Looking at what happened in the league this weekend, I didn’t feel like there were any real surprises. I guess I was slightly surprised to see Ohio State struggle to beat Wisconsin, even though Wisconsin is a good team and historically they play the Buckeyes tough at home. I also thought Penn State would score more than 20 points on Purdue. But as far as wins and losses, everything went pretty much like I thought it would. So, allow me to turn my attention to a subject I wouldn’t have ever believed I would think about, much less post about here. Usually, my wish for the Big Ten is to have OSU or Michigan skate through the league and then get killed in either a BCS bowl game or the National Title game, sullying the national reputation of the league even further. It’s usually especially sweet because all announcers and pundits wet themselves over the great tradition of both the schools and then act surprised when more talented teams from better leagues crap all over them. I have a slightly less combative position towards the league this year because of one team.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, the Purple Wildcats of Northwestern! Before writing this, I felt kind of old knowing Northwestern last made the Rose Bowl in 1995 and that I was able to remember it quite well. I also thought that they had basically turned into Duke once coach Gary Barnett left. A little quick research showed that Barnett was actually the one who fared worse after leaving. (I trust you all remember his distinguished stint at Colorado.) Much to my surprise, Northwestern was actually tied for first in the league in 2000 and has made bowl games in ’03 and ’05. Well, they have single-handedly altered my wishes for the league. I want the Purple Wildcats to run wild! I want them to run the table, win the Big Ten outright and go all Boise State on someone in a BCS bowl game, as long as they don’t play the Florida Gators. It would be the best of both worlds as far as I’m concerned. I would get to see something cool and exciting again as an underdog with a clearly less-talented team shocks the world and the Big Ten would still be getting embarrassed at the same time. Northwestern winning the Big Ten is about as great an indictment on the league as anything.

As for the chances of this actually happening, I must admit I haven’t watched the Purple Wildcats play at all yet this year. I probably never will unless they are still undefeated by the time they play Ohio State at home on Nov. 8. But, I do know a little about some of the teams they’ve played this year. Syracuse has been horrible from the second their coach Greg Robinson showed up there. That victory almost shouldn’t even count. Iowa and Ohio both were unimpressive the times I saw them as well. As scary as this sounds, their most legitimate victory may have been at Duke. Since that is arguably their most legitimate victory, I completely understand why people are going to be little skeptical about their chances of going undefeated the rest of the year. A look at their schedule should change that. They basically have a three game season starting with the aforementioned Ohio State game, Michigan at The Big House and the Fightin’ Zookers (Illinois) at home. Then again, I guess Northwestern can’t really afford to overlook anyone. Regardless of whether or not I can make a rational argument for them or I actually believe they can do it, I am rooting for them. Really.