To those who bet against Northwestern football this season, my deepest condolences.

When I saw the Wildcats listed as three point underdogs against the Fighting Illini at home, I was puzzled.

Why pick an underachieving road team that has been mediocre at best all season, over a home team that had taken strides every week to produce one of its best seasons in school history?

Because they’re Illinois. Because NU will never shed its loser label. Because you can’t count on Pat Fitzgerald’s teams to win big games.

Did any of those narrow-minded answers play out?

Maybe this is the season when the Evanston stereotypes will finally be put to rest. While the Cats in 2008 may not have been as flashy on offense as 2005, or as polished on defense as 1995, this team will be remembered for answering all the questions that doubters threw at it.

Back in July, I was perusing sports sources around the country for predictions of how the Big Ten would pan out. Athlon Sports, which is probably one of Fitzgerald’s least-favorite publications, had these things to say about NU.

Offense: “They have experience at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, but a new-look offensive line could hamper things. Northwestern loses three starters up front and has only one returning to the same position, so building chemistry is critical. If the line jells, running back Tyrell Sutton stays healthy and C.J. Bachér trims his interceptions total, the offense should be among the league’s best.”

After 12 games, hamper clearly turned to help. The line allowed 17 sacks all season, finishing second to co-champion Penn State. The offense did not finish in the top four in any major category, but managed to as wide receiver Eric Peterman put it, “take what the defense gives us, and go with it.”

Defense: “The defense needed new leadership and got it with veteran coordinator Mike Hankwitz. A line that returns all four starters must generate a better pass rush, especially from the edges. There are once again questions at linebacker after Adam Kadela’s graduation, but Northwestern usually finds capable replacements there. The secondary boasts decent depth and young talent but needs playmakers like safety Brendan Smith and cornerback Sherrick McManis to step up.”

Does a Big-Ten leading 33 sacks count as a better pass rush? Mike Hankwitz was one of the best offseason hirings in the country. Think Cal Poly would’ve scored 35 points Saturday with him roaming Wisconsin’s sidelines?

And what better evidence of playmaking than Smith’s game-winning pick-six against Minnesota, which gave NU the strength to win three of its final four games.

Schedule: “The schedule once again features seven home games, but the Wildcats must avoid their annual non-conference stumble. They have a favorable opening to the Big Ten slate, but getting bowl eligible before Nov. 8 is key, as Northwestern finishes with Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois.”

What better way to avoid a “stumble” than starting the season 5-0, the team’s best start since 1962. NU may not have had a USC on its non-conference slate, but when the overall record is what the bowls look at, why try to defy a flawed system? Just go out and win, which is what the Cats did.

As for those final three games, NU ended up winning two of three against underachieving Illinois and Michigan teams. The Big Ten was down, and as usual the Cats proved to be potent underdogs.

There go those stereotypes again. Give Michigan and Illinois all the excuses in the world, but NU was the better team all season long.

Every question thrown at this team in 2008 has been answered to date except for one. While he didn’t address making a bowl game throughout the course of the season, Fitzgerald did address it back on July 31.

“What’s in our control is to win a bowl game,” he said. “That’s something that hasn’t happened here in a long, long time. We’ve changed the attitude and we’ve changed the expectations. Now it’s time we take the next step and win a bowl game.”

Now, we’ll all wait and see if the team can answer that last question. But in the meantime, thanks for a great regular season.

c-gentilviso@northwestern.edu

Tags: Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Pat Fitzgerald