Monday Press Conference Observations

Here are five observations from Northwestern’s weekly press conference.

INJURIES:

Coach Pat Fitzgerald knows what it’s like to be injured.

As a junior at Northwestern, Fitzgerald bolstered the Wildcats’ defensive attack in the 10-1 season that led NU to the 1996 Rose Bowl appearance. Fitzgerald’s season ended early when the Big Ten defensive player of the year and Chuck Bednarik Award winner broke his leg in the second-to-last game of the season.

It’s something he still thinks about today.

“You get a sense that I don’t like talking about injuries,” Fitzgerald said Monday at his weekly press conference.” When you miss the Rose Bowl, come talk to me.”

It came as no surprise that Fitzgerald was mum in talking about the status of senior quarterback C.J. Bacher and senior running back Tyrell Sutton.

MORNING PRACTICE:

Tomorrow, NU returns to its regular practice schedule. The team meets at Ryan Field at 6:45a.m. for team meetings and is expected to be on the field by 8:30a.m. Shortly thereafter, practice begins and runs for two hours.

Fitzgerald thinks the morning practice schedule helps the team off the field.

“It actually I believe helps our guys academically,” he said. “Our GPA the last two years has been higher than it’s ever been.”

A season ago four Cats were awarded with Academic All-Big Ten honors.

It also gives NU an advantage in morning games. With four of the next five games definitively scheduled for 11a.m. start times, the Cats are well accustomed to competing in the morning.

DUALING QUARTERBACKS:

While junior Jake Christensen entered the season as the starter behind center, the left-handed gunslinger has been splitting time with sophomore Ricky Stanzi, a right-handed passer.

“They’re not the same guy, obviously one righty, one lefty,” Fitzgerald said of the signal-callers. “One’s from Ohio, one’s from Chicago. I could keep going on and on about their differences. But schematically they’re very similar.”

Coach Ferentz expects his quarterbacks to manage the game, and get the ball in the hands of the team’s playmakers. Whoever has the hot hand will get the nod against the Cats.

OTHER INJURIES:

Junior wide receiver Andrew Brewer suffered an injury on kick return coverage in Saturday’s win over Ohio. Brewer limped off the field under his own power, and Fitzgerald updated the former quarterback’s status for Iowa.

“From an injury standpoint, Andrew Brewer won’t play on Saturday based on things as they’ve progressed though the weekend,” he said.

Fitzgerald also updated the status of junior right tackle Kurt Mattes, who has missed games due to a knee injury. The lineman is working hard in rehabilitation, and is currently day-to-day, however is not expected to play this week.

FAN SUPPORT:

While the attendance for Saturday’s game against Ohio was listed as only 4,000 more people than the Southern Illinois game, Fitzgerald said there was a noticeable difference.

“I want to say a big thank you to our students,” Fitzgerald said. “It was awesome to come at 8:35 for the Walk with us down Walker Way. And then to walk out to the pre-game”

During New Student Week, Fitzgerald taught incoming freshman, “Go U Northwestern,” the school’s fight song.

“It was great to see the class of 2012 out at the soccer game and to teach them the fight song,” he said. “We’ll be a little better moving along hopefully singing the fight song. But a big hearty thank you to our students.”