Northwestern University Athletics
Highlights from Randy Walker's Weekly News Conference
8/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 30, 2004
Northwestern Head Football Coach Randy Walker
Weekly News Conference (vs. TCU)
Opening Statement
"Since Dec. 27, we've been looking forward to this day and game, and getting started again. All of us--players and coaches--are ready to begin and get the season underway. We think we had a great camp with great preparation. First it starts with the young men in our program who reported with the best conditioning level we've ever had. A great deal of credit goes to the players and what they do, how they've been able to work and what they've been able to do. We think we had a good camp--we answered some questions about out football team. Now it's time to go out, put some of these things to work and play TCU. It's going to be a great challenge. We all know the kind of success they've had the last six years. Gary Patterson too over for Dennis Franchione and they haven't missed a beat. As you know, they were a top BCS team until late in the season and finished in everyone's top 25. A lot of publications have them ranked in the preseason top 25. TCU is a football team that knows how to win. They are playing with a great deal of confidence. Those are tough teams to play, but I think we also have learned how to win. We finished the season the right way. We're playing with some confidence so we're looking forward to this matchup and a chance to go to Fort Worth and play."
Update on Loren Howard's Injury?
"As of the moment, the plan is for Loren to have surgery later this week. That was not decided until this morning. Even through last night, there was some thought about other forms of treatment. But we think it's in his best interest, the best interest for his future. It's best to go that route at this time. It's very similar to the injury that hit him right before the Motor City Bowl game, but this time, it's the other ankle (left). Unfortunately, he has some instability with his ankles. As he said, it's his Achilles heel. We think that it will be a great repair. His other surgery went well. This one will not be as, the way I understand it, as significant as the other."
Is this a season-ending injury?
"It depends on who you talk to. There's a chance he could be back this season. We'll know a lot more after the surgery. His history tells us he's fast healer. We're hopeful there's a chance he could return for part of the season. If not we'll answer this question when we get there."
Is this a blow to your defense?
"I don't know. Loren's a very good player. But I'd be disappointed in our football team or our defense if somehow this diminishes what kind of football season we can have. You don't want to see any young man get injured, certainly a guy who has invested as much as Loren. But as I say often, let's play with 11, we're going to play 11 good football players on the field this Thursday night. The guys, while disappointed, will certainly rally and play well. We can still have a very good football team on this side of the ball. He's a loss--there's nothing that can minimize that, but we have a very good football team and a very good defensive football team. I've never been through a football season that doesn't have some adversity. Your ability to respond to adversity, your ability to respond and come back and stay in the the present, play your best football is the mark of great football teams. Poor teams do not have that ability. I for one believe we have too many good football players. Let's just start with the defensive line. Luis Castillo is a great football player. He's not a good football player--he's a great football player. Colby Clark, I can't say enough about how much he's improved. You'll say how can a fifth-year senior improve? He's improved a great deal from a year ago. And so has Barry Cofield. And David Thompson, who is going to step in and replace Loren, started almost exclusively in 2002. Yes, we lost a good player but we have some good players in this defense, so we'll be alright."
Is David Thompson ready for this assignment?
"We're going with a fourth-year guy. We have a lot of kids who have made tremendous advances. David Thompson is a lot different player than he was two years ago. He's much more equipped to do this. We were going to play David a lot more this year anyway. That was already part of our plan. His role has increased. It will change the role of other guys, but by-and-large, we have good players. He's ready for this. Loren is a bigger, stronger kid, but David is very quick. I don't think we're losing speed or quickness on defense. David runs as well as any defensive lineman I've seen. He's a guy who was a little light a few years back, but he's hit the weight room and gotten stronger."
Can you talk a little bit about the improvement of Luis Castillo?
"Luis saw some significant time his freshman season. He really did not start emerging to me as a special player until last season, especially toward the end of the year. I can't say enough good things about how he has progressed as a player. As early as January 2003 when we started the off-season, you could sense a different young man--a more mature young man and a tougher young man."
What other challenges does TCU present?
"The one thing that really stands out is their athleticism and speed. They have some outstanding football players. One of the keys for us is not to give up the big play. They have two talented quarterbacks who both bring some unique talents to their football team. We know we're going to see both of them most likely, so we're preparing for both. Gary has done a great job with this program and we will need to be at our best on Thursday."
