Locker room buzzing about Buckeyes' visit
November 5, 2006
BY NEIL HAYES
IOWA CITY -- Northwestern coaches and players didn't give Ohio State coach
Jim Tressel any bulletin-board material after their 21-7 victory Saturday at Iowa, but it's fair to say they're looking forward to hosting the top-ranked Buckeyes next week.
''I can't wait to get back to work,'' coach
Pat Fitzgerald said. ''It's great to get the monkey off our backs, but we all know what we have in front of us. It's all anybody was talking about in the locker room.''
The Wildcats played their best game of the season on offense and defense and finally were rewarded with their first Big Ten victory. They have played solid football for 10 of the last 12 quarters against Michigan State, Michigan and Iowa. It makes it seem as if anything is possible -- especially after the Buckeyes struggled in a 17-10 victory at Illinois.
''We feel like we can hang with anybody,'' wide receiver
Ross Lane said. ''We're real excited about next week.''
POISE NOT ENOUGH: C.J. Bacher completed 19 of 29 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown in his third career start. The sophomore also threw two interceptions that could have been costly. One interception was tipped, the other overthrown.
''He's got some pocket poise, but he has to start making better decisions,'' Fitzgerald said.
TRIPLE THREAT: Expect to see more of
Andrew Brewer, meanwhile, in his new ''slash'' role. The redshirt freshman, who started three games at quarterback this season, lined up at receiver for about a dozen plays. He caught a 48-yard pass, then ran a fake reverse that helped running back
Tyrell Sutton score untouched in the first quarter. He took a handoff later and looked to throw before being forced out of bounds.
Brewer even ran the option on third-and-one in the second quarter, pitching to Sutton for a one-yard loss.
''Down the road I can see that I could be a good threat because I can throw, run and catch,'' he said.
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