With this bowl win, the Wildcats erased the last remaining negative stigma associated with the program. Is it a realistic goal to win a Big Ten championship? Probably not, but here's my ***incredibly biased*** thoughts on 2013.

Offense - 7 of 11 starters return. Patrick Ward (OT), Brian Mulroe (OG) and Neal Deiters (OG), and Demetrius Fields (WR) are gone. QB tandem (Trevor Siemian and Kain Colter), Venric Mark, Dan Vitale and all the other skill position will be there in 2013. The OL losses could be a concern, but NU has recruited bigger and faster linemen than in the past... and our WR is deep as any in the Big Ten.

Defense - 6 of 8 rotation players on the defensive line will come back. David Nwabuisi (LB) and Gator Bowl MVP Jared Carpenter (CB) are gone. Ibraheim Campbell and Nick VanHoose are improving the DB lineup. Damien Proby and Chi Chi Ariguzo are back.

Special teams - placekicker Jeff Budzien who was 19-of-20 on the year is back. So is punter Brandon Williams. And Venric Mark, the best return man in the conference, will be back.

Ahhhh... but here is the rub. Last year, our schedule was weak. Gone are Indiana and Penn State... replaced by (GULP) Ohio State and Wisconsin. And these are the first two games of the Big Ten conference play. Starting the season on the West Coast at Cal could be a problem.

All in all, I think it could be another good year (not necessarily a step forward, though). 8-4 seems very reasonable. Losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State. And dropping 2 of 3 to Michigan, Michigan State, and/or Nebraska seems reasonable to me. However, if replacing that offensive line proves to be a problem, 6-6 could be a more likely outcome.

It's basketball season now.

NW will be in position to win their side of the conference, have a two score lead then promptly blow it.

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Who the fuck is NW??

Chicago's Big Ten Champion

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Repeat as Chicago's Big Ten Champions!

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Damn.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That's right, bitches. Haters will hate, I suppose, but I couldn't be happier for Fitz and the entire program.

you cheer on you Purple loving bastage!!!

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

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My Maserati does 186.

What is the big deal with him referring to them as Chicago's big ten team

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

It was "Chicago's Big Ten Champions" that Rick found amusing.

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ok so what is the big deal with that?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

DePaul is Chicago's Big East Champions.

It sounds ridiculous.

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But that is Fitz, it is what he does.

If there is a thread started for every ridiculous thing he says then Brick will kujoe up the college forum

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

That's true.

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Purdue: Indianapolis's Big Ten Champions.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

ILLINOIS: Champaign's Horrible Big Ten Team!

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My Maserati does 186.

It's just kind of jarring when he drops it into all conversations. It would be like the CEO of Motorola saying "Hello, Moto" a couple of times in every interview.

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The Court will accord substantial deference to the government's immigration policies, particularly those that implicate matters of national security.

I suppose if put the program's struggles, particularly with attendance, in perspective, then you might realize why Fitz and Jim Phillips try to enhance the marketing effort every chance they can get. The guy was emotional and he was justifiably proud at the accomplishment of the team. I think giving him a bye on that is appropriate. But whatever.

For what its worth, RFDC... thank you.

Having Wisconsin early is a blessing. They will be working under a different coach who is both unfamiliar witht he conference and has a team unfamiliar with his system. Same with Cal.

I think you understate the difficulty of replacing those three OL.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I'm not criticizing Fitzpatrick. I think he's in the perfect place for both him and the university. They should sign him to a lifetime deal right now.

It's just that when I hear him constantly saying "Chicago's Big Ten Team", I forget that he's a coach and get the impression he's a PR flack. It reminds me of when I saw an interview with Janice Dickinson who was promoting a book and she kept repeating "there was No Lifeguard On Duty" over and over again. I didn't buy the book.

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The Court will accord substantial deference to the government's immigration policies, particularly those that implicate matters of national security.

They play in Evanston.

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JORR, I couldn't agree more. If I wasn't an alum and a classmate of Fitzgerald (not Fitzpatrick ) then I think I'd be equally as annoyed. He's a rah rah guy. His coach-speak is unbearable at times. But i totally get why he is doing it. I will say that Northwestern Football is a compelling product for the city of Chicago. I don't see any reason why we should sell out that highschool stadium we call Ryan Field (I still call it Dyche). And if it takes a rah rah marketing type who says "Go Cats" after every interview to increase attendance, then I'm an unabashed Fitz fan. My angst is a little more directed at BR who is emerging as a guy who loves to pick scabs... Whether its Spanky's Huskies or my Cats...

I watched just about every NU game this year and really was pleased. Good question about where they go after this season. The Bowl victory still doesn't eclipse beating Notre Dame with Barnetts squad,but it's close.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

it is similar to when Chizek used to say War Eagle

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

It is the perfect marriage between low expectations and modest accomplishment. It probably was a bad thing for Fitzpatrick to be hired as a HC at such a young age because I think it stunted his development as a coach.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Emerging?

What have I said about the Huskies?

I'm making fun of your coach for acting like a clown for saying "Chicago's Big Ten Champions". That's it. I've grown a little bit tired of his act no doubt. You admit that you'd feel the same way if you weren't a Northwestern fan so what exactly is the problem?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!