Although the pre-game wasn't quite as nice (What were they thinking?-That a bunch of rich white Texans were going to intimidate the future Miami Hurricanes?):
Bulls refuse to be shaken
'We've been through so much, there's nothing that can scare us,' Northwestern defensive tackle Marcus Forston said of tonight's game.
miamiherald.com
CHARLES TRAINOR JR./MIAMI HERALD STAFF
Northwestern wide reciever Tommy Streeter (5) takes a pass from quarterback Jacory Harris during practice Friday at Ford Stadium in Dallas.
Posted on Sat, Sep. 15,
BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com
CHARLES TRAINOR JR./MIAMI HERALD STAFF
Northwestern wide reciever Tommy Streeter (5) takes a pass from quarterback Jacory Harris during practice Friday at Ford Stadium in Dallas.
SOUTHLAKE, Texas -- One of the first things Northwestern's players saw when they walked into their hotel rooms Thursday night at the Embassy Suites in Dallas wasn't a mint chocolate on their pillow.
Rather, it was the face of Southlake Carroll quarterback Riley Dodge on the cover of a local Dallas magazine with the headline ``Why You Should Hate Southlake: Because the Kids Are Smarter, Stronger, and Better Looking Than Yours. And They Prove it Every Friday Night.''
''They were saying that they're the perfect city and this and that,'' Northwestern senior quarterback Jacory Harris said. ``It was disrespectful. We just have go to out and do what we need to do.''
But the magazine hasn't been the only reason since arriving in Dallas for the Bulls to get hot in anticipation of tonight's much-hyped No. 1 vs. No. 2 nationally-televised showdown with the Dragons at 7 p.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Southern Methodist University's campus.
Northwestern players woke up Friday morning and found a copy of USA Today waiting in front of their hotel doors. Bulls' players took offense to the article, which pointed out the economic differences between the schools.
It became a running joke -- albeit tinged with a bit of anger -- for the Bulls and their collection of two dozen fans in attendance during their two-hour practice at the stadium Friday.
''They put the magazine [in our hotel] to try to scare us, but like I've said before, we've been through so much, there's nothing that can scare us,'' Northwestern defensive tackle Marcus Forston said. ``About the only thing I'm scared of is Jesus Christ. But for the article to say we're poor, we may be from less fortunate families, but that's something we can't control. The only thing we can control is the next generation.
'The article said `Perfect City vs. Liberty City.' What do free lunches have to with a football game? They don't know about us having desire, heart and dedication.''
Northwestern might go into tonight's game with a little extra motivation, but the Bulls said they know the key to winning will be controlling their emotions, Carroll's quarterback and giving Harris time to pick apart the Dragons' defense.
''If there's one spot to stop in this game, it's the quarterback,'' Northwestern coach Billy Rolle said. ``[Dodge] is the field general, very athletic and a great leader.''
Dodge, who has orally committed to play for his father and former Southlake Carroll coach Todd Dodge at North Texas next year, has been trained since age 10 to run the Dragons' unique spread offense.
Dodge (6-0, 190 pounds) ran for 1,036 yards and 13 touchdowns last season in addition to his 4,118 yards passing and 54 touchdown tosses. Dodge qualified for the regionals of the EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback camp this summer. Harris, a University of Miami commitment, took it a step further, making it to the finals. He was the first South Florida quarterback to be invited to the event in California, following a record-breaking junior season (2,920 yards, 37 touchdowns). He also shares a close football bond with his father, Rodney, the Bulls' defensive coordinator.
Forston said the Bulls are anxious to play the game after hearing so much hype about Southlake Carroll. He plans on getting up close to Dodge often tonight.
''When you play against the Bulls, you don't put fuel on the fire,'' Forston said. ``We're getting tired of waiting, we're ready to go 48 minutes and play a football game.''
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