Dan Persa Injury Update: Likely to Play vs. Illinois

by Rodger Sherman on Sep 22, 2011 11:46 AM CDT in 2011 Northwestern Wildcats Football

Northwestern's quarterback, Dan Persa, is apparently going to play football. Today at practice Pat Fitzgerald said he would be "shocked" if the senior didn't take the field against Illinois.

We made lots of hub-bubs about Persa's health and status and health and status and health and status over the summer as it became clear he might not be healthy. Then he wasn't and we still beat Boston College. Then Northwestern lost to Army and oh Jesus it's so clear that we were all right all summer that we were very concerned about him.

Northwestern is a good team with Persa and a sub-par one without him. It's difficult to stress enough how important he is despite being one man on a 22-person squad. Without Persa, Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian were, like, alright I guess, but weren't going to get the job done. (Look at the fan confidence chart below. It looks like the 1920's stock market.) So this is so encouraging headed into a game against a currently-ranked Illinois team. By which I mean, well, now I think we might win whereas without him I'd expect a blowout.

Wildcats Fan Confidence Poll

Last tallied on 09/21.

14|1:|0|100&chxt=x,y&chco=5098c7&chd=t:46

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Comments

I told you he'd be back

on the podcast. PS: where is the podcast? I really want to listen to myself because I’m sure I have thoughts on what I said.

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JHodges
HailToPurple

by jhodges on Sep 22, 2011 11:58 AM CDT reply actions

i need to edit it.

sorry about that.

by Rodger Sherman on Sep 22, 2011 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

#persalimp

by Loretta8 on Sep 22, 2011 12:30 PM CDT reply actions

Colter

Love to see him on the field, too. Best runner we have.

by SeattleCat on Sep 22, 2011 1:30 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions

yeah probably

but I hope he doesn’t devolve into running guy who never throws a la Kafka/Persa when they were subs.

by Rodger Sherman on Sep 22, 2011 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Totally agree

I meant simultaneously with Persa.

by SeattleCat on Sep 22, 2011 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions

now this

is intriguing

by Rodger Sherman on Sep 22, 2011 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions

With Watkins at fullback

by Herman on Sep 22, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions

And Siemien in the slot

by Chadnudj on Sep 22, 2011 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Double reverse flea flicker

I WANT TO SEE IT!!!

by Herman on Sep 22, 2011 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions

So

Could Northwestern revolutionize college football with a new type of offense— one in which any of the 11 players on the field could be the QB on any given snap?

Might be fun.

by TDozer on Sep 23, 2011 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I've always thought this was the coaches

The fact that they have let him throw as much as he has so far gives me hope that, if he is needed again, they will run the full offense instead of just the “QB off tackle” offense that they used with Kafka and Persa as spot starters.

by MountainTiger on Sep 22, 2011 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions