Northwestern University Athletics
Linebackers Look to Build on Past Experiences
4/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 22, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Tuesday's spring football recap wraps up the position-by-position report with a look at the linebackers. After starting middle linebacker Pat Durr (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles) went down in the opening game of the 2002 season at Air Force, a number of young players were forced to experience Big Ten football for the first time. A year older and wiser, the group returns intact, while welcoming Durr back to the mix. NUsports.com sat down with Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./Saint Patrick) and linebacker coach Pat Fitzgerald to get their thoughts on the season ahead.
Linebacker Tim McGarigle
NUsports.com: Was it a bit of an eye-opening experience for you playing as much as you did by the end of the season in your freshman year?
TM: I started off the season just playing special teams and hoping to get on the field a little bit. By the end of the year we were pretty beaten up. I started the last five games and it was a great experience that I can carry into the upcoming season.
NUsports.com: The linebackers went through some tough times last year with a lot of injuries. How do you think that experience of a year ago will help you in 2003?
TM: Everyone returning this year got a lot of playing time last year, except for Pat Durr because he was injured. But he has proven himself his prior three years. We have a lot of experience returning; last year we didn't. We're looking forward to a good season.
NUsports.com: Being a local product, what is it like for you to continue to be able to play in front of your family and friends?
TM: My dad just got a bunch of season tickets in addition to the free ones I get. I usually have a bunch of people come up for the games. This year, I should have more people.
Linebackers coach Pat Fitzgerald
NUsports.com: How do you feel the experience of having so many younger players get playing time last season will help you this year?
PF: The experience has really shown to this point. I think that Tim McGarigle is really further ahead of schedule than I think we all anticipated because of the experience he gained last year. At the same time, a guy like John Pickens (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo), who has played the past two years, is starting to come into his own. I think it's a great asset, but at the same time, for some guys it's better to redshirt. Demetrius Eaton (Milwaukee, Wis./Vincent) is growing every day and the game is starting to slow down for him. Whereas a year ago, we probably could have played him, but we just felt like a year of growing and maturing would help him.
NUsports.com: How is Pat Durr coming along? What will it be like to have him back on the field, both physically and emotionally?
PF: I think he's ahead of schedule as far as his rehab. He's doing a lot of change-of-direction and a lot of individual drills with the athletic trainers. We're just trying to be smart about it. Pat Durr doesn't have to play any snaps for me in the spring -- he needs to play for me in the fall. His heartbeat in the middle of the defense is key. When you're injured, you try to be as much of a vocal and spiritual leader as you can, but when you're not out there in the huddle, it's kind of hard for the other guys to look at you and it's kind of hard for you to look at the guys. He's done a great job of managing that and he's chomping at the bit to get back on the field.
NUsports.com: How has the group as a whole matured from a year ago at this time?
PF: I think we've improved in some areas and I think we've got a way to go in others. We've done some things this spring that has encouraged me that we're moving in the right direction. I think we have a long way for us to go to be considered a feared defense in this league. The teams that are consistent bowl teams have defenses that are feared. I think that starts with the linebacker position. We're gaining on that, but we're not there yet. I think that's going to be our goal as we wrap up the spring and then as we move forward into the end of the school year and then a real important offseason as we go into the summer time.
