After quarterback Brett Basanez participated in both early-week practices, coach Randy Walker said the freshman will likely play Saturday against Purdue.
Basanez, who fractured his left fibula in the Wildcats’ final offensive drive against Minnesota on Oct. 10, practiced with his leg in a splint Tuesday. Walker said the quarterback looked as though he could function in the pocket, but might not be effective on the run.
“He might not be able to beat me in a race, but we expect him to be better (on Saturday),” Walker said. “He’s getting better day by day.”
Basanez questioned Walker’s race prediction (“I don’t know about that,” he said with a smile after practice), adding that his leg has felt significantly better with each passing day.
Although Walker said he hasn’t made a final decision on who will start Saturday, he expects Basanez to be on the field.
“We have four days, and we hope he keeps getting better,” Walker said. “I believe this: Brett Basanez will play Saturday. I don’t know how much, but he will play.”
You gotta have heart: Linebacker Tim McGarigle made the most of his first collegiate start, and for now it looks as though he will have the opportunity to make the most of a second.
McGarigle is listed as the starting weak-side linebacker for this Saturday’s game against Purdue. The true freshman got his first start last week against Penn State, when Randy Walker replaced all three starting linebackers with the two-deeps.
The usual starting middle linebacker, John Pickens, and strong-side linebacker, Braden Jones, return to the top of the depth chart for this Saturday’s game. But Doug Szymul, the team’s leading tackler, is now behind McGarigle.
McGarigle recorded five tackles last Saturday — third-best on the team — but getting the nod this week went beyond statistics.
“He has a lot of the things you can’t coach — like heart and instincts,” Walker said.
McGarigle’s teammates were equally impressed with his charisma on the field.
“We watched the tape after the game, and he showed more heart than any other player on the field,” senior cornerback Raheem Covington said. “Tim was all over the place. He’s not the biggest guy, but he showed a lot of heart.”
EARLy EXITS: Ankle injuries took two NU players out of action early at Penn State.
The first was safety Dominique Price, who was hurt on what Randy Walker later called an obvious clip. Price is not expected to play this week because of the severe sprain to his left ankle.
The loss hurts the Cats’ already-struggling defense, as Price was the team’s third-leading tackler heading into Penn State.
“We like having him back there because he’s our enforcer and will come downhill and put a big hit on guys,” Covington said.
Offensive lineman Jeff Roehl also left the Penn State game in the first half with an ankle sprain, but he said he expects to play through the pain this Saturday.
“I don’t really have much choice at this point,” Roehl said. “It hurts, and if it was up to some other people, I probably wouldn’t play.
“But I can’t afford the luxury of taking a couple games off at this point in the season. It probably won’t feel great, but it’s my decision.”
