The era of the ”moral victory” has ended at Northwestern.
This was evident the night of Oct. 8, 1988, in the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Northwestern fell behind Minnesota 21-0 in the first quarter, tied the game 21-21, took the lead, was tied again, and finished in a 28-28 deadlock when the Gophers blocked Ira Adler`s last-second field-goal attempt.
It was the kind of game that through the years inspired Northwestern supporters to gush about ”our great comeback.”
Coach Francis Peay, however, was not-and still is not-satisfied with that tie, comeback or not.
”We didn`t win,” Peay said. ”Our mistakes helped put us behind 21-0. When we tied it, it was like a 0-0 game. We led. We should have won. I wasn`t satisfied one bit.”
Peay wasn`t exactly ecstatic, either, after the `88 Wildcats achieved the school`s highest Big 10 finish in 15 years: tied for seventh place with a 2-5-1 record.
”I wasn`t satisfied with 1988,” Peay said. ”Let the mathematical configurations take care of themselves. We want to win more games.”
What are the chances of NU bettering its 1988 record? The answer lies in the way Peay described four of his key players: wide receiver Richard Buchanan, defensive linemen John Broeker and Darryl Ashmore and free safety Dwight James.
”Buchanan has more talent in his little finger than some people have in their entire bodies,” Peay said. ”He`s self-confident, yet his ego is so well in place that his teammates will never begrudge any success he enjoys.” Turning to his defense, which he terms as the critical area for team improvement, Peay said, ”Emotion will play a big part. Broeker and Ashmore and, to some extent, James can make the big plays to pick up the emotion of the defense.”
Loosely translated, this means that the defense must improve last year`s average yield of 32 points per game.
If the defense improves and provides the offense with decent field position, then, Peay believes, the offense can burn opponents with a ”quick score capability” on passes to receivers Buchanan, Pat New, Randy McClellan, Chip Morris and Craig Fischer.
Furthermore, Peay believes it doesn`t really matter a great deal whether senior Tim O`Brien, rookie Kevin Krebs or junior Kip Kelly quarterbacks the team. Each, Peay said, can direct the system and deliver the ball to Buchanan & Co.
Naturally, no offense will succeed on passing alone. But the Cats also possess the huge, experienced line and at least one runner, Bob Christian, needed for a sound rushing offense.
NU`s starting offensive line averages a gigantic 6 feet 5 inches and 281 pounds per man. Its heaviest member, 6-6, 313-pound guard Todd McClish, is the only one who did not start last year. A couple of 295-pounders, 6-8 Stan Holsen and 6-6 Derrill Vest, line up at tackle. Brian Tichy, 6-4, 260, returns at guard. Center Kurt Minko is the peewee of the group at 6-1, 250.
The Wildcats will certainly miss Byron Sanders, who rushed for 1,062 yards in `88 and turned pro with another season of eligibility left. However, Christian gained 413 yards as Sanders` backup, and he also was the team`s No. 2 receiver.
Buchanan could provide much of the quick strike Peay hopes to add to his attack. The receiver from Proviso East caught 41 passes, six for TDs, in `88. Peay intends to use him as a runner and a passer, too.
Among the top three quarterback candidates, fifth-year senior O`Brien of Hobart, Ind., has the edge in experience. He completed 12 of 15 passes last year, three for TDs. Krebs, from Chicago`s Lane Tech, redshirted last year and has the strongest arm. Kelly, the Highland, Ind., junior sidelined by a knee injury last year, reads defenses well. This could earn him the job because Wildcat QBs operate a sophisticated system of audibles.
”I want each quarterback to understand that he operates the offensive system,” Peay said, ”and that that system rolls regardless of who runs it.” Moving the football has not been a major problem for Peay`s three previous NU teams. Defense has been.
”Last year,” Peay pointed out, ”14 of our top 22 players on defense were freshmen or redshirt sophomores, meaning that they were playing college football for the first time. So, we`re more experienced, yet still young, on defense.”
Dan Freveletti typifies the young veterans on defense. Redshirted in 1987, he debuted as a starting linebacker last fall. The 269-pounder from Benet Academy emerged as the solution to the No. 1 defensive search in spring drills. He will switch to nose guard, succeeding graduated Mike Baum.
”Dan has good quickness,” Peay said. ”I like what I`ve seen of him there.”
Other members of the 14-member rookie group on last year`s two-deep defensive roster include end Ron Maulding, linebackers Ed Sutter and Thomas Homco and defensive backs Robert Walton, David Eaton, Marlon Collins, John Ivlow and James.
This is Peay`s fourth season as head coach, yet it is not really correct to say he`s now coaching his ”own” team. Because of the late date of his appointment, he was unable to recruit a full class in 1986.
Many of the 25 incoming freshmen will be redshirted, a luxury Peay`s predecessor, Dennis Green, rarely enjoyed. Talent was so scarce in Green`s early years at NU that almost any warm body had to be pushed onto the field.
Not all of the frosh class of `89 will be redshirted, however. Peay likes the looks of several, including Michigan`s 100-meter dash champion Terry Smith of Bay City, a 183-pounder who happens to play the running back position where NU is thin. Peay knows there`s no substitute for winning . . . or for speed.
