Jon

Something I'm liking about the post-switch board is that at least on Premium, a thread that was unread will be marked as read if I click on it and then hit the back button. Now if I go into a bunch of threads and hit the back button to go back to the forum, those threads will be marked as read. Beats having to hit the forum link or refresh the page to update the flags.

We opened at home in 2001 vs Montreal (4/2/01) Man, was that a cold day. The later the better is fine by me. Not in the bleachers! I was in short-sleves by the fifth inning thanks to the sun.

Speaking of Purdue, Terry Bannon of the Trib is saying that because of Texas QB Joe Mauro verbally committing to NU yesterday, we're "effectively" no longer going after 3-star Deerfield, IL QB Alex Loukas. Loukas was down to Purdue (made his visit vs. ND), Northwestern, and Standford. Alex was supposed to visit NU in three weeks against Michigan and Standford at the end of the season, but I'd have to imagine that if Bannon is right, Purdue certainly has the inside track on Loukas.

I've read about Purdue's secondary woes and everything, but the problem for us is that the Wisconsin game was really the first time we had a good offensive gameplan and executed it. It was also the first time we had success in the red zone (7 trips, 5 TDs, 1 FG, 1 to run out the clock at the end of the game). Before that, our offense was absolutely terrible inside the 20s. If Dunbar lets Basanez air it out, though, Basanez and his receivers certainly have the ability to one-up Iowa's passing game. As for the ground game, what's interesting about last week is that Iowa ran it 50 times for just 3.6 yards a carry, but still had that much success through the air. If Sutton and the new o-line can keep it up, that's going to create some real problems for Purdue's defensive coordinator. But on defense, when you don't have a pass rush and you don't have a secondary, it's going to be real hard to hold a team like Purdue to 24 without 3 or 4 takeaways. And despite the talented linebacker corps, the defense has yet to show any ability to a spread offense (except Ohio's option offense, but that can hardly be considered an offense). Even though Purdue is playing Illinois and Indiana to end the season, with three homegames left and just two wins, it sure looks like Purdue absolutely has to win this game to keep their bowl hopes alive. The only way Northwestern wins 42-24 is if we make far fewer mistakes than we have all year. There's no way to stop the big play with this defense, but hopefully they can cut out the really stupid and timely penalties.

Thomas Jones isn't expected to play Sunday. :cry:

Of course it's intriguing, there's a certain team missing from the matchups. Well...at least as of right now, at home against Northwestern to close the season isn't a guarateed loss for you guys.

I'm not sure if there's a more interesting week of Big Ten football than this one. (23) Wisconsin @ (22) Minnesota - 11 AM, ESPN (16) Michigan State @ (15) Ohio State - 11 AM, ABC Indiana @ Iowa - 11 AM, ESPNU Northwestern @ Purdue - Noon, ESPN2 (6) Penn State @ Michigan - 2:30, ABC Aside from the middle game, which wouldn't surprise me if it's pretty close, I'm not sure if you can really predict how these are going to turn out. As for the NU game, IF Walker and Dunbar repeat the offensive strategy that they used against Wisconsin (i.e. throw downfield, which despite being an obvious need, had not been implemented in close games), they can repeat their success from last Saturday against Purdue's questionable secondary. Basanez has proven to be one of the top QBs in the Big Ten now that his shoulder is healthy (his only interception came in the final minutes against PSU when he had to try to make something happen) and has a ton of wide receivers to go to, whether short, over the middle, or deep. Oh, and then there's Tyrell Sutton. Of course, they'll have to overcome their suckiness on the road, but they did score 40+ twice last year away from Evanston. Hopefully they can pile on Purdue just like last year, when we handed them their third consecutive loss. They've already lossed three in a row and despite being at home, their confidence has to be at a season low. Look for another shootout that nets about 65-70 points. If we can somehow pull this one out, all of the sudden, we're going to be thinking about a bowl. We'd have to then win at home vs. either Michigan (night game, homecoming) or Iowa and then at Illinois. A win at Purdue will make that a possibility.

It's official. One year contracts for everyone!

It won't be done until 2007 at the earliest.

Hendry must really believe in going down with the ship.

Oh, what a start to the offseason...

And each was off a different pitcher. Wow.

Definitely hit the ground. Doubt it'll turn the game around, though...

Harris got burned real bad...

That's what, 50 yards of field position he cost the team? If not more. And both were real, real stupid penalties.

And it gives the Browns about 25 yards. Ian Scott has had another great game today.

Ford with illegal motion on a punt for his second huge penalty on special teams. Wow.

he's playing because he can pass protect. And is a better rusher.

Reverse to Berrian and he puts it on the ground for a loss of 8 or 9... Peterson with a 20-yard run and gets just enough for the first down on third and long!

Jones with an injured knee. Looked worse than it actually was. He's up and walking it off.

Saying Pitt was overrated is like saying Wanny isn't quite the best coach in the country. They've beaten Youngstown State at home and Cincy at home with losses to Notre Dame, Ohio, Nebraska, and Rutgers. That win shouldn't mean anything for Notre Dame.

Congrats! Ugh. Three Bears missed tackles in the backfield on that play. And Ugh. Bears ball at the 2.

Thank you, Urlacher! The recevier was open for the first down but Brian somehow stripped it from his hands and he was running by.

What a great move by Harris for the sack.

What, you don't think the most zoomed out camera on the field was a good choice? Is there a blimp at the game? They FINALLY show a good replay and Benson did not fumble that ball. Ugh. If all they saw upstairs was the first replay, my hatred of Fox will slightly increase.