(En route to) OXFORD, Ohio – What a long road this has been.

What a long road it still is.

It’s hilly. And bumpy. A lot of traffic, too. Simply too much going on, when all you want to do is get from one place to another.

Yes, that describes the physical road to the semi-secluded Oxford, where Northwestern will open its season tonight at Miami (Ohio).

But it really describes the figurative one, which the Wildcats have traveled since leaving El Paso, Texas, after last year’s Sun Bowl.

We all know the story. A 22-0 lead turned into a 50-38 loss. Brett Basanez and his crew graduated. And, worst of all, the great coach – and man – named Randy Walker died at much too early an age in June.

Now this road ends with a new driver, Pat Fitzgerald. And as a new one begins, it begins with nothing but questions. Like…

…Who will play quarterback?

Tonight, it’s redshirt freshman Mike Kafka. But sophomore C.J. Bach