Northwestern Looks to Take Next Step in 2013

Kain Colter and Northwestern are looking for a Big Ten title

As goals are accomplished, bigger goals are established. So it is with the Northwestern football team as they prepare for the 2013 campaign after exorcising the bowl-game demons with a 34-20 Gator Bowl victory over Mississippi State to cap last season. It ended the Wildcats' streak of nine consecutive bowl game losses, which is tied for the longest streak of all-time. With that mountain climbed and conquered, Northwestern can set their sights on something bigger this season -- like a Big Ten conference title.

Make no mistake about it, winning the Big Ten title this season won't be a walk in the park, but the Cats have the talent to pull it off. Start with the backfield of Venric Mark and Kain Colter. Northwestern finished 19th in the nation with 225.5 rush yards per game and Mark racked up 1,366 yards on the season. Eight times Mark rushed for 100+ yards in a game and he found the endzone 12 times. The senior may find it difficult to duplicate those numbers, but Colter will provide assistance.

The dual-threat quarterback, or whatever you want to call his position, does just about everything. Last season he threw for eight touchdowns and ran for 12 more. Oh, and he he also caught 16 passes for 169 yards. He's the type of player that can do whatever needs to be done, but Northwestern hopes his passing will improve this season. He completed 67.8 percent of his passes, but he's now completely healed from a shoulder injury he suffered back in high school and that may make him more comfortable at quarterback.

No matter where he lines up, the bottom line is that Colter will have an impact, and the Cats need him to because their schedule is anything but easy. Road games at Wisconsin and Nebraska plus home contests versus Ohio State and Michigan highlight the schedule. It's a far cry from 2012 when Northwestern went 10-3, but didn't play a Top 25 team. Barring a host of disappointments, that is impossible this season as all four of those teams, plus Northwestern, are in the USA Today Preseason Top 25. Michigan State will also probably also see time in the polls and they will come to Evanston on November 23rd.

However, despite the increased strength of schedule, not to mention the target that comes with going 10-3, this is the kind of season where good teams become great teams. Will Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats improve, stay the same or fall? Anything less than nine wins and a New Year's Day bowl game would and should be considered a drop off from last year. Sure, the schedule is tougher, but this team has been knocking on the door for a few years and now it's time to bust through.

It's time for Northwestern to become a mainstay in the Top 25 and the top of the Big Ten standings. While many outside of Big Ten country may not know about the Cats they could know fairly soon. When the Buckeyes travel to Evanston on October 5th the ESPN-televised game will be in primetime at 8:00. That would be a great time to introduce the nation to Northwestern football.

Northwestern and Wrigley to Join Forces

The Chicago Cubs have announced that they will establish a partnership with Northwestern University in order to host numerous sporting events for the Wildcats. Many will remember just a few years back in 2010 when Illinois and Northwestern played a football game in the Friendly Confines. It was the first football game played in Wrigley since 1970 and it was quite a sight to see for baseball and football fans alike. Though it may take some serious reconfiguring, I believe this move will greatly benefit Northwestern in the long run.

Think about it, Northwestern is now an above average football team; they have played in a bowl game each of the last five years. What Pat Fitzgerald has done with the Wildcats is exciting and the fact that he will now be coaching in Wrigley Field can only enhance Northwestern's image. Think of the possibilities not only for football but for the university. People may not necessarily be Northwestern fans but the chance to see a football game in one of the most historic ball parks ever presents quite an opportunity. With a likelihood that ticket sales will go up, money for the university will also rise. Obviously the money will be split between the Cubs' organization and the Wildcats but, be that as it may, Northwestern will benefit because they will also have the cost in appliances cut in half as I'm sure the Cubs will meet them half way when it comes to the expenses of concessions and lighting.

However, football is not the only Northwestern team that will call Wrigley Field home as the soccer and softball programs will also play their games inside the ball park. For soccer, Wrigley hosted a friendly this past summer but it was the first soccer game played in the park since the early '80s. This will only cause more consumer attraction not only because of the park and the layout but because the B1G boasts some of the best talent in the nation including reigning national champion Indiana.

All in all, if you throw in the fact that Wrigley Field will be undergoing a $300 million renovation over the next five years and it's safe to say that the North Side could be a pretty exciting spot in the forseeable future. I like the move that has been made by both the Cubs and Northwestern. I think it will ultimately benefit both parties and I'm anxious to see how this works out. One thing is forsure, this will make the underdog Wildcats even more fun to watch.