Northwestern University Athletics
Camp Kenosha: Day Nine
8/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 17, 2006
KENSOHA, Wis. - Northwestern's football team took to the Wisconsin-Parkside practice fields for a single morning practice on another sunny day in Kenosha, Wis., Thursday morning. Going through the `dog days' of camp, head coach Pat Fitzgerald surprised the team, cutting conditioning short with the Wildcats' annual watermelon-eating contest.
Center Trevor Rees took home the 2006 title eking out the win over line mate Ryan Keenan. Rees represented the junior class, while Keenan stood in for the seniors.
Other participants were, Brad Phillips for the rookie class, Mike Kafka for the redshirt freshman and Amado Villarreal for the sophomores. Offensive graduate assistant Eric Evans represented the coaching staff.
After another spirited morning workout, NUsports.com caught up with assistant head coach/defensive backs coach Jerry Brown to get his thoughts on this year's defensive backs.
NUsports.com: There are a lot of defensive backs on this year's roster, how is the group progressing as a whole?
Coach Brown: Things are going well. We have a lot of depth in numbers, but what we are trying to do is give us quality depth at all the DB positions.
NUsports.com: What kind of impact will the return of Bryan Heinz have on the defensive secondary?
Coach Brown: Bryan is veteran guy and knows everything we are trying to do. I expect him, and I'm sure he expects himself, to be an All-Big Ten type caliber player. He brings a steady, calming influence to the back end of the defense, similar to what Herschel Henderson did last season.
NUsports.com: Senior Marquice Cole is a Jim Thorpe Award (given to the nation's top defensive back) candidate this season, what do you expect from Northwestern's fastest player?
Coach Brown: I have high expectations for Marquice this season. I've really had my foot down on Marquice this camp, driving him everyday trying to make him as good as he can possibly be.
NUsports.com: With Cole, Heinz and Deante Battle, you have a veteran group of returnees. Of the young players in the secondary, who has impressed you so far?
Coach Brown: Without a doubt it's been Sherrick McManis. He's got some skills. He can run, he can hit and best of all, he's a very willing learner.
NUsports.com: What do you expect from the defense as a whole this season?
Coach Brown: I expect us to be better. We had a lot of young guys, especially up front last year, and sometimes when you're a young player and you get thrown into the fire, you just hold on for dear life. But now that they have a year under their belt the thought process is a little different. The first thing is, now they know they can play at this level, secondly they understand the defenses better and when you combine those two, then comes a level of maturity, which in turn makes you a better football player.
NUsports.com: This is your 14th Camp Kenosha since arriving in Evanston, how has it changed over the years?
Coach Brown: Camp Kenosha is the same every year. It doesn't change. The food is great, the hospitality is great, the practice fields, all of it. We really do have a great situation up here.
CAMP NOTES:
• Miami University has announced plans to honor former NU head coach Randy Walker prior to the kickoff of a nationally televised game versus the Wildcats on Thursday, Aug. 31. Walker, an alum and former player for the RedHawks, is the all-time winningest head coach in Miami football history, Walker, who had been the head coach at Northwestern since 1999, passed away suddenly on June 29. "On Thursday, Aug. 31, we will honor the life and legacy of Randy Walker prior to our football game with Northwestern," Miami Director of Athletics Brad Bates said. "Coach Walker's contributions will forever be felt throughout Oxford, Miami, Northwestern, the NCAA and within the many lives impacted by his magnifcent energy, creativity, intelligence, competitiveness and sincerity. We have worked closely with Northwestern A.D. Mark Murphy in planning what we feel is a fitting tribute to the man and the coach."
Prior to the game, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU, a ceremony will be hosted at 6 p.m. in the Cradle of Coaches Plaza, located beyond the south endzone. Two former Miami head coaches, Bill Mallory and Dick Crum, are scheduled to speak. Mallory, who coached at Miami from 1969-73 and went on to direct the programs at Indiana and Colorado, recruited Walker to Miami and coached him for two seasons. Crum, who served as head coach at Miami from 1974-77 coached Walker at Miami during his junior and senior season and hired him as an assistant coach at both Miami and North Carolina. Also speaking are Cradle of Coaches author Bob Kurz, the authority on Miami's Cradle of Coaches tradition and a close friend of Walker's, and Murphy. A plaque will be dedicated in the Cradle of Coaches Plaza to commemorate Walker's contributions to both Miami University and the game of college football. It will be the first plaque to adorn the plaza, which was constructed to honor the many great football coaches who have passed through Miami. During the game, the players from both teams will wear a sticker on their helmets that denotes Walker's Miami playing number 41 in red and nickname `Walk' in purple. A video board presentation at halftime will further commemorate Walker's impressive life.
Northwestern will honor Walker at its home opener on Sept. 9 vs. New Hampshire. Details will be announced soon. Tickets are still available for both contests through the Miami and Northwestern ticket offices.
