In a year in which Northwestern will be inexperienced at many positions, coach Randy Walker is counting on at least one unit.
“We think we can do something special as a linebacker corps and as a defense,” senior middle linebacker Tim McGarigle said.
With quarterback Brett Basanez back for his fourth year as the starter, the offense is hardly bankrupt. Questions loom in the offensive line, where only tackle Zach Strief returns.
Other than the linebacker corps, the setbacks keep coming on defense. Starting safety Bryan Heinz was lost for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during practice on Friday. That came a week after defensive end Loren Howard said he would have season-ending knee surgery and transfer to Arizona State.
So Tim McGarigle and juniors Nick Roach and Adam Kadela will be expected to carry the load. Walker likens this year’s linebackers to the 2001 group, which featured current Viking Napoleon Harris, the Seahawks’ Kevin Bentley and Billy Silva.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 235-pound McGarigle was third in the nation in total tackles last season with 12.6 per game and is the leader of the defense.
The defense has to cut down on high-scoring games. Last season the Wildcats lost their double-overtime opener at TCU 48-45, then lost in their season finale to Hawaii 49-41.
If the rebuilt offensive line gives Basanez time to throw, the Wildcats may be able to stay in some shootouts. Mark Philmore and Jonathan Fields return as starting wide receivers.
“We’ll be OK on offense,” Walker says. “I’m not as concerned as some. Maybe I’ll be proven wrong, but when you have a four-year starter at quarterback like Brett Basanez, that’s a huge thing for an offense.”
– – –
Home field: Ryan Field (47,130).
Avg. home attendance: 28,408.
Coach: Randy Walker, 30-41 in six seasons at NU;
89-76-5 in 15 seasons.
2004 record: 6-6 (5-3 in Big Ten); 5-1 home, 1-5 road.
Key number: 6. Wildcats are going for their third straight six-win season.
Returning starters: 9. Offense 4, led by quarterback Brett Basanez; defense 3, led by linebacker Tim McGarigle; special teams 1, kicker Joel Howells.
Strength of schedule: No help here. Wildcats don’t play Indiana or Minnesota and they get the league’s top three preseason picks–Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa–in consecutive weeks. And Arizona State is No. 18 in the preseason coaches poll.
2005 bowl prospects: Fair.
The Wildcats need a fast start with four of first five at home.
%%
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Sept. 3 Ohio U. 11 a.m.
Sept. 10 Northern Illinois 3
Sept. 17 at Arizona State 9
Sept. 24 Penn State TBA
Oct. 8 Wisconsin TBA
Oct. 15 at Purdue noon
Oct. 22 at Michigan State TBA
Oct. 29 Michigan 6/6:45
Nov. 5 Iowa TBA
Nov. 12 at Ohio State TBA
Nov. 19 at Illinois TBA %%
