By Skip Myslenski
NUsports.com Special Contributor
Seven Wildcats made their first career starts last Saturday against Western Michigan, and with that took on roles far greater than those they had filled in the past. For these players, Pat Fitzgerald would later say, that changes "Everything. I mean everything is different."
"What changed for me mostly was knowing I had to be the one to set the tone," defensive end Xavier Washington will say when asked about that. He is a starter now after two years in the D-line rotation and here he continued, "Usually I would play off the guy in front of me, Dean Lowry, who was one of the best players to ever play here. I would feed off of his energy. But my role now is to set the tone for everybody behind me. That's the biggest difference. I tried to go out and play as fast as I could because I knew the guy watching me (true freshman Alex Miller) had to match my intensity. That was the biggest difference for me. But in all, it was the same. Going out, and playing football, and trying to play fast."
Fitz also said, "You probably get way too amped up to play. You spend way too much emotional energy pre-game."
"I was a little more amped up than I had been in past years just knowing it was my first start, and knowing that I had that big role and I had to produce more than I ever had," Washington admitted here. "I tried to contain my energy. But I was so excited and ready to play. Of course, when someone steps up and has to take on a bigger role, his mind starts going— your mentality changes and you just want to go out and really do the best you can for your team."
The final thing Fitz said was, "You move forward with wisdom."
"The main thing I learned is it's just another game like all the other games. It's just more snaps," Washington finally said. "So I have to be smart expending my energy and just use it in the game. Looking forward, I'll focus in more on my technique rather than just trying to go all out there and hit people."
Running back John Moten IV has yet to carry the rock, but his situation changed dramatically last Saturday when senior Warren Long exited the Western game with a broken hand that will sideline him indefinitely. That pushed the redshirt freshman into the role of Justin Jackson's primary backup, which means he should get some work this Saturday when the 'Cats host Illinois State.
"It's doesn't change the preparation. We hold each other to a really high standard in the running back room," he said of his new status. "But you definitely do feel a little more pressure. At the end of the day, though, it comes down to trusting yourself and trusting your teammates and what you do every day in practice."
It's been awhile since you carried in a game. Will there be a period of adjustment?
"That's a really good question," Moten answered honestly. "I'm a little nervous. But at the same time, I'm just going to do what I do. Stay focused and keep preparing as the week goes on. And then we'll see. We'll see."
Any number of Big Ten teams played walk-overs last Saturday while the 'Cats wrestled with Western Michigan, which is favored to win the MAC.
"We haven't done that. We're going to try and play a competitive schedule," Fitzgerald said this week when asked if he wished his 'Cats had opened with an easier foe. "Maybe people think I'm whack, but I believe we're going to win a national championship here. I know we've got to win a Big Ten West first, I've got all that. But if you don't plan to put yourself in a position by playing good opponents, you're just not going to get better . . . As a coach, you want to compete against good teams. As a player, you want to compete against good teams. And as fans, you want to see good competition. I'm not going to speak anything about other conference coaches. I don't know, maybe I'm crazy. But I just think for you to get your team ready, you've got to play good teams."
QUICKLY NOTED: Moten was Missouri's 2014 high school state champ in the 100 meters, which he won in a time of 10.58. He chose the 'Cats over (among others) Illinois and Notre Dame . . . Liked this observation of wideout (and former running back) Solomon Vault, who said this when asked about Justin Jackson: "I was in the (position) room with him for two years and I would say the most-impressive thing (about him) to me is not physical. It's mental. His knowledge of the offense. His knowledge of the game. He can tell you what every offensive lineman is doing on every single play. I think that really helps him in the game because he knows where the pullers are coming from; where the zone side is, where the man side is on pass protection. It's those little details he was able to pick up as a freshman, and now he has an even deeper understanding of the offense. Obviously he has some pretty-nice moves. But I think it's that mental part of his game that really separates him." . . . Illinois State opened its season last Saturday with a 50-13 rout of Valparaiso . . . The Redbirds have shared the Missouri Valley Football Conference title in each of the last two seasons, and have appeared in the Football Championship Series playoffs three of the last four years. "A program that knows how to win. A program that has gotten to the highest level of the FCS over the last few years," Fitzgerald said of them. "They'll be stoked up and ready to play.". . . They are coached by former Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack, who is in his eighth season at the school. "I've known him for a long time," Fitzgerald said of him. "I had so much respect for him when he was at Purdue, and now to see what he has done at ISU. He's turned it into an FCS powerhouse. He's done a terrific job." . . . An intriguing Redbird to keep an eye on is the 5-foot-10, 210-pound true freshman running back James Robinson, who is the all-time leading rusher in Illinois high school history. He gained 9,045 yards in his four seasons at Rockford Lutheran. During his career there he also piled up 158 rushing touchdowns and scored 948 points, which are state records as well . . . Last week against Valpo he averaged 5.3 yards on his seven carries and took a swing pass 33 yards for a touchdown.
AND FINALLY: Former placekicker Jeff Budzien, the 'Cats honorary captain on Saturday, was involved with the Special Olympics during his career at the school, just as Spack's wife Aimee is involved with that group now. Friday night a Special Olympian, as well as Budzien, will address the Wildcats and Saturday captains from both teams will be accompanied by one for the coin flip. "To say thank you and to lift up our Special Olympians in the state of Illinois," said Fitzgerald. "Just a terrific idea by Brock and his wonderful wife, and I think a great way for us to honor those great athletes."
NUsports.com Special Contributor
Seven Wildcats made their first career starts last Saturday against Western Michigan, and with that took on roles far greater than those they had filled in the past. For these players, Pat Fitzgerald would later say, that changes "Everything. I mean everything is different."
"What changed for me mostly was knowing I had to be the one to set the tone," defensive end Xavier Washington will say when asked about that. He is a starter now after two years in the D-line rotation and here he continued, "Usually I would play off the guy in front of me, Dean Lowry, who was one of the best players to ever play here. I would feed off of his energy. But my role now is to set the tone for everybody behind me. That's the biggest difference. I tried to go out and play as fast as I could because I knew the guy watching me (true freshman Alex Miller) had to match my intensity. That was the biggest difference for me. But in all, it was the same. Going out, and playing football, and trying to play fast."
Fitz also said, "You probably get way too amped up to play. You spend way too much emotional energy pre-game."
"I was a little more amped up than I had been in past years just knowing it was my first start, and knowing that I had that big role and I had to produce more than I ever had," Washington admitted here. "I tried to contain my energy. But I was so excited and ready to play. Of course, when someone steps up and has to take on a bigger role, his mind starts going— your mentality changes and you just want to go out and really do the best you can for your team."
The final thing Fitz said was, "You move forward with wisdom."
"The main thing I learned is it's just another game like all the other games. It's just more snaps," Washington finally said. "So I have to be smart expending my energy and just use it in the game. Looking forward, I'll focus in more on my technique rather than just trying to go all out there and hit people."
Running back John Moten IV has yet to carry the rock, but his situation changed dramatically last Saturday when senior Warren Long exited the Western game with a broken hand that will sideline him indefinitely. That pushed the redshirt freshman into the role of Justin Jackson's primary backup, which means he should get some work this Saturday when the 'Cats host Illinois State.
"It's doesn't change the preparation. We hold each other to a really high standard in the running back room," he said of his new status. "But you definitely do feel a little more pressure. At the end of the day, though, it comes down to trusting yourself and trusting your teammates and what you do every day in practice."
It's been awhile since you carried in a game. Will there be a period of adjustment?
"That's a really good question," Moten answered honestly. "I'm a little nervous. But at the same time, I'm just going to do what I do. Stay focused and keep preparing as the week goes on. And then we'll see. We'll see."
Any number of Big Ten teams played walk-overs last Saturday while the 'Cats wrestled with Western Michigan, which is favored to win the MAC.
"We haven't done that. We're going to try and play a competitive schedule," Fitzgerald said this week when asked if he wished his 'Cats had opened with an easier foe. "Maybe people think I'm whack, but I believe we're going to win a national championship here. I know we've got to win a Big Ten West first, I've got all that. But if you don't plan to put yourself in a position by playing good opponents, you're just not going to get better . . . As a coach, you want to compete against good teams. As a player, you want to compete against good teams. And as fans, you want to see good competition. I'm not going to speak anything about other conference coaches. I don't know, maybe I'm crazy. But I just think for you to get your team ready, you've got to play good teams."
QUICKLY NOTED: Moten was Missouri's 2014 high school state champ in the 100 meters, which he won in a time of 10.58. He chose the 'Cats over (among others) Illinois and Notre Dame . . . Liked this observation of wideout (and former running back) Solomon Vault, who said this when asked about Justin Jackson: "I was in the (position) room with him for two years and I would say the most-impressive thing (about him) to me is not physical. It's mental. His knowledge of the offense. His knowledge of the game. He can tell you what every offensive lineman is doing on every single play. I think that really helps him in the game because he knows where the pullers are coming from; where the zone side is, where the man side is on pass protection. It's those little details he was able to pick up as a freshman, and now he has an even deeper understanding of the offense. Obviously he has some pretty-nice moves. But I think it's that mental part of his game that really separates him." . . . Illinois State opened its season last Saturday with a 50-13 rout of Valparaiso . . . The Redbirds have shared the Missouri Valley Football Conference title in each of the last two seasons, and have appeared in the Football Championship Series playoffs three of the last four years. "A program that knows how to win. A program that has gotten to the highest level of the FCS over the last few years," Fitzgerald said of them. "They'll be stoked up and ready to play.". . . They are coached by former Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack, who is in his eighth season at the school. "I've known him for a long time," Fitzgerald said of him. "I had so much respect for him when he was at Purdue, and now to see what he has done at ISU. He's turned it into an FCS powerhouse. He's done a terrific job." . . . An intriguing Redbird to keep an eye on is the 5-foot-10, 210-pound true freshman running back James Robinson, who is the all-time leading rusher in Illinois high school history. He gained 9,045 yards in his four seasons at Rockford Lutheran. During his career there he also piled up 158 rushing touchdowns and scored 948 points, which are state records as well . . . Last week against Valpo he averaged 5.3 yards on his seven carries and took a swing pass 33 yards for a touchdown.
AND FINALLY: Former placekicker Jeff Budzien, the 'Cats honorary captain on Saturday, was involved with the Special Olympics during his career at the school, just as Spack's wife Aimee is involved with that group now. Friday night a Special Olympian, as well as Budzien, will address the Wildcats and Saturday captains from both teams will be accompanied by one for the coin flip. "To say thank you and to lift up our Special Olympians in the state of Illinois," said Fitzgerald. "Just a terrific idea by Brock and his wonderful wife, and I think a great way for us to honor those great athletes."