Chat Wrap From Coach Walker's Weekly Online Chat

Oct. 31, 2001

Randy Walker: How's everyone doing tonight? Happy Halloween. Hope everyone got all the treats they wanted.

Rob (Glenview): what's the media like at northwestern in compared to other places?

Randy Walker: We have great media here in the Chicagoland area. There is a great deal of interest in our program and the student-athletes who are here. I guess you find that same kind of interest everywhere, but it is certainly exciting to be in one of the major media markets in the country.

PSUPhilly: How did the loss to Penn State (a no win team at the time) effect your teams morale?

Randy Walker: As I said at the time, while Penn State had not won, we knew they were a quality football team with many outstanding players. It seems like every year their recruiting classes are ranked in the top 10 in the country so we knew we would have a difficult day with the Nittany Lions. They were very close in their previous Big Ten games and I still consider them one of the best programs in the country. We don't like to lose, but we know each Saturday it will take our best effort to come out victorious.

Freddy (So. Side): What happened vs. Purdue?

Randy Walker: Freddy, We made several critical mistakes that Purdue was able to capitalize on. If you give a good team those kinds of opportunities they are difficult to beat. In spite of ourselves, we take the game all the way to the end and are an onside kick away from having a great chance to win.

Tim : With the 3 conference losses Northwestern has, is there a possibility of being invited to a Bowl Game this year.

Randy Walker: We believe that an 8-3 season will certainly qualify us for a bowl. Obviously, there is a lot of work ahead but at this stage of the season it is our goal. We have had a great practice week in order to try to acheive it.

Walker(Jax): As a team, do you think your squad would rather face Florida or Miami(FL)?

Randy Walker: Walker, we would like to play a doubleheader in the Citrus Bowl against Florida and Miami (FL). I'm not sure that is possible and if you believe that, I have some real estate in Montana.

Rob (Toronto): Are you solidly committed to the no-huddle, fast paced offense, or are you open to looking at other offensive strategies. Is this a desicion you make on a year by year, team by team basis?

Randy Walker: I have coached a number of styles of offense and as football continues to evolve you have to be flexible in your approach. This off season we will look closely at not only at what we do, but also the personnel that is returning to our program and make appropriate decisions about what direction we take. Who knows maybe the Wishbone in 2002.

Damon (Dallas): Do you feel that Sam Simmons is an NFL caliber player? Why or Why not?

Randy Walker: Sam is one of the most versatile athletes I have ever coached. In addition to his great receiving skills, he's an outstanding return specialist. I think he has a great chance to play at the next level.

Marshall (W. Lafayette): How is your team going to prepare for IU and espicially Antwan Randal-El? He is a very special player. Good effort last week!

Randy Walker: I don't think it is easy to prepare for Randal-El but we have put our most elusive and speedy running backs at quarterback this week in order to give our defense a quality look. No one does justice to Antwan.

Matt, Madison, WI: Coach Walker, what are your thoughts on the Big Ten scheduling. Teams not playing other teams and who plays who have a big impact on the conference race. Is there anything that can be done to provide a more unanimous champion everyear and alleviate some of these two and three way ties.

Randy Walker: Matt, two things can be done--reduce the Big Ten to a number of teams that ensures that everyone will play each other or add a 12th team and go to two six-team divisions with a championship to conclude the season. Until then, we just have to learn to live with it.

Kevin (Baton Rouge): Your team played Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl last year. Do you think they are the best team in the country right now and were they underated last year?

Randy Walker: Yes.

Bobby (San Jose): Coach, how's the recruiting coming along this year?

Randy Walker: Recruiting is going well. It is easy to recruit quality student-athletes to an institution with the academic reputation of Northwestern. You couple that with a world-class city like Chicago and it gives us a chance to attract special young men to be the future of Northwestern.

Randy Walker: I must be off to make my rounds of trick-or-treating. Have a great Halloween and let's have fun in Bloomington.

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

Chat Wrap From Coach Walker's Weekly Online Chat

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