per PurpleWildcats.com...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> NU Coach Randy Walker appeared on WSCR this morning - One of our regulars, Windy City Cat Fan listened in:

Most of this is the same as other Walker interviews.

At this point in camp, Walker couldn't be happier with where the team is and what they've accomplished.

They asked him if there was less pressure this year because the expectations from the 'experts' are low -

Walker responded that he doesn't pay attention to predictions and he's ready to get the season underway.

They asked if he creates new schemes to fit the players or if he just plugs in new players -

The offense will be pretty much the same but he expects a much improved passing game with a lot of 4 wide sets and some 3 wide/2 back and 3 wide/ 1 TE.

The defense is changing and will be very fast and take advantage of that speed but very young.

He feels the staff has recruited well and there are lots of athletic kids ready to step in but they still have a good mix of experience and youth with guys like Pat Durr and Covington returning as 3 year starters. (he did not specifically mention any other players other than Durr & Covington in the entire interview).

Of course they asked him about the Rashidi Wheeler incident and if he ever feared for his job and if he has changed his conditioning and coaching -

He has received tremendous support from the entire instituition and president Beinen, he was more concerned about the kids last year and getting back to football than his job and he sleeps well at night doing what he does, he hasn't really backed off at all.

They kind of grilled him on the RW stuff and he indicated that this was the first time it has been brought up in an interview during camp.

So really nothing new - the defense is fast but unproven and they're ready to go.

Also, Berstein mentioned the Princeton review thing -

Walker hadn't heard about that yet but went on about how NU is a great institution - it was before he got here and will continue to be and the football program has won more titles in the last 8 years than any other BigTen school. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

Randy Walker is such a great coach. I have always liked him and this year may not be peaches and cream for NU but it will be a great learning experience. My freshman year Washington State was young but played tough in the majority of their games in 2000 and last year..the Cougars went 10-2 and beat Purdue in the Sun Bowl..

It will be so sweet to see this year's NU team do well and then exploded and shock the nation with great success next year..