Northwestern University Athletics
Chat Wrap From Coach Walker's Weekly Online Chat
10/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18, 2001
Randy Walker: Good evening! Let's get ready for a big weekend with the Nittany Lions!
Doug (Kettering, Ohio): Coach Walker, I have followed your career as a head coach closely since your days at Miami (O). One thing that I have always been impressed with is the ability of you and your staff to make adjustments at halftime, and then come out to play a strong second half. What is your routine at halftime, and why do you think that you and your staff are able to make these adjustments so successfully? Good luck on Saturday
Randy Walker: The first 10 minutes the staffs get together offensively and defensively and discuss the adjustments that need to be made with each side of the ball. They then go back to the lockerroom and have six or seven minutes to implement the adjustments we have made. Fortunately, most of the time these adjustments are things that we already have in place and are kids are able to adapt quickly.
john golan: Why don't your defensive backs look back for the ball on a pass play more often? From up in the stands, it seems they are usually running step for step with the receivers but don't look back to be able to make a play on the ball. Keep up the great work!
Randy Walker: John, you are describing one of the most difficult aspects of secondary play. When a defender is in man coverage he must stay focused on the movements of the receiver. The last thing a receiver will do is reach for the ball. It is at this moment that a defensive back must turn his body, find the football and make a play on it. Trust me, it is much easier said than done.
Jerry(Chicago): Coach, Great Job! NU seems to be getting a lot of big penalties called against them. Many of these are the 15 yard personal foul variety. Does this concern you?
Randy Walker: Actually, Jerry, we had no personal fouls in the Minnesota game. It is a source of concern and I think we are improving with our elimination of foolish penalities.
Rod (New York City): Hey Coach -
Congrats on a great year so far. Can you comment a bit on the frustration the team's been encountering getting the running game going? What do you think are some pieces that are still lacking as we approach mid-season?
Thanks - and good luck Sunday. Go CATS!
Randy Walker: Rod, Our thoughts and prayers are with all our Wildcat fans in the Big Apple. We must continue to take what the defense gives and in some cases we must be committed to throwing the football more often. Saturday 21 of the first 31 offensive plays were passes. We have continued to work hard on our passing attack and it continues to improve.
ryan michigan: just wondering, what did you tell your team after herb haygood ran the kick back for msu, and do you think msu can beat michigan?
Randy Walker: Ryan, the last time I saw something go by me that fast was at Indianapolis. He's a great talent and I'm sure he'll continue to have a great season.
Alston Sajery ( Staten Island): Coach Walker,
Great start off in the season so far. I just would like to know your thoughts going into the rest of the season in terms of a bowl hunt.
Randy Walker: Alston, one of our goals every year is to be bowl eligible. I tell our team often that it's a good thing to be playing football in December and January. We have a lot of football left, and we feel that if we can keep improving we'll have a chance to reach that goal.
Salil Sheth (St. Louis, MO): As a Northwestern alum, it has been exciting and fun to watch you guys grow and become a team to be reckoned with. Since NU has high academic standards, you have to recruit from a smaller pool of talent. Can you foresee winning the national championshp with the talent you recruit, and when do you see it happening? GO CATS!!
Randy Walker: Salil, I would not have come to Northwestern if we didn't make our ultimate goal to be the best program in the country. We know we have a long way to go on this journey, but everyone in the program believes in this vision.
Freddy (South Side): What does it mean to you to get to coach against a man as good as Joe Paterno?
Randy Walker: It is exciting for all of us to play a program with the tradition, integrety and success at Penn State. Joe Paterno is truly a legend and I still find it hard to fathom all of his accomplishments.
Michael Michigan: Againest Michigan State you got a little bit of luck and againest Minnesota and Michigan. How does it happen?!?!
Randy Walker: Michael, Please keep this a secret, but every week before the game I rub the head of my dog Magic and good things just seem to happen.
Rick Reinard : I was wondering what your thoughts were on Penn State this weekend. They have not had a very good season thus far, do you worry about your team looking past them and do they even pose a threat?
Randy Walker: Rick, how could anyone look past Penn State? They have played well the last three games and you can see improvement in their very young football team. They are only a couple plays away in each game from beating some of the best teams in the Big Ten. It will take our best effort to win.
kalyan(chicago): im a michigan grad but my little sis is went undergrad at evenswton and now is in med school at northwestern. ive slowly become a big fan and want to congratulate you on your programs success. my question - so you think the uneven schedule, with teams being left out, is half the tragedy i think it is? more importantly, do you see expansion soon and a championship game to decide the whole deal?
Randy Walker: For as long as I can remember, this has been an issue with most conferences around the country. Even when you expand and divide into two divisions, there is still inequity in cross over games. No matter what you do there will always be debate as to the difficulty in schedule.
Randy Walker: Good night. We hope you all come to Ryan Field Saturday for a great game against the Nittany Lions. I look forward to talking to you next week.
