Ohio Preview

Welcome back to another season of Northwestern football! Welcome back, additionally, to another season of my incoherent ramblings about Northwestern football! This year looks like it could be a long one (and unfortunately I don't mean that it won't end until early January.) But, for now, I refuse to be fully depressed about the prospects for 2005 until I at least see some action on the field. So, a little housekeeping and then on with the show.

Here's how it works. Before each game I'll post a preview, hopefully before Thursday afternoon. Then by Friday afternoon I'll have the whether report. Sometime before gametime on Saturday I'll have the weather report up. If a game gets moved from Saturday, all that stuff shifts appropriately. The previews (like this one!) tell you everything you need to know about the opposition de la semaine and whatever else I think is important or amusing.

The Cats' first test this season is at home against the Ohio University Bobcats. Last year, Ohio went 4-7 overall, and 2-6 in the MAC. Their four wins were over a few hapless teams: VMI, Buffalo, Kentucky and UCF. Cumulative 2004 record of those four teams? 4-40. So, you'd think this is a cupcake for NU. Well, maybe. But the Bobcats are coached by newly hired Frank Solich. That's formerly-of-Nebraska Frank Solich. I didn't want to mention the Alamo Bowl, but it looks like I just did. So let's just leave it at that.

Ohio has a handful of returning starters on either side of the ball. An experienced backup moving in to start at QB. Blah blah blah. They've been sucky for several years, and who knows if a new coach can change all that in an off-season. So I'm a lot more excited to see if they have funny names...

* Generic girls' names: Matron Church (Jr, LB) & Brandon Maiden (Fr, WR)
* Specific girl's name!: Thomas Christy (Sr, TE)
* I got nothing, but isn't this an awesome name for a town: Nanty-Glo, PA - Todd Koening (So, RB)
* I hardly even know 'er!: Lasher (good one!), Miller (x3), Schussler, & Turner

Keys to a Cats win:
1. 6.5+ yards/pass attempt.
2. 125 total yards rushing.
3. Better-than-Ohio kicking (FGs, PATs, kickoffs, punts)

For entertainment purposes only:
The line I've seen for this game is NU -14 1/2. I haven't seen an O/U yet, but I'm gonna guess 45. I'll update here or in the whether if I see otherwise.


GO CATS!