ConstableRabbit

Games like this are why NU fans are frustrated with Carmody. Why was Cobb on the bench the entire second half when the team was clearly gassed? Only Bill knows...

Google cares if the client cares. However, the more you care, the more expensive it is for you as a client. :-)

I'd love to take a chance with Moss. Tribune quoted Cris Carter today (yes, realize he's a moron and I'd likely never refer to him if it didn't benefit my team) as saying he and Tice really get along. Why not sign him to an incentive-laden deal and see what happens?

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you're saying (perhaps making this a pointless argument!). I would just be concerned that moving on from Carmody is a grass-is-greener proposition than may not pay dividends. I say that as someone that is rooting for you guys (even though you have been kicking IU's butt the past three seasons -- though that hasn't exactly been an exclusive club). Maybe I'm just being contrary because I'm rather concerned about tonight's game. That's definitely true and absolutely something that the fans clamoring for Carmody's head at any cost don't seem to understand. Northwestern has been a graveyard for coaches -- many of whom are quite talented. Carmody was respected and successful before NU, Kevin O'Neil was before and after... even Tex Winter couldn't win there. Any hire would have to be a pretty big-time guy, and that'd take the updated facilities plan, a boatload of cash, and prayers to happen. Now we just need to channel Bill Foster and upset IU tonight :)

It's difficult to make a straight comparison. Pat Fitzgerald inherited a program that went 4-4, 5-3, and 5-3 in the Big Ten the three previous seasons. Bill Carmody inherited a program that went 3-13, 6-10, 0-16 in the Big Ten the three previous seasons. During the Fitzgerald era, their conference records look like this (this isn't exactly fair, either, considering Carmody had six years to build to this point): Fitzgerald 2-6 3-5 5-3 5-3 3-5 3-5 Carmody 2-14 1-17 8-10 7-11 7-11 5-6 Carmody's record is certainly worse, but the last four years have been pretty close. And it's going to be hard to hire someone equivalent to Fitzgerald for basketball, in my opinion. This is true, but Fitz also inherited a team with coach who died just before the season (which destroyed recruiting) and he really wasn't ready to be a HC. And as you noted, that's only half of Carmody's career... the first 6 years were even worse! I don't want to get into a Carmody vs. Fitzgerald discussion, because it's pretty apples to oranges at the end of the day. The point I was trying to make is that Northwestern fans are tired of the team's inability to get over the hump (impatience given historical precedence duly noted). The fanbase has done away with moral victories in football and they're feeling the same about basketball -- getting "close" without making it isn't good enough anymore.

It has always confounded me how an excellent academic institution with high standards was incapable of fielding a competitive five/thirteen man basketball team . . . yet could field a competitive twenty-two/eighty-five man football team. In a vacuum, I believe you're correct, there is no reason Northwestern couldn't be equally good in basketball. Big Ten basketball is currently a good deal more difficult than Big Ten football, for what that's worth, though; and Carmody's performance isn't that much worse than Pat Fitzgerald's performance in football (it is certainly worse, of course). Yeah, Penn State is just not really in the discussion. They pop up and have decent seasons every once in awhile; but no one really seems to care either way. Nor do they have any built-in excuses like Northwestern -- other than lack of support, which is self-inflicted. He's been trending upwards, but has been significantly worse than Pat Fitzgerald. Fitz: 40-36 overall (21-27 conference) Carmody: 170-178 overall (61-127 conference) Winning 32% of your conference games is just plain awful.

You don't like Carmody? The announcers were talking about some stat the other day that Carmody had more 8+ conference win seasons than the 30+ years before he became the coach. My numbers might be a little off, but given his recruiting restraints (kids have to be able to read and write), facilities, etc. I think he's doing a pretty good job, no? Here's the thing: he's one of the highest paid coaches in DI and it has taken him 12 seasons to get where he is -- which, albeit "good" for Northwestern isn't where any fans want to be. I think he's a good coach, but if we're going to spend that kind of money, I'd rather throw it at someone who can get players in the door. NU is apparently rolling out their new facilities plan soon and that could help lure potential coaches and players if the school decides to fire him. I won't be furious if Carmody is retained, but it's frustrating to see him max out his crappy recruits (mostly-- Cobb was a Rivals100 guy) and not make the tournament.

You guys can take Carmody.

I seem to remember (reading about) the Cubs completely re-doing the lower bowl in a single offseason. I'd imagine that if they really wanted to, they could just do significant work in back-to-back offseasons. Would have to believe that moving to the South Side is a last resort for the team (e.g., Bud is saying we can have the 2014 AS game moved to wrigley with a huge tribute only if XYZ renos are completed, or some other ridiculous scenario).

That's really a pretty good deal for the WS.

This means nothing.

Everyone knows Illinois is better than Indiana. Why even play the game?

I second this... where can this be purchased?!?!?! I saw it in the Cubs store in Water Tower Place last time I was in Chicago.

Haha yes! The forehead!

Kind of looks like Aramis here http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2012-02/183561560-07213928.jpg

Do you live in Chicago in the winter? It sucks. This year is basically as good as it has ever been and its still in the 30s every day. Living in that climate isn't appealing to a lot of people, professional athletes included. There are plenty of people who could be more successful or make more money in Chicago or Minnesota or Canada, but they choose to live in the South due to the weather. It's not that hard to follow. Chicago is not Minnesota or a different country; it's a world-class city with world-class restaurants and cultural attractions. If you want to move to warmer weather, you don't really have any other choices to live in a traditional "metropolis" in the US. If cold weather is your biggest concern, then all else equal, Chicago is toward the bottom of NBA cities. But there are trade-offs associated with weather. Besides, we're talking about wealthy NBA players here. For the 9 month (inc playoffs) season, 7-8 are not warm, and you'd be on the road almost half the time regardless of what city you'd play in. Many players live in different cities during the offseason as it is. Any player who would trade those extra few months of warm weather over millions of additional dollars and the potential to win an NBA championship is a moron.

One potential reason why is that they're likely different injuries...

Ate Mile.

C'mon guys let's wait until the facts come out.

Joe Paterno -- the Neville Chamberlain of college football This is the only good post you've ever made Ouch!

Joe Paterno -- the Neville Chamberlain of college football

One of the best fan freak outs I've seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0-kCQMDpSVE#! Contains strong language.

Joe Buck really needs to stop saying it's cold in SF. It's like 50 degrees over here...

Drake, apparently. His wikipedia page is already updated with this kick. Are there really a legion of ninja-editing wikipedia sports fans? yes.

Epic chokejob