and so it ends for the cats...

and it comes down to the last play of the game, and it's a disputed interception for baz and that'll do it on a 6-6 season.

i drove home during much of the game, leaving glenview at 1015 (missing the game's first touchdown during goodbyes with the rud clan) and arriving in the 'port at 110. at that time, it was 49-33 hawaii, the cats were in a first-and-goal situation inside the five yard line, there was an injury on the field, and i had to pee pretty badly. so i headed upstairs, confident that i'd miss nothing or hear a touchdown, but instead i arrive to find out that the cats had failed to score. ugh.

thankfully, a blocked punt by tj jones and a conversion made it 49-41, and the game was on, inside of eight minutes.

and the warriors drove. and drove. and drove. three successful third-down conversions, and it looked like it was over. but, after a rare cats stop, hawaii's ultra-impressive kicker shanks a 33-yarder, and it's still a game.

the cats pose a valiant drive, with aikens catching a deep pass over the middle and a personal foul on a fumbled snap helping nu's cause, but a sliding, short-hopped interception ended nu's chances for another miracle, and ended the cats season disappointingly in november. not december, but november. sigh.

the game's keys:

- greg colby calling an all-out blitz on 3rd-and-15 from the nu 16. with chad owens (4 TDs) manned up on the gimpy jeff backes (sore ankle, for months), timmy chang hits him on a slant for a 49-33 hawaii edge. as tuesday morning quarterback would write, "stop me! before i blitz again!'

- down 21-20 and facing a 4th-and-11 at the hawaii 36 with about 90 seconds left in the first half, the cats have several options: a) kick a field goal (howells had been good from 43 and 46 already), b) fake a field goal, c) punt it, d) fake a punt, e) go for it. i was yelling at my radio that they had to go for it, because they hadn't stopped chang since the start of the quarter, and it was inevitable that this one was shaping up as a track meet. instead they punt, and owens returns to the 32 (net punt: 4 yards). a few plays later, the warriors score again, and head to the locker room up 28-20.

- the cats wasted an early interception (3-and-out) and a fortuitous hop on a pooch kick that turned into a successful onside kick (field goal).

- john pickens' late hit spurred the warriors in the second quarter.

but we'll get over it.

i'm disappointed now but, if you'd given me 6-6 as the final record to start the year, i'd've taken it. (i did pick 7-5, missing on arizona state, wisconsin, purdue, ohio state, and hawaii, i believe)northwestern should have beaten tcu (five missed figgies), and should have come out stronger against arizona state, a team i think that the cats would have beaten later in the year. i wish they had been sharper against wisconsin, but that was reasonably one that they couldn't have won. they were flat-out outclassed by red-hot minnesota in the early conference season, and michigan did the same in the late going.

why ever schedule hawaii? don't ask me, freakin' barnett did it. even six years later, this guy brings shame to the program. (yes, we appreciate 94 and 95, but he left the program in shambles.)

and because this season's been over for 25 minutes, it's time to analyze what's left for 2005:

quarterback: basanez returns, and he'll certainly be an all-conference candidate. after the disaster that was his 2003 season, this was definitely a surprise. no challenge expected from malleo, of course.

running back: herron could be considered the biggest loss on the club, because you can't just pluck a versatile 1,300-yard runner from anywhere. however, t-jordan came on late in the season, as northwestern began to employ the two-back set more, and he showed well for himself (not unlike what herron did spelling j-wright in 2003, although herron was more productive.) i wouldn't be surprised if northwestern becomes a bit more conventional with a bit more frequency in 2005, as erryn cobb seemed to be a solid lead man in running situations. could the jones and jenkins show return in 05? (probably not, but it's a thought.) brandon roberson returned kicks (a muff against wisconsin comes to mind) and saw sparing action against michigan this season...he apparently figures as the backup.

wide receiver: this'll be the most solid group on the club in 05, as they lose only aikens. philmore will be a preseason all big ten player, and i wouldn't be surprised if he's a biletnikoff watch list guy, perhaps even a semifinalist. i'd like to think that kim thompson can handle the other side, as i really enjoyed watching him progress this season. fields is a classic slot speed guy, and herbert also has legit and solid experience. fields filled the role that i expected for brandon horn, who disappointed me this season. still, five 15-catch (i'm not sure on thompson) guys back, along with the athletic tj jones, and i'm happy.

tight ends: i don't think it matters, but taylor jones and (former DT) ryan keenan return.

o-line: the biggest concern, as three three-year starters - ike, ulrich and essex - all depart. strief's the animal, and rees is steady. but the rest is question marks. could keenan bulk up and take a tackle spot? is dylan thiry (6-8, 295) ready to bookend the right side (he played some at the left when strief left today's game)? maybe a huge freshman that redshirted (jim lawler - 6-5, 300 or adam rucks - 6-4, 290) earns a job. joe tripodi spent the year on the two-deep.

d-line: for the first time since the 2000 season, the tackles become a question mark. the only certainty would be that trevor schulz competes for a job and, perhaps, keenan moves back. maybe one of the DEs could bulk up, because howard (if he stays, which i'd assume he will), cofield (stud!), thompson (i still like him) and ngene (showed flashes when healthy) are a solid quartet. size alone dictates that redshirted freshman matt clark (6-3, 290) of florida will compete for a tackle spot. luis castillo has gotten well-deserved hype, but i don't know if a player has had a more unheralded great career than colby clark (probably an overstatement). i'll never forget his dominance in the '01 msu game (he was seemingly everywhere, in one of his first starts...two sacks, one more TFL, and promises of potential dominance that were, i guess, never realized)

linebackers: they'll be fine. we'll miss pickens (although we'd've been better off without him today), but mcgarrigle is outstanding, roach was dominant at times, and eaton and kalita showed well for themselves when they got the chance.

defensive backs: we'll miss price big-time, and we'll hope that we never think of marvin ward again. henderson has been a career disappointment for me, but he'll be back to move into price's strong safety role, while heinz is back at free safety. scott brownley could also figure as a safety, and reggie mcpherson showed well when he got the chance (no word if he got the chance against hawaii.) i'm hopeful that backes can spend a season healthy, because i think he can be a real good one - a shutdown corner. i'm excited to see cory dious earn a starting role, because he's a fun-as-hell kamikaze on special teams (tonight's penalties non-withstanding). marquise cole also figures in the backfield, as could (perhaps) rico tarver. deante battle also saw some time.

special teams: i don't know who snapped (was it horton? yes), but i believe he's back. howells is fine, and i only wish we knew that in august (we'd be bowling had we known that.) pederson punted well after two shanks in his first start, against purdue (or was it penn state?).

anybody playing on sundays (or on nfl rosters? or drafted?): herron's a lock to make a roster. price'll be an admirable special teamer. ndukwe and essex are draft picks. i think castillo's heart alone makes him a draft candidate. i'm hoping that ward's not got a chance (although blackmon - ha! - was drafted...hmmm)

other things: i'm excited to have randy walker presumably back, and i'd think that his staff will see little turnover. i'd think that fitzgerald, clearly being groomed as r-dub's successor, will not get looks as any of the small d-1 schools (san jose state's open, as is nmsu, perhaps, and certainly several more small schools eventually). dunbar hasn't earned a look, nor has greg colby.

the schedule is not unlike many previous wildcats schedules: two mac opponents (a bad one, ohio u. at home, and a good one, niu, also at home), along with arizona state (sans andrew walter) on the road. this shapes up as the easiest non-conference slate in a few years, i'd think. the big ten lineup is tough, as northwestern misses minnesota and indiana (who both figure near the bottom).

the early prediction: 4-7 (2-1 in the nonconference, plus conference wins home against penn state and at illinois...losses home against wisconsin, michigan and iowa, and on the road at purdue, michigan state and ohio state)

sigh...it's sad to see a very fun 2004 season be gone.

(here's the pathetic part: except for the OL and DL names and the schedule factor, this was all written from the top of my head...nerd!)

perhaps more on a wonderful thanksgiving weekend another time. pete carroll's an asswipe.