... has been as bad as the offense has been good.  The 2000 season saw an opportunistic defense and a lights-out offense lead the Wildcats to a Big Ten co-championship.  Since then, NU hasn't really been that close to another title.

While it may not be true in every conference around the nation, the old adage that "defense wins championships" typically rings true in the Big Ten.  And one can definitely point to the lack of a formidable defense as NU's weak point in the 2000s.

Despite fielding a defense that ranked near the bottom of the conference and/or nation in most statistical categories between 2001 and 2007, Northwestern produced a number of quality defensive players, including a good number that have gone on to the next l...

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