RIP Randy Walker, NU Football Coach, 1954-2006

When I asked Walker at Big Ten media day last year about his seemingly radical change of philosophy, from old-school power football at Miami (Ohio) to the newfangled spread in Evanston, he had a pretty colorful answer: "It's as if all those years we were playing football in a phone booth," he said. -Stewart Mandel, SI.com

I got my PhD from Northwestern, and monthly checks now go there for our daughter's education. I follow college football with interest, though I am appalled by its excesses as well as attracted by its charms. I didn't know Coach Walker, but his sudden death yesterday hits home. From what I gather, he ran the program with integrity and determination. It was especially fun watching his team last year.