Making His List…Checking It Twice…

Christmas day is always one where I get all kinds of mushy. In light of so many terrible events this past year, compounded by a rough health year, it might be extra full of cheer this year. Right now, I’m working on a list of things to share tomorrow under the LTP community tree. But, as a teaser, here a few things I’ve found – both naughty and nice – that are currently on the list…

Naughty – The Big Ten Office – The schedule makers in Park Ridge were extra tough on Northwestern this year, scheduling a record four opponents who had bye weeks before facing the ‘Cats. The ‘Cats went 2-2 in those games.

Nice – The gift of Venric Mark at RB was a joy that lasted throughout the year. His first team All-American award as a punt returner was actually second to his play at RB, in most ‘Cats fans minds – and that is saying something. Venric posted 1,310 rushing yards with a 6.15 ypc average and a per game average of 109, 23rd in the nation. He missed nearly the entire Michigan State game which killed the average, but he became the first 1,000-yard rusher since Tyrell Sutton and carried the ‘Cats with his play.

Naughty – The 4th quarter - The ‘Cats let a hat trick of games slip away after having double digit leads in two of them and a double-digit late 3rd quarter lead in the other. The disturbing trend of not finishing finally stopped with our road win in Spartyville.

Nice – Fitz emptying the bench against Illinois on senior day and seeing guys 4th on the depth chart roll over our “rivals”.

Naughty – The Lou Groza Award committee – It is simply imcomprehensible that Wildcat PK was left off the finalist’s list for the nation’s best placekicker after the near perfect season he put together.

TO BE CONTINUED….

OK, so here is where you take over and start adding to the list. We’ll be dishing out Christmas cheer in the morning. Merry Christmas everyone…