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After a hazing scandal led to the ouster of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern interim coach David Braun needs to deal with soccer because the Wildcats put together for his or her Sunday season opener towards Large Ten opponent Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.
“My coverage on that’s we’re … lower than per week away from our first soccer recreation. I am right here to speak about soccer,” Braun mentioned Monday. “Our gamers are prepared to speak about soccer. That is what we’re targeted on.”
But his gamers didn’t speak about soccer, as a result of this system didn’t make any athletes obtainable to the media.
Braun is a first-time head coach because of the surprising circumstances of the offseason. He spent the previous 4 seasons as defensive coordinator for FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. He was employed to the identical place at Northwestern final winter earlier than receiving the interim teaching task for 2023.
“I hope that anybody who has interacted with me since I’ve arrived at Northwestern would say that I’ve tried to do my greatest in” constructing transparency and belief, Braun mentioned.
The staff, like many lately, is not being clear about its beginning quarterback choice. Braun mentioned it might be saved in-house till Sunday. Final week, the coach mentioned Cincinnati switch Ben Bryant and Brendan Sullivan have been taking nearly all of the first-team reps over Ryan Hilinski, who started final season because the starter.
Northwestern misplaced its remaining 11 video games in 2022 to complete 1-11, whereas Rutgers began 3-0 however completed at 4-8 after dropping its remaining 5 contests.
Whereas the Wildcats ranked final within the West Division in Cleveland.com’s annual Large Ten media ballot, Rutgers a minimum of beat out Indiana for sixth within the East Division. The Scarlet Knights are aiming increased and hope to learn from stability at quarterback.
Gavin Wimsatt was named Rutgers’ starter earlier than fall camp even opened. The previous four-star recruit was an early enrollee in 2021 and noticed the sector in matches and begins in 2022 whereas nursing an damage.
“His profession has been nothing however disjointed,” coach Greg Schiano mentioned in July. “He performs three highschool video games, will get right here the primary week of the (2021) common season, you are not studying. It is most likely the worst strategy to study, on reflection, since you’re studying bits and items however you are not understanding the idea of it.”
—Area Degree Media
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