NOW do you understand you need to grow the mustache??
Were they who we thought they were (and we let them off the hook), or were WE who we thought we were?
Regardless, that game sucked, but the 24-hour grieving period is over, it is time to flush this one and move on to the Hoohoos. Before we do, though, let's take one last look at the game. Our observations and thoughts from what-could-have-been are coming right after we wait for Tom Skilling's 4th quarter pump-up speech to end.
Lost Mojo?
Are the "Cardiac 'Cats" gone? Anyone who took their pulse in the 4th quarter might say no, but, to me, the "Cardiac 'Cats" were defined by two "trademark" feelings:
The first was, when the 'Cats trailed with little-to-no time left and had the ball, just knowing that, no matter how improbable it seemed, they would get down to the other end and score. Or, if the other team had the ball, knowing that, however terribly they played for the previous 58 minutes, they would somehow make the stop and save the game (and we would all laugh and wonder where that defense was for the whole game, often when it involved the once-elusive pass rush).
We have not seen those 'Cats in quite some time, maybe since the Outback Bowl. People point to the Minnesota game, and it is a valid point. Our heroes staged a nice comeback and a defensive stop, but it just did not feel the same, possibly because that Minnesota team was so bad.
So, the question remains, have we lost our "mojo?"
Temporarily, perhaps, but people need to step back from the ledge. This is a talented team that just needs to find itself. Did Michigan State really look that "big and bad?" Of course not. We did not look overmatched, and, while MSU definitely is a good football team, it ultimately took a trick play, some really athletic catches by receivers who were well covered, and a fumble that fell in the only spot MSU could possibly have recovered it for them to ultimately take the lead. This was not the team that lost to Purdue-- as much as they have had the "Cardiac 'Cat" reputation, since Coach Fitz took over, NU has also become known for marked improvement over the course of the season. They most certainly got better from last week to this week, so it would appear that they have come out from the bye week on the right track. If it continues, that would seem to bode well for the 'Cats re-discovering the "magic" they have become known for.
Here's another reason I know we will be ok-- nobody, not even Coach Fitz, has had to take more shit this season than Stefan Demos. After a poor kicking performance vs Purdue, the senior comes out for the biggest game of the year and, on essentially one leg (anyone else notice Brandon Williams almost helping him off the field after some kicks late in the game?), kicks field goals in pressure situations, kicks off just as well as the MSU kickoff specialist who, by all accounts, had two working legs, AND continues to bolster his reputation as the most awkward tackler in football with a touchdown-saving tackle. If that is not the definition of "responding" by a senior I don't know what is. With that, as well as Danny "NAILS" Persa's gutty performance as examples for the rest of the team to follow, it is hard to believe that the team has lost that trademark never-say-die attitude-- they just need to relax and focus in on it!
"The Adonis Experience"
Before we start "gushing" like every other blog and all the message board faithful, we need to be completely fair. Mike Trumpy had a solid game Saturday against a very tough defense (even if they were dropping 7 on every play, they are still better than any other defense we have faced). He was the best, statistically, of the running backs (10-50), and his 18 yard run was the longest by any NU running back this season. He more than deserved his spot on the field during crunch time. We already have made our love for Northwestern's "Trump Card" well known, and hope he continues to get a lot of carries and yards.
That being said, it was hard not to watch Adonis Smith's first carry and exclaim "holy shit!" Or his next few carries, some of which showed some "making-something-from-nothing" and pile moving that we have not seen since this guy lined up in the backfield. Now, do be aware that we were getting really excited about things that most running backs do normally, but we have not seen these moves in quite some time, and it does bode well for the future of NU's running game. In fact, the whole game served as a 2011 preview, with so many young people getting in and playing well, including Rashad Lawrence catching a few balls and Venric Mark on kicks and some punts.
It is pretty obvious, from the past two games, that there is going to be plenty of running room (mainly for NAILS but for the running backs too) until opposing teams feel like the running game is worth defending.
Hold Me Gently
The refs were alright, but was I the only one who saw a BLATANT hold in the end zone on Michigan State in the first half? You can say it would have made up the non-intentional-TD point differential (ie 29-28), but so would not fumbling the ball on the 1-yard line.
Interesting Note
Coach Parseghian beat a lot of teams as NU head coach, but he never beat Michigan State. What an awesome halftime tribute, though.
Quote of the Week
From Coach Fitz's Monday press conference: "I thought for the whole year we've improved in the kicking game, we've had some issues and you guys have done an awesome job documenting that, no stone unturned by this group."
There is nothing quite as fun as messing with the press, or in the words of legendary mustached Cleveland Indians' manager Lou Brown, giving sportswriters a nice big "shitburger" to eat.
Filed under: Flush It, Football
Tags: Flush It, football, Michigan State, northwestern
