New Hampshire Preview

Northwestern (1-0) takes on the University of New Hampshire (0-0) in the Wildcats' 2006 Dyche Stadium debut. Let's all make the joke together: Which Wildcats? Yes, UNH's team nickname is also Wildcats. To prevent confusion, why don't we all agree to call Northwestern the Cats (of ApostroCats, if you like) and UNH the cAAts. Get it? Good.

After a good-but-not-great win at Miami last Thursday, Northwestern will be seeking to the answers to two very basic questions on Satuday against the cAAts:

1. Defense good?
2. Offense good?

Is our D improved enough to stop a cohesive and prolific offense, albeit one from I-AA? Does our offense have enough pure talent and fundamental skill to take apart an average-to-good I-AA defense?

UNH players to watch, after the jump.

There are two cAAts on offense that matter most to the Cats:

• QB, Ricky Santos (#2) - 7,115 passing yards in two years. Yeah.
• WR, David Ball (#3) - 3,541 receiving yards in three years. Again, yeah.

I don't know where this fits in, but it's kind of awesome. Where do the cAAts lift weights? The Jerry Azumah Performance Center.

Some names to know. This will mean you don't even need to say "cAAts." You can yell, "Matt, Mike, Jim, & Jim VII!" if you prefer:

• Glen Waldron (OL, #73) - Not the Glen Waldron I went to school with, however.
  
• Omar Thomas, Tom Neill, Terell Lewis, Kyle Lewis, Matt Henry - Two first names does not a whole name make.
• Cory Dix (DL, #93) - I don't write 'em, I just...write 'em? Moving along!
• Keith LeVan (WR, #19) - It's french for "the van." The more you know.
  
• Asker, Couturier, Dozler, Duper, Palmer, Pammer, St. Peter, Taylor, Trotter, Wagner - Hee. Palmer.

Go Cats!