Northwestern coach Randy Walker was back at practice Wednesday, albeit watching at times from the comfort of a golf cart following his release after two nights in the hospital for treatment of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.
Walker met with the team in midafternoon and was met with a surprise welcome-back ovation from his players, although how “back” he is for Saturday’s game against Purdue is still to be determined.
“I’m `probable,'” Walker said. “If I don’t go backward in the next couple days, I think [the doctors] will let me be on the sidelines.”
Walker, 50, was upbeat but visibly weary from the past couple of days that saw him experiencing chest pains Monday and checking himself into Evanston Hospital because of discomfort.
“[The doctors] knocked a couple notches off me,” Walker said. “With all the medication and things. It takes a toll.”
Walker said he will scale back some activities in the near future. . . .
Cornerback Jeff Backes (ankle) and linebacker Nick Roach (concussion) continue to take reps in practice and hope to start Saturday.