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:

• Starting QB Josh Betts
• 9 of the top 10 leading tacklers from 2005

Players to watch against NU

• 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

Players to mock against NU, solely because of their names

• 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.

Go Cats!