CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Northwestern preview

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Northwestern Wildcats

Things can only get better

College Football: The New Century

'99: 3-8, 1-7 Big Ten

Coach

Randy Walker (second season, 3-8; 62-43-5 overall)

Key offensive players

Damien Anderson, RB, Jr.
Workhorse ran for 1,128 yards last season.

Zak Kustok, QB, Jr.
Notre Dame transfer took over as starter at midseason once he became eligible.

Teddy Johnson, WR, Sr.
Led team with 23 catches and averaged 22.3 yards per kick return.

Key defensive players

Kevin Bentley, LB, Jr.
Team MVP led the Big Ten in tackles (148) last season.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Otto Graham, QB, 1941-43
"Still one of the Big Ten's greatest passers."

Brightest Moment: Without question, the Wildcats' stunning rise from a perennial Big Ten bottom feeder to Big Ten titles in 1995 and '96 under Gary Barnett.

Lowest Moment: The Wildcats still hold the Division I-A record with 34 straight losses from 1979 to 1982.

Dwayne Missouri, DR, Sr.
Was fourth in the Big Ten with 20 tackles-for-loss and is fifth on Northwestern's career list with 49.

Key newcomer

Tony Stauss, QB, Fr.
Highly touted Wisconsin prepster could move into the No. 2 quarterback spot by the end of fall.

Throwback player

Senior defensive end Conrad Emmerich is definitely "old school" in his approach to the game. On the field, he is very vocal and emotional and, of course, physical.

21st century player

Junior linebacker Napoleon Harris displays his flashiness on and off the field. The communication studies major likes to talk but he backed it up with 110 tackles last season.

Fast Fact

Anderson in '99 had NU's fourth 1,000-yard season since '95. The only other Big Ten school to accomplish that feat was Wisconsin with Ron Dayne.

Outlook

The Wildcats were hampered by injuries and a lack of experience in a 3-8 season. Things should go better this season as 17 starters return, including nine on defense. The offense should be helped after wide receivers Sam Simmons (fractured clavicle) and Jon Schweighardt (fractured elbow) return from season-ending injuries, and Simmons is an excellent return man (26.2 yards on kickoffs and 15.4 on punts). The Wildcats must do a better job of defending the run after ranking 92nd in the nation last year. "We are a bigger, stronger and faster football team than we were a year ago with a lot of guys who have a lot of experience," coach Randy Walker said. "We believe we have a chance to be very good and to be competitive."

-- Mark Ambrogi