by Sean Heffernan

One of the most common tangents every college football analyst has had in their arsenal the past few years has been a longwinded tirade about the downfall of the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State inflated ranking and inability to win big games against non-conference opponents gave fuel to a fire that had brewing for years.

This year has been no different with the Buckeyes failing to overtake a vulnerable USC team in their second game of the year, Michigan still in the dark ages with Rich Rodriguez at the helm, and Wisconsin, Iowa, and Penn State are all unready to become the conference's second national power.
 
I understand while people are dumping on the Big Ten, but the truth is I just don't care. I don't care if the conference isn't what it use to be. I honestly don't care about BCS rankings or speed of the SEC.
 
I love the way the game is played in the Midwest, the cradle of American football. Take for example Northwestern's 17-10 upset over the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes last weekend. It didn't matter that the game only featured two touchdowns or that neither team had a true breakout offensive star because the game was played the way the sport's creators intended it to be played.
 
Northwestern scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone, a goal line touchdown pass to a tight end, and a field goal. Not exactly thrilling plays, but it was the way that every yard mattered in the game. Those kids were playing the type of football that truly is "a game of inches". There's beauty in a defense gang tackling a sweeping running back or a offensive tackle opening enough running room for a first down.

It's not overly complicated. It just comes down to who wants it more, who has more grit, and who's more willing to sacrifice their body for the good of the team. Haters can hate, give me Big Ten football.

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Can the Wildcats survive without Tyrell Sutton?

Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald's Northwestern Wildcats finished the season last year with a disappointing overtime loss in the Alamo Bowl to Missouri. However, the Wildcats 2008 9-3 record was the school's best finish since their surprise 10-2 season in 1995 when they won the Big Ten Conference. ...

 A favorable schedule could benefit Northwestern as they do not play Ohio State or Michigan in 2009. On the road the Wildcats face Iowa (who they beat in Iowa City), Illinois (who could be really good this season), Michigan State, and Purdue. They will welcome Wisconsin and Penn State to Evanston with the hopes of defending their home turf against the mighty Badgers and Nittany Lions.

Fans of the purple and white should expect wins in their first three non conference games against Townson, Eastern Michigan, and Syracuse (All three finished last year towards the bottom of their respected divisions) which could really help the Wildcats' bid for a second bowl game appearance in a row. If the Wildcats can make a bowl game two years running that would be a big step in the right direction for the school's football program.

 In terms of the roster, the big holes on offense Pat Fitzgerald must fill this season will be replacing running back Tyrell Sutton and QB CJ Bacher. The front runner in the quarterback battle is veteran Mike Kafka who was the Wildcats' second leading rusher last year. The real test with Kafka (played at Chicago Catholic high school St. Rita) is developing a passing threat to complement his running talents.

 On the defensive end Northwestern returns an experienced unit anchored around defensive end Corey Wooten and the entire defensive backfield from last season. Fitzgerald is a defensive first coach so one should expect the Wildcats to be ready on that end of the ball once the season starts.

 The big news surrounding the Wildcats this off-season has been the possibility of playing a game inside Wrigley Field against the University of Illinois. I sense that Fitzgerald is wary of playing a home game at Wrigley against Illinois because there would likely be more Illinois fans than Northwestern fans at the game. Still, in terms of increasing the popularity of Northwestern football playing a game in Wrigley would be very beneficial.

The Wildcats have never been able to truly tap into Chicago's football adoring public that flocks to Bears' games in droves, but if Northwestern can put together winning seasons on a consist basis while gaining exposure through an annual Wrigley game, the Windy City might just give the Cats in Evanston a little more attention than in years past.