NU kicks off Big Ten slate today at Penn St.(Sports)

0 Comments | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), September, 2006 | by Rittenberg, Adam

Byline: Adam Rittenberg Daily Herald Sports Writer After a taxing practice period Tuesday afternoon, Brendan Smith trotted to the sideline, ripped off his helmet and leaned down. Sweat covering his face, Smith, an affable sophomore safety for Northwestern, flashed a big smile. "The coaches must know it's Big Ten week," he said.

At the other end of the field, head coach Pat Fitzgerald drove home the point to his young quarterbacks. Fitzgerald, who doesn't like piped-in crowd noise, provided the clamor himself. "We ARE! Penn STATE!" Fitzgerald bellowed, trying to throw off his quarterbacks with the famous cheer. After four games of trial and error, the learning curve has accelerated for Northwestern. The Wildcats and Fitzgerald have their first Big...