Say Josh, tell me whether...
...you want to start with an easy one.
Please.
...you correctly predicted Coach Fitzgerald's QB pick.
I def totes did.
...you've got a "Basanez, Uh Huh, I Like It"-caliber song set for Mike Kafka
Well, for now, I think we can repurpose that classic MJ-Gatorade "(I Wanna) Be Like Mike." I'm still working on it, though. I hope for a better one soon.
More whether, and my pick after the jump.
...there's any roster news of note.
Well, Kim Thompson and Frayne Abernathy are out for about a month each. Also David Ngene is out for at least 1 game. Maybe more importantly, Ivan Tolic is back on the basketball team! This can only be good. 7 more years!
...there is anything else the world needs to know about Miami.
I understand that it's a dry campus. This might surprise you, but I think that's a good thing. Just think how great life would be if there were no rain. They must have the most on-schedule baseball team in the country!
...you've got a line on the game.
I'm seeing NU -4, O/U 56.
...you're making a pick.
I say NU27, Miami 20.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Miami Weather Forecast
The weather for the Wildcats' 2006 opener in Ohio is projected to be august. No, not August. I'm not talking about mid-80s in the day with a cool night breeze overnight lows in the low 60s. I'm talking august, adj,: inspiring mingled reverence and admiration.
So the august weather? Yeah, if you're in Oxford you're gonna be genuflecting when you are in the presense of the weather. You'll be worried about what the weather thinks of your attitude and trying to curry its favour.
Not surprising that conditions like that follow the Cats wherever they go. Maybe I should just copy this entry 6 times this year.
Cats win!
So the august weather? Yeah, if you're in Oxford you're gonna be genuflecting when you are in the presense of the weather. You'll be worried about what the weather thinks of your attitude and trying to curry its favour.
Not surprising that conditions like that follow the Cats wherever they go. Maybe I should just copy this entry 6 times this year.
Cats win!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Miami Road Trip Guide
The first road trip opportunity of 2006 comes up right out of the chute, so here are the 3 most important things you'll need to know if you're joining me to see the ApostroCats dismantle the Imbredhawks:
More after the jump.
Location: As everyone knows, Miami of Ohio is neither a pea nor a nut...wait, maybe that's for cashews. Right, Miami is neither in Miami nor in Ohio. MU plays in lovely Oxford, England. It's just a 5-1/2 hour drive from Evanston, so you've got no excuse not to go.
Location: Namely, the location of your purple summerwear. Even though this will be a night game, it's still on August 31st. So those purple anoraks, purple crampons, and purple wooly mammoth-skin pants from last winter's road trip? Leave them at home in favor of purple speedos, purple aquasocks, and purple oversized novelty sunglasses.
Location: Usually, the visiting crowd gets shunted off to a distant part of the home stadium. At Yager Stadium, I think we'll actually be represented by a different congressman than the MU faithful. So, vigorous and pithy cheering is a must if you want to get your point across. Here are some suggestions:
More after the jump.
Location: As everyone knows, Miami of Ohio is neither a pea nor a nut...wait, maybe that's for cashews. Right, Miami is neither in Miami nor in Ohio. MU plays in lovely Oxford, England. It's just a 5-1/2 hour drive from Evanston, so you've got no excuse not to go.
Location: Namely, the location of your purple summerwear. Even though this will be a night game, it's still on August 31st. So those purple anoraks, purple crampons, and purple wooly mammoth-skin pants from last winter's road trip? Leave them at home in favor of purple speedos, purple aquasocks, and purple oversized novelty sunglasses.
Location: Usually, the visiting crowd gets shunted off to a distant part of the home stadium. At Yager Stadium, I think we'll actually be represented by a different congressman than the MU faithful. So, vigorous and pithy cheering is a must if you want to get your point across. Here are some suggestions:
- "Your campus is so dry that the champagne is particularly exquisite! Too bad you can't have any!"
- "Roethlisberger? I hardly even know 'er!"
- "Roethlisberger? I hardly even know the basics of motorcycle safety!"
- I think there's a Ben and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance joke here, but I can't quite form it.
- Now from some old crankitude, from an old crank...
- "Cats eat birds! Cats eat birds! We are Cats! You are birds! We eat you! You are dumb!"
- That is the end of the cheer. Each added word is punishable by pillorying.
Miami Preview
Welcome to the first 2006 installment of my many-times-per-week Northwestern Football Notebook. Normally, I'll try to give a game preview midweek before the game and the weather and whether reports on Friday. Reviews of games-that-were happen after the games-that-have-been. Got it?
If you haven't seen my 3-part NU season preview, go check that out and come back. That'll save some time today. Update: It sounds like Kafka is the starter against Miami. No official word yet, though.
More after the jump.
Here's what you need to know about our first opponent, the Redhawks of Miami (OH). Miami was a strong MAC team last year, going 5-3 in conference and 7-4 overall. They did it with a nice combination of O & D, scoring 33.7 ppg and allowing only 23.5. BUT they only return 2 starters on defense and 5 on offense from 2005.
Key Losses:
If you haven't seen my 3-part NU season preview, go check that out and come back. That'll save some time today. Update: It sounds like Kafka is the starter against Miami. No official word yet, though.
More after the jump.
Here's what you need to know about our first opponent, the Redhawks of Miami (OH). Miami was a strong MAC team last year, going 5-3 in conference and 7-4 overall. They did it with a nice combination of O & D, scoring 33.7 ppg and allowing only 23.5. BUT they only return 2 starters on defense and 5 on offense from 2005.
Key Losses:
- Starting QB Josh Betts
- 9 of the top 10 leading tacklers from 2005
- QB Mike Kokal (not the jazz pianist)
- 2005 leading rusher Brandon Murphy
- 2005 leading receiver Ryne Robinson
- Joey Card (DB), last year's 2nd-leading tackler
- Peris Edwards (DB, #28) - Just, you know, read and write that name carefully.
- Rion Robinson (LB, #46) & Ryne Robinson (WR, #2) - Do you think they were both named Ryan and each had to change his name to avoid confusion? I don't. But you do now.
- Tranaine Sills (DL, #90) & Frank Wiwo (DB, #5) - Not so much their names -- although Tranaine Wiwo Held will be my first-born -- but their high school: Northwestern H.S. in Miami, FL. Confused much, boys?
- Decker, Meister, Mester, Miller, Miller, Painter, Potter, Rummler, Sutter - I hardly even know 'er! From here on out, that joke will be implied.
Josh's StatWatch. Now taking all comers.
Up through last year, I was having a little informal competition with Randy Walker. He may not have known it, but we were squaring off in the Football Win-Prediction Statistic arena. With his passing, and in the absence of an opinion on the topic from Coach Fitzgerald, I am opening this up to all challengers. How it works after the jump.
More after the jump.
Here's my stat: Yards per Pass Attempt (YPA). Greater than 6.5 y/a predicts a win. Less than 6.5 predicts a loss. Last year I was 11-1 predicting individual outcomes.
Your challenge? Suggest a statistic -- it can be on the usual stat sheet, or it can be one you've come up with yourself -- and a metric to determine the W/L prediction. No fair choosing score differential or a boolean like
if WIN == YES
return win
I'll keep track of the results throughout the season. So, bring it!
More after the jump.
Here's my stat: Yards per Pass Attempt (YPA). Greater than 6.5 y/a predicts a win. Less than 6.5 predicts a loss. Last year I was 11-1 predicting individual outcomes.
Your challenge? Suggest a statistic -- it can be on the usual stat sheet, or it can be one you've come up with yourself -- and a metric to determine the W/L prediction. No fair choosing score differential or a boolean like
if WIN == YES
return win
I'll keep track of the results throughout the season. So, bring it!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
NU 2006 Preview! Part III
In the final part of the general season preview, we get to perhaps the most intriguing side of the 2006 Wildcats. There are reasons to be excited: Tyrell Sutton and Ross Lane with a year of experience under their belts; a possible power running game with junior Frayne Abernathy. There are important questions to be answered: Which QB will lead the offense? Who will be the primary receiver? Will the veteran O-line hold up all season?
More after the jump.
I'll work my way out and back from the snap, this time.
Line'em up!: For 2006, Northwestern has its most experienced offensive line in years. While they're a little lighter than in the past, they still have an average weight of 301 pounds. The loss of OT Zach Strief will be tough, but he is replaced by junior Austin Matthews. Rounding out the line should be juniors Dylan Thiry (OT) and Trevor Rees (C) and senior OGs Ryan Keenan and Joe Tripodi. If the line stays healthy, it should offer good protection to whichever QB gets the nod. Indications are that last year's center, now a sophomore, Joe Belding will also see time.
Can You Hear Me Now?: Get it? It's about reception? So here's where I'm gonna talk about receivers. Ohhhhhhhh. Out wide, one hopes that Shaun Herbert keeps up his pace from last year when he led the team in yards and catches. In fact, every player that caught a pass for NU last year is returning this year, except for Fields an Philmore. I expect that Ross Lane and Kim Thompson will have good years and continue to improve. The biggest questions here are junior Tonjua Jones and FB/TE Erryn Cobb. Those two, with the other three mentioned, could make up a nice quintet of 6'-1"+ targets from the QB.
You say Tyrell. I say Terrell: Apparently, all of the RBs are healthy through Camp Kenosha. Obviously, Sutton is the opening day starter. He's already earning national attention, so let's hope is legs (and hands) are up for the challenge. Hopefully we'll see 2-back formations with Sutton-Roberson, Sutton-Abernathy or Sutton-Jordan with some frequency this year, which can only help Tyrell. It is likely that Nathan Shanks, Omar Conteh and Gerard Hamlett will only see special teams work.
The $64,000 Question: What's that position that gets the ball every play from the center? The spinning fullback? Well, whatever, that's the last one to cover here. First, let me say that I believe Coach Fitzgerald has made this decision already, and I think we'll hear about it before the end of the week. Now, here's my prediction: Mike Kafka as starter, with C.J. Bachér as his backup. I wouldn't be surprised to see both, or even all three, in the first couple games of the year.
More after the jump.
I'll work my way out and back from the snap, this time.
Line'em up!: For 2006, Northwestern has its most experienced offensive line in years. While they're a little lighter than in the past, they still have an average weight of 301 pounds. The loss of OT Zach Strief will be tough, but he is replaced by junior Austin Matthews. Rounding out the line should be juniors Dylan Thiry (OT) and Trevor Rees (C) and senior OGs Ryan Keenan and Joe Tripodi. If the line stays healthy, it should offer good protection to whichever QB gets the nod. Indications are that last year's center, now a sophomore, Joe Belding will also see time.
Can You Hear Me Now?: Get it? It's about reception? So here's where I'm gonna talk about receivers. Ohhhhhhhh. Out wide, one hopes that Shaun Herbert keeps up his pace from last year when he led the team in yards and catches. In fact, every player that caught a pass for NU last year is returning this year, except for Fields an Philmore. I expect that Ross Lane and Kim Thompson will have good years and continue to improve. The biggest questions here are junior Tonjua Jones and FB/TE Erryn Cobb. Those two, with the other three mentioned, could make up a nice quintet of 6'-1"+ targets from the QB.
You say Tyrell. I say Terrell: Apparently, all of the RBs are healthy through Camp Kenosha. Obviously, Sutton is the opening day starter. He's already earning national attention, so let's hope is legs (and hands) are up for the challenge. Hopefully we'll see 2-back formations with Sutton-Roberson, Sutton-Abernathy or Sutton-Jordan with some frequency this year, which can only help Tyrell. It is likely that Nathan Shanks, Omar Conteh and Gerard Hamlett will only see special teams work.
The $64,000 Question: What's that position that gets the ball every play from the center? The spinning fullback? Well, whatever, that's the last one to cover here. First, let me say that I believe Coach Fitzgerald has made this decision already, and I think we'll hear about it before the end of the week. Now, here's my prediction: Mike Kafka as starter, with C.J. Bachér as his backup. I wouldn't be surprised to see both, or even all three, in the first couple games of the year.
Monday, August 21, 2006
NU 2006 Preview! Part II
Let's pick up the preview ball on the defensive side, shall we? I've never been accused of being a pessimist about the Cats, so no reason to start now. My general feeling is that the defense will improve (it almost has to) and it will be for a couple reasons.
First, while Coach Fitzgerald promises to follow Coach Walker's offensive intentions, he is cleary a defense-guy where Walk was an offense-guy.
Second, our defense will build from the backfield forward, rather than back from a strong line. Probably, this will keep us from getting killed on big plays, even if we can't stifle the run or get at the QB.
More after the jump.
Keeping with point the second, we'll work from the backfield.
3 Good Backs, and someone else: Led by seniors CB Marquice Cole and S Bryan Heinz, and supported by experienced sophomore S Brendan Smith, the secondary should be pretty solid to start the season. Now the post-spring 2-deep has Eric Peterman (WR anyone?) at the other corner, but it could obviously go to Cory Dious. As in, when Cory goes out on the field, I Dious a little inside. But either would be the weak-side corner.
You're off the Case, McGarigle: The linebacker mold at NU keeps getting well-filled, and this year we'll have senior Demetrious Eaton on the strong side, senior Nick Roach on the weak side, and junior Adam Kadela in the middle. Kadela is only a junior? Excellent. I feel great about the linebackers, as I always do. So great that I'm not bothered by Chris Malleo pencilled in as Nick's backup.
At Least they'll be Better Next Year?: No seniors on the D-Line. Mims and Ngene (soph and junior) will be on the ends. They had some moments last year, and I hope they have some more. Sophomore John Gill will probably be one tackle, and the other could be Keegan Kennedy (I'm sorry; Keegan is a 12-year-old girl's name.) or redshirt frosh Adam Hahn. Not much to say about this crew, unless Ngene or Mims really steps up. Could see a lot of 5-yard runs on 1st down.
First, while Coach Fitzgerald promises to follow Coach Walker's offensive intentions, he is cleary a defense-guy where Walk was an offense-guy.
Second, our defense will build from the backfield forward, rather than back from a strong line. Probably, this will keep us from getting killed on big plays, even if we can't stifle the run or get at the QB.
More after the jump.
Keeping with point the second, we'll work from the backfield.
3 Good Backs, and someone else: Led by seniors CB Marquice Cole and S Bryan Heinz, and supported by experienced sophomore S Brendan Smith, the secondary should be pretty solid to start the season. Now the post-spring 2-deep has Eric Peterman (WR anyone?) at the other corner, but it could obviously go to Cory Dious. As in, when Cory goes out on the field, I Dious a little inside. But either would be the weak-side corner.
You're off the Case, McGarigle: The linebacker mold at NU keeps getting well-filled, and this year we'll have senior Demetrious Eaton on the strong side, senior Nick Roach on the weak side, and junior Adam Kadela in the middle. Kadela is only a junior? Excellent. I feel great about the linebackers, as I always do. So great that I'm not bothered by Chris Malleo pencilled in as Nick's backup.
At Least they'll be Better Next Year?: No seniors on the D-Line. Mims and Ngene (soph and junior) will be on the ends. They had some moments last year, and I hope they have some more. Sophomore John Gill will probably be one tackle, and the other could be Keegan Kennedy (I'm sorry; Keegan is a 12-year-old girl's name.) or redshirt frosh Adam Hahn. Not much to say about this crew, unless Ngene or Mims really steps up. Could see a lot of 5-yard runs on 1st down.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
NU 2006 Preview! Part I
Now that I've got my season tickets in my grubby little paws, it's officially almost time for some Northwestern football. God! It feels like it's been forever. Basketball and lacrosse kept my attention through June, but the malaisaic Phillies and US Soccer have left me longing for long snappers.
Speaking of which, why don't we start with the specials this time.
Special Teams and coaches after the jump.
Kicking and Screaming: Larscheid and and Howells. Words that flit through the breeze and alight upon the Wildcats kicking game. It seems we can't escape these two, so we may as well learn to love them. Yes, we may see Amado Villareal (P, PK) or Kyle Daley (P), but we shouldn't expect much from any of these.
Running (it) Back: Kick-offs may be Gerard Hamlett's only time to shine this year, if Sutton, Roberson and Jordan are all healthy. And Conteh and Shanks. Sorry Ham. The usual WR/CB punt returners are there, with Herbert and Cole in the roles of Patrick and Backes. Expect us to be in the top tier nationally in punt returning, barring injury.
Ahead of His Time: I think we all knew we'd see Pat Fitzgerald at the helm of BCS-conference team one day. And we all hoped it would be NU. Personally, I had him pencilled in to rise to Defensive Co-ordinator at Northwestern -- bringing the Cats' defense back to national attention for good reasons -- then getting tabbed as coach of another mid-range D-I team (MAC, maybe) before coming back to Evanston. Although all of that has been pushed ahead, the important thing with the season looming is this: are the guys gonna play for him? I'm sure that they will, and that a good start to the season will make him feel like a seasoned veteran by October.
Speaking of which, why don't we start with the specials this time.
Special Teams and coaches after the jump.
Kicking and Screaming: Larscheid and and Howells. Words that flit through the breeze and alight upon the Wildcats kicking game. It seems we can't escape these two, so we may as well learn to love them. Yes, we may see Amado Villareal (P, PK) or Kyle Daley (P), but we shouldn't expect much from any of these.
Running (it) Back: Kick-offs may be Gerard Hamlett's only time to shine this year, if Sutton, Roberson and Jordan are all healthy. And Conteh and Shanks. Sorry Ham. The usual WR/CB punt returners are there, with Herbert and Cole in the roles of Patrick and Backes. Expect us to be in the top tier nationally in punt returning, barring injury.
Ahead of His Time: I think we all knew we'd see Pat Fitzgerald at the helm of BCS-conference team one day. And we all hoped it would be NU. Personally, I had him pencilled in to rise to Defensive Co-ordinator at Northwestern -- bringing the Cats' defense back to national attention for good reasons -- then getting tabbed as coach of another mid-range D-I team (MAC, maybe) before coming back to Evanston. Although all of that has been pushed ahead, the important thing with the season looming is this: are the guys gonna play for him? I'm sure that they will, and that a good start to the season will make him feel like a seasoned veteran by October.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
The Premise
Here it is:
Ann and Annabelle get married. Wanting children, each carries and delivers an abandoned embryo from a fertility clinic. Thus, Ann and Annabelle begat Jon and Jonathan, respectively.
Then, A&A break up and marry Ed and Edward, respectively. Ann and Ed beget Ron; Annabelle and Edward beget Ronald. A&E and A&E share custody of J&J.
Then, the two A&E's break up. Ed and Edward are out of the picture, replaced by Ken and Kenneth. Respectively.
Then, Ann and Annabelle die in a fiery glider crash, leaving Ken and Kenneth with Jon, Ron, Jonathan, and Ronald.
In the aftermath of the deaths of A&A, K&K find love together and marry. Together, they have joint custody of their various step-sons.
I call it, The Aristocrats.
Or possibly, One Step at a Time.
Also, all their grandfathers are vampires.
Ann and Annabelle get married. Wanting children, each carries and delivers an abandoned embryo from a fertility clinic. Thus, Ann and Annabelle begat Jon and Jonathan, respectively.
Then, A&A break up and marry Ed and Edward, respectively. Ann and Ed beget Ron; Annabelle and Edward beget Ronald. A&E and A&E share custody of J&J.
Then, the two A&E's break up. Ed and Edward are out of the picture, replaced by Ken and Kenneth. Respectively.
Then, Ann and Annabelle die in a fiery glider crash, leaving Ken and Kenneth with Jon, Ron, Jonathan, and Ronald.
In the aftermath of the deaths of A&A, K&K find love together and marry. Together, they have joint custody of their various step-sons.
I call it, The Aristocrats.
Or possibly, One Step at a Time.
Also, all their grandfathers are vampires.
Monday, August 07, 2006
I'm a little bit meta. [You're] a little bit rock 'n' roll.
Mostly this is a plug for Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, the quizzy sort of show on NPR. I whimfully subscribed to the podcast yesterday -- looking for a free alternative to CarTalk -- and I've been listening this morning. I've heard Barack Obama, Ken Jennings and Tom Hanks on the That's Not My Job segment, each of which was excellent.
In an unrelated portion of the show, spawning from discussion of Ken Jenning's blog, the following quote really struck home:
"I want to be the kind of person who is really creative and just has to blog it out. But there's so much poker on TV." - I don't know the voices well enough to give credit.
If I ever get tired of the Sutton business, that's going up in my headline.
In an unrelated portion of the show, spawning from discussion of Ken Jenning's blog, the following quote really struck home:
"I want to be the kind of person who is really creative and just has to blog it out. But there's so much poker on TV." - I don't know the voices well enough to give credit.
If I ever get tired of the Sutton business, that's going up in my headline.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Josh's Big Ten Predictions
I know what you're thinking...which will be the first Big Ten team in the Champs Sports Bowl? It's only natural to have these kinds of feelings. After all, the Big Ten kicks off play in a short 25 days. Well, I've got the answers for you. Full predicted standings after the jump, but here's the highlights:
Big Ten Champs: Iowa
Champs Sports Bowl*: Wisconsin (since you asked)
Northwestern? Insight Bowl
*Update: Of course, Penn State played in this game (twice) as the Blockbuster Bowl and Illinois as the MicronPC Bowl.
More after the jump.
Big Ten Champs: Iowa
Champs Sports Bowl*: Wisconsin (since you asked)
Northwestern? Insight Bowl
*Update: Of course, Penn State played in this game (twice) as the Blockbuster Bowl and Illinois as the MicronPC Bowl.
More after the jump.
BigTen Overall Bowl Game
Iowa 7-1 11-1 Rose
OSU 7-1 10-2 Capital One
PSU 7-1 10-2 Outback
Mich 6-2 9-3 Alamo
Wisc 5-3 9-3 Champs Sports
NU 3-5 7-5 Insight
Minn 3-5 6-6 Motor City
Ill 3-5 5-7
MSU 2-6 4-8
PU 1-7 4-9
Ind 1-7 3-9
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