Northwestern University Athletics
Camp Kenosha: Day 12
8/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 19, 2003
KENOSHA, Wis. - That's it, all done, no more Wisconsin, at least not until Oct. 25 when NU hosts the Badgers for Homecoming at Ryan Field. After 12 days of nothing but football, Camp Kenosha officially came to an end with a three-hour Tuesday morning practice at Carthage College.
Playing on AstroPlay, like Kansas' Memorial Stadium, NU went to work, as most of the team drills were full go. In those drills, there was good and bad from both the offense and the defense, including a bone-crushing blow from freshman safety Eddie Simpson that jarred the ball loose on the goal line. Simpson's hit prevented a touchdown.
Even though the 11th annual Camp Kenosha is over, preseason training is not. The Wildcats return to two-a-days tomorrow, the first beginning at 8 a.m. NU opens its season at Kansas on Aug. 30.
As the Wildcats approach game week, NUsports.com caught up with head coach Randy Walker to get his feeling on the last 12 days.
NUsports.com: Coach Walker, can you give us your overall assessment on how things went at Camp Kenosha?
Coach Walker: Well, football is a game of good and bad and we did some good things and we did some bad things. We also identified and learned some things that we need to learn about our football team. I'm pleased with the progress we've made but I also know we have a long way to go and I think our players realize that. We came into camp with a good starting point; our conditioning level and out mental attitude was very strong when we arrived. So we've been able to go at it pretty effectively.
NUsports.com: How have the players handled the mountains of information you and your coaching staff have thrown at them?
Coach Walker: They've handled everything we've shown them, and we've gotten a lot quality work with every aspect of our game.
NUsports.com: How close is this team being ready for the season opener?
Coach Walker: We're real close to having some of the right things in place. But like I told the team after practice, we still have some things that need to be corrected and that is going to be the key in the next 10 days.
NUsports.com: What are some of the good things you've identified while at camp?
Coach Walker: I think we've stabilized four of our five offensive lineman positions and I think we can be very good there. Brett Basanez has had a great camp, his mastery of the offense, his understanding of what we're trying to do is as good as any quarterback I've been around. That's due to a great coaching job by Mike Dunbar (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach), but also his work ethic and getting things in the right place. We've also recognized that our running game has the potential to be very good. With Jason Wright coming back and Noah Herron in there, that's a pretty good start, then you thrown in Terrell Jordan and Derell Jenkins, that's a heck of stable in the backfield.
NUsports.com: What about the defensive side of the ball?
Coach Walker: We got nicked up at linebacker a little, so that was disappointing, but we're getting them back this second week. It's good to have some of our front-line defense back on the field and working together.
