shout out to 14 Year-Old Lincoln for alerting us to a bear just yards ahead on the trail headed to Alaska’s Kenai River.
As we avoided retreating so as to not suggest to the bear that we were prey, coupled with loud commanding voices, the now evident cinnamon colored Brown Bear vacated the trail and headed to the shore of close by Kenai River.
By the time we reached the same shore the bear had entered the water and initiated a swim to the opposite shore.
In this below video our cinnamon colored Brown Bear continues its swim along the shore line before disappearing into the woods,
The camera then pans upward and outward to reveal the spectacular setting that surrounds our idyllic fishing spot on the majestic Kenai River as seen in this early morning hour when the fog still blankets the ground and the surrounding mountains are illuminated by the morning sun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DudTGs9pHRg
Also, a shout out to Luke Nichols of “The Outdoor Boys” YouTube channel for his in person gracious fishing tips as to when and where to fish Alaska.
Following Luke’s advice we had a successful fishing trip on Alaska’s Kenai River and were able to enjoy the spectacular surrounding scenery uninterrupted by others during the early morning hours.

Click to expand...

>
OK, finally got the stills to load of the Cinnamon Colored Brown Grizzly Bear that we encountered on the trail before it vacated the trail, jumped into the Kenai River, and then swam across to the opposite bank:

Just got notice that NU men will play Georgia Tech at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Sunday December 15. Tickets will be good for 3 games with UW-Milwaukee playing Akron and Loyola playing U of San Francisco. Time and order of games to be announced later. No word on ticket prices.

Today my daughter and I had the good fortune to run into Coach Fitz in downtown Wilmette. He was having lunch with a friend and he looked great and was his usual enthusiastic self. He was totally Pat Fitzgerald. Remembered me and said that I looked great, I have lost 70 lbs. since I last saw him two years ago. We exchanged pleasantries and my daughter and I went to eat, after I mentioned to him how much I missed his presence at NU as HC. He thanked me and again was his fired up self. When we left, Fitz was still there and I kiddingly said, "I hear there is a school in search of an A.D.", and he looked at me with a smile and said basically that will never happen. I wished him well and gave my best to him, his wife and sons. He thanked me and the conversation ended without his familiar "Go Cats" which just seemed odd from all our previous conversations through the years. I should have foreseen it. What I saw from Pat was a complete and utter disdain, anger, lack of any connection and almost hatred to the University he gave his all to. I don't blame him one bit. He isn't perfect and can be arrogant without doubt, but his Alma Mater treated him like scum and until Schill, Gragg, Hagerty and Barris are terminated, we are watching the destruction of a Man who bled Purple, but will now bleed Green for all $$$ he will receive and unfortunately Black and Gold as IMO Iowa's next HC. Shame on you NU Administration.

I came across this story from Edgy on Kurt Anderson's son, Hawken. A 2026 OL, Hawken has MAC offers, as well as Austin Peay. He's working with his dad, as you might expect. Kurt doesn't have a a college or pro job but is going to be a volunteer coach this season at Glenbrook South, his alma mater and Hawken's school.

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Is this the year that NU flips the narrative on the Duke Non-Con rivalry?

Well, the tea leaves (tobacco leaves?) sure look good!

Duke has been absolutely gutted on defense, lost its star QB on offense, and totally changed over its coaching staff.

This is a game where NU might have an advantage in the trenches...on BOTH sides of the ball. Let's get some revenge on the Lake!

ITunes Link
Youtube Link

Thanks as always!
Sam, John, and Scuzz/The West Lot Pirates

The Washington Huskies played in the National Title Game last year...

...AND WE LIKE OUR CHANCES.

UW is turning over EVERY OFFENSIVE STARTER. The Huskies lose their FOUR BEST defensive players.

Oh, and Washington has a totally new coaching staff, featuring a DC who has never held that job before, at any level.

UW will be the home team. They'll have the decorated QB. They'll have the tradition. They'll have the recruiting stars.

And just maybe...they'll have all they can handle from the OTHER team in Purple.

ITunes Link
Youtube Link

Thanks as always!
Sam, John, and Scuzz/The West Lot Pirates

The Washington Huskies played in the National Title Game last year...

...AND WE LIKE OUR CHANCES.

UW is turning over EVERY OFFENSIVE STARTER. The Huskies lose their FOUR BEST defensive players.

Oh, and Washington has a totally new coaching staff, featuring a DC who has never held that job before, at any level.

UW will be the home team. They'll have the decorated QB. They'll have the tradition. They'll have the recruiting stars.

And just maybe...they'll have all they can handle from the OTHER team in Purple.

ITunes Link
Youtube Link

Thanks as always!
Sam, John, and Scuzz/The West Lot Pirates

Is this the year that NU flips the narrative on the Duke Non-Con rivalry?

Well, the tea leaves (tobacco leaves?) sure look good!

Duke has been absolutely gutted on defense, lost its star QB on offense, and totally changed over its coaching staff.

This is a game where NU might have an advantage in the trenches...on BOTH sides of the ball. Let's get some revenge on the Lake!

ITunes Link
Youtube Link

Thanks as always!
Sam, John, and Scuzz/The West Lot Pirates

@mshelton33 talked to the versatile, 6-8 wing after his official visit over the weekend.

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Transferred from Bolingbrook to Lincoln-Way East in January 2024. Let’s keep the pipeline flowing.