In Saturday’s 48-24 loss to Texas Christian, Northwestern coach Randy Walker made five changes at quarterback, trying three players who did nothing to distinguish themselves.
Brett Basanez (6-for-17, 74 yards, 1 TD, 3 fumbles) started, lasted five possessions and sat down after getting hit hard and fumbling. Tony Stauss (8-for-12, 50 yards), who started the season opener at Air Force, replaced him, lasted two possessions and was replaced by Basanez. Alexander Webb (2-for-6, 1 interception), a true freshman, took over for Basanez six minutes into the second half, but Basanez returned after Webb was injured throwing an interception early in the fourth quarter. Finally, Stauss played during the Wildcats’ last series of the game.
“We are certainly not playing where we need to play at that position,” Walker said. “They need to not turn the ball over, they’ve got to make some shots, make some plays. Our quarterback play has to improve significantly.”
And who starts next week when the Wildcats face Duke?
“I really can’t tell you,” Walker said. “I’ve got to look at it. I have a hard time with it. I coached a guy last year [Zak Kustok] who was the best I ever saw at getting the right plays, getting the right checks. It takes some time to grow into that and I keep telling myself that. But patience has not been a virtue for me. I don’t accept this real well.”
Walker: We’re not in a rebuilding year
In each of their first two games, the Wildcats have started five freshmen and eight sophomores and lost those games by an average of 36.5 points. So is Walker looking at this as a transition year? “I’m not. No,” he said.
“We’re playing a lot of young guys. We have talented young players. They need to grow up in a hurry, but I’ve seen kids do that. Sometimes it means getting into your playbook more. Sometimes it means watching more videotape. Sometimes it means more work on the practice field.
“I know it happens fast. But OK, we’re two games into it, let’s get used to playing this fast, let’s get used to playing this tempo.”