Adam RittenbergESPN Senior Writer6 Minute Reading
The Northwestern coach described the ‘relief’ as the season began
Northwestern interim coach David Braun says he feels relieved to finally play a game after allegations of hazing in the program.
But Braun felt something else after a tumultuous summer that changed the program, the university and her own life: a sense of relief.
Northwestern fell 24-7 to Rutgers at SHI Stadium, avoiding its first shutout since 2019 by scoring a touchdown with 19 seconds to play. It was the Wildcats’ 12th straight loss.
It will also be the program’s first game without longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired July 10 amid hazing allegations.
The result against Rutgers was unacceptable, Braun said, but the competition brought familiarity for a team that has had few normal days since Fitzgerald’s firing.
“It’s the lightest I’ve been since I took over, from a point of view that we’re playing football,” said Braun, who was promoted from defensive coordinator July 13. “It’s a chance to see around, look at these guys. They’ve worked so hard to get to this point. Are there so many things I need to do that I’m obviously taking notes as the game goes on? Absolutely. I need more It’s still a good role and looking forward to getting better.
“But in terms of the severity of it, if anything, it’s a relief to get to game day.”
Braun made it clear that Northwestern came to Rutgers to win and “failed miserably” in its goal. He also remains confident the team will respond, despite a win on US soil since October 16, 2021, and a coaching change in July.
Aside from Fitzgerald, no coaches or players have faced discipline from the hazing allegations, and athletic director Derrick Gragg told ESPN he doesn’t anticipate further personnel changes other than when there is new information.
Northwestern only lost a few players to the transfer portal in the month following Fitzgerald’s firing. Fitzgerald’s son, Jack, a freshman tight end, stayed with the team as a student assistant and attended Sunday’s game.
“The strength of this group … is a loss, we will not accept the result,” Braun said. “We are disappointed and absolutely not OK with the result. But the way our guys will improve, I have no doubts about that.”
Northwestern allowed 16-play touchdown drives on Rutgers’ first two possessions, with the Scarlet Knights holding the ball for 21:44 en route to a 17-0 halftime lead. The opening half for Northwestern featured a successful pass on a fake punt that missed the first-down marker, and a late interception thrown by quarterback Ben Bryant, who was not ready for the snap before rushing his pass.
The Wildcats made big plays on defense but struggled to get off the field, as Rutgers converted 8 of 18 third-down chances and three of its fourth-down opportunities.
“At the end of the day, it all comes back to me,” Braun said. “I’m excited to watch film and see where I can get better. We have enough talent on this team. People will tell us otherwise, but we have enough talent on this team to win. at football games. No more excuses or explanations.”
Back-up quarterback Brendan Sullivan’s 1-yard pass to running back Caleb Komolafe prevented the shutout, but Northwestern finished with 201 yards, committed three turnovers and needed the final drive to pull through. the positive net rushing total (12 yards). Northwestern’s offense also struggled in 2022, finishing 127th nationally in scoring at 13.8 points per game — worst among power conference teams — and 123rd in average yards per play (4.54). .
Rutgers had five different players record sacks and finished with 8 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and interceptions by Max Melton and Robert Longerbeam. Northwestern’s total yards marked the fewest allowed by Rutgers in a Big Ten game.
“There were plays out there that we just didn’t do, and to keep the drive going, we didn’t have the ball much today,” said Bryant, a transfer from Cincinnati who made his Northwestern debut and had 169 passing yards and nothing. touchdowns.
Linebacker Bryce Gallagher, who had a game-high 19 tackles, echoed Braun in saying the game was “a big relief” after the summer. But he added that just getting through the season isn’t the goal for a team that has dropped 17 of 19 Big Ten regular-season games since reaching the conference championship game in 2020.
“Unfortunately, in football, things happen and you don’t always get the results you want, but I know we have a winning football team in that locker room,” Gallagher said. “There are winning attitudes, and we will come back and repeat this season.”
Braun, who had never coached in the FBS before joining Northwestern in January, made his head-coaching debut while also serving as defensive coordinator. He said he regretted several calls, especially in the first half, but praised the defensive staff for communicating well and helping him when his attention needed to be on Northwestern’s offense.
Last month, Braun talked about how the team “deserves to do something good” after what it has endured. Asked Sunday if Northwestern just needed a good day, he said, “When that day comes, can’t wait for it.”
The Wildcats open their home schedule on Saturday against UTEP.
“It’s very easy to get emotional and enthusiastic about, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ You start talking about linear growth, but that’s not what any season looks like,” Braun said. “It doesn’t matter if you win a national championship or you scratch for your first win of the season. .
“Our guys are going to rebound, they’re going to come back.”