Dec. 26, 2003
By Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News
(Reprinted with permission from The Detroit News)
DETROIT - It really doesn't take much to fire up Northwestern Coach Randy Walker. Take a simple conversation about, get this, the Weather Channel. Walker loves the Weather Channel, watches it all the time. He even knows the names of the meteorologists.
And why? Like many things in Walker's life, it all comes back to his passionate love of football and his team.
"I've gotta watch the Weather Channel to see how it's going to be for practice," Walker said. "I'm always thinking about what's next for my team. I have a love and appreciation for these players and this game. "These players are all my heroes."
Walker is in the midst of trying to solidify Northwestern's inconsistent football program.
Bowl appearances, such as today's against Bowling Green in the Motor City Bowl at Ford Field, hopefully will bring stability to Northwestern.
Walker would single-handedly will Northwestern to another Big Ten title if he could, thanks to his enthusiastic, intense style.
He came to Northwestern in 1999 after a decade of rebuilding Miami (Ohio) into a strong program. The Wildcats won a share of the Big Ten title in 2000 under Walker's tenure, but also have languished with inconsistent below-.500 seasons.
Walker loves to talk, loves his players, loves football. His emotional style endears him to his players. "I've never seen him off, which I mean, I've never seen him not be fired up, ready to go, ready to push us to get better and stronger," senior linebacker Pat Durr said. "Even if you think you might have a day where you don't want to push yourself, being around Coach will get you there. You just want to give as much back to him as you're getting from him."
Walker shares a lot in common with Michigan State basketball Coach Tom Izzo: Both made themselves into college players through determination, hard work and smarts to overcome being on the small side. Walker is about 5-foot-8, but was a star running back at Miami and got a chance to go to camp with the the Cincinnati Bengals in 1976.
"Randy is very resourceful; one of his biggest strengths is the ways he connects with the players and motivates them," said Northwestern Athletic Director Mark Murphy, who also was the co-captain of the Washington Redskins during their heydays in the early 1980s.
"He never gives up, he always believes he can win - that's infectious with these guys." Walker admits he has chilled out a bit since his Miami days. A little less screaming, a little less bouncing off the walls.
But don't chalk that up to Walker hitting 50 next May and getting a bit slower.
"You get smarter in the way you coach and also, your players get to know what you expect," Walker said. "When I first got to Northwestern, I really had to do everything to get the team pointed in the right direction. "Now, I see things on the right course here at Northwestern. I see us on the right path to becoming consistent, to playing with confidence no matter who we face."
Walker pauses, then fires back up again.
"Sure, I'm still an excitable guy," Walker said. "I'll always be. Football just gets me going. I love it. Just love it."