Northwestern Wildcats
2000 record: 8-4 (6-2).
Coach: Randy Walker (3rd year, 11-12).
Starters returning: 10 offense, 6 defense, 1 kicker.
Outlook: Big Ten coaches paid the ultimate compliment to Northwestern's offense during the offseason. Defensive coaches devoted their time to finding ways to stop the Wildcats' spread attack; offensive coaches devoted their time to pirating what they could for their own uses. And why not? Led by cerebral quarterback Zak Kustok (2,701 total yards, 27 touchdowns) and multitalented tailback Damien Anderson (2,063 yards rushing, 23 touchdowns), the Wildcats led the Big Ten in scoring (38.5 points) and total offense (475.6 yards). With players back who produced 99.9 percent of the team's 5,615 total yards there is no reason the Wildcats' offense shouldn't be as exciting this season.
If only Walker can work similar miracles with his defense. Three sets of numbers illustrate Northwestern's defensive ineptitude last season -- 519, 636 and 66. Those are the rushing yards, total yards and points Nebraska hung on the Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. Walker and his assistants point to a series of individual breakdowns within the scheme as the primary culprit. Well, Walker now has to eliminate those fundamental mistakes and replace stalwarts in the defensive line (Dwayne Missouri) and secondary (Harold Blackmon).
The biggest obstacle for the Wildcats may be dealing with the sudden death of senior safety Rashidi Wheeler, who collapsed and died during an offseason workout Aug. 3.
Keep an eye on: Damien Anderson. Only one of the top five finishers in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy returned this season. That player is Anderson, who briefly toyed with jumping to the NFL. Don't rule out the possibility of Anderson winning the Heisman. The Wildcats should contend for the Big Ten title and Anderson should again be their featured performer. He is quick, fast, strong and studious and would be a star in any offensive system.
Key game: A road test with Ohio State will be demanding but, the trip to West Lafayette, Ind., is THE game on the conference schedule. Purdue's defense returns 10 starters and should be the Big Ten's best. The Boilermakers controlled Northwestern's offense in a 41-28 victory last season. Think the Northwestern players remember that game?
It's a good year if... The Wildcats win the Big Ten. Walker wants consistency and to remove any doubts that last season's 8-4 finish was not a fluke. Yes, Northwestern's defense is not championship caliber, but the Wildcats won a share of the conference title despite fielding allowing 33.3 points per game, so a repeat is possible. In addition, the Wildcats don't meet Michigan or Wisconsin. With a soft non-conference schedule, 10 wins isn't out of the question.
Jeff Potrykus covers the Big Ten for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
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