Collegiately Speaking

Collegiately Speaking: Vegas, Baby!

December 13, 2023 18:14

The Northwestern Wildcats are heading to Las Vegas! The Wildcats will face Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on December 23rd. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa preview the bowl game and talk about how it can build momentum for next year. Next, the guys welcome back ESPN’s Senior College Football Writer Adam Rittenberg […]

Collegiately Speaking: Wildcats are going bowling!

November 21, 2023 18:17

In the final game at Ryan Field before renovations start, the Wildcats went out with a bang, beating Purdue 23-15 and clinching a bowl berth for the 1st time since the 2020 season. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa talk about how the Wildcats are playing some of their best football and the coaching job head […]

Collegiately Speaking: David Braun impressive in year one

November 15, 2023 19:20

Northwestern headed up north to Wisconsin as a double-digit underdog but that didn’t matter. Quarterback Ben Bryant returned from injury and led the offense to 4 straight scoring drives to start the game and the defense continued their strong play and held the Wisconsin offense in check on their way to 24-10 win. Dave Eanet […]

Collegiately Speaking: The 4th quarter of the season is here

November 09, 2023 18:11

After a defensive battle against Iowa where the Wildcats came up just short 10-7, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back this week to recap the game and talk about the continued strong play of the defense. Then Ted Albrecht, analyst for Northwestern Radio, joins Dave and Dan to get his take on the Iowa game […]

Collegiately Speaking: ‘Cats coming into Wrigley Field with a lot of confidence

November 01, 2023 17:27

Northwestern was as high as a 14-point underdog heading into their home matchup against Maryland last weekend, but that didn’t matter to Wildcats as offense bounced back to score 33 points and the defense came up with big stops in the 2nd half to hold on for the win. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa talk […]

Collegiately Speaking: Wildcats ready to right the ship on Saturday

October 25, 2023 17:13

Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back this week to recap Northwestern’s road loss to Nebraska 17-9. The guys talk about how Northwestern struggles on offense and what they need to do to get back on track. Northwestern senior running back Cam Porter joins Dave and Dan to talk about turning the page from the Nebraska […]

Collegiately Speaking: The bye week came at perfect time for Northwestern

October 18, 2023 17:37

Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back this week after the bye! They begin this week by talking about how the bye is well timed for this Northwestern team at the halfway point of the season. Then Dave and Dan talk about how everyone in the Big West is still alive for the division title and […]

Collegiately Speaking: Richie Hagarty is at the center of an improving Wildcat defense

October 04, 2023 17:34

Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back this week to recap Northwestern’s 41-13 loss to #6 Penn State. The guys talk about the why Northwestern has good things to build off and take into the rest of the season. Graduate student defensive linemen Richie Hagarty joins the guys to talk about how this Northwestern defense […]

Collegiately Speaking: The Cardiac Cats strike again!

September 27, 2023 19:28

The Cardiac Cats are back! Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back this week to recap Northwestern’s wild come-from-behind win and talk about the importance of always playing hard no matter what the score is. Then the two talk about the impact quarterback Ben Bryant is making and the connection him and Bryce Kirtz are […]

Collegiately Speaking: Newcomer Cam Johnson making an impact

September 20, 2023 18:53

Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back this week to recap Northwestern’s 38-14 loss at Duke over the weekend. Then they turn their focus to this week’s game against Minnesota on Saturday night at Ryan Field and talk about the impact the students returning can have on the team. Then wide receiver #14 Cam Johnson […]

Collegiately Speaking: Young guys star as Northwestern snaps losing skid

September 13, 2023 17:16

Northwestern broke through and ended their 12-game losing streak, winning the home opener over UTEP 38-7. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa break down what adjustments Northwestern made to come out with the win. Later on, Dave and Dan welcome in one stars from Saturday’s win, sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch, who scored his 1st career touchdown […]

Collegiately Speaking: A new era for Northwestern

September 07, 2023 16:34

Collegiately Speaking is back! The college football season is underway, and both Dave Eanet and Dan Persa reflect on the tough summer Northwestern faced and the new era for the team with Interim Heach Coach David Braun taking over for long-time Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald. Then Dave’s long-time partner on Northwestern Radio Ted Albrecht joins Dave […]

Collegiately Speaking: Talking quarterbacks

November 17, 2022 18:03

The 2022 football season has just two games remaining. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa bring in former Northwestern quarterback Steve Schnur to recap this year and look ahead to 2023. Schnur, who was the team’s quarterback the last time the Wildcats played in the Rose Bowl, shared his thoughts on what has gone wrong since […]

Collegiately Speaking: No regrets

November 10, 2022 17:53

There weren’t a lot of people who gave Northwestern a chance last week when they hosted Ohio State. In fact, the experts in Las Vegas favored the Buckeyes by nearly 40 points. The weather played a factor, sure, but both teams had to play in the blustery conditions. Northwestern scored the first touchdown of the […]

Collegiately Speaking: One play at a time

November 03, 2022 17:11

The first edition of this season’s College Football Playoff Rankings were released on Tuesday evening. Four Big Ten teams earned a spot in the initial top 25, and it just so happens the team with the highest ranking makes a visit to Evanston this weekend. Northwestern hosts the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday. […]

Collegiately Speaking: A not-so-quiet rivalry

October 27, 2022 17:18

Northwestern and Iowa first met on the football field back in 1897, a 12-6 win for the Hawkeyes. Iowa dominated during the 70’s and 80’s, but Northwestern has held their own over the last 30 years. In fact, the Wildcats have won 10-of-the-last-17 games, including four-of-the-last-six. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa invited Jacob Schmidt, Director […]

Collegiately Speaking: Rested and ready to go

October 20, 2022 16:53

The bye week can be a polarizing part of a team’s schedule. Northwestern has struggled since their first game of the year, so getting a week to refocus, and nurse nagging injuries was likely welcomed with open arms. Wildcats wide receiver Donny Navarro III, who played his high school ball at Neuqua Valley in Naperville, joins […]

Collegiately Speaking: Homecoming

October 07, 2022 16:53

There could not be a better weekend for Northwestern to hold its Homecoming festivities. As the football team looks to snap a losing-streak, division rival Wisconsin makes the journey south to Evanston. The Badgers have been in the news for another reason, though. They decided to part ways with head coach Paul Chryst. Mike Lucas, […]

Collegiately Speaking: Protecting all sides

September 29, 2022 17:13

Former Wildcats Rashawn Slater and Greg Newsome were selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. It was the first time since 2005 that an NFL team had selected a player from Northwestern in the first round, when the San Diego Chargers took Luis Castillo. The wait for another may not be quite […]

Collegiately Speaking: Saturday Night Lights

September 21, 2022 18:07

Northwestern burst on the college football scene with their upset victory over Nebraska in Dublin during “Week Zero”. The Wildcats have struggled to ride that momentum, though, losing to Duke and Southern Illinois in back-to-back weeks in Evanston. Northwestern has one more non-conference game before getting into the Big Ten slate. They host Miami of […]

Collegiately Speaking: North meets South

September 15, 2022 20:32

Dave Eanet and Dan Persa recap Northwestern’s tough 31-28 loss to Duke with WGN Radio sideline reporter Lauren Withrow. Lauren describes the body language of the players after fighting back from down 21 points early to having a chance to force overtime in the final minute of the game. Later on, Dave and Dan are […]

Collegiately Speaking: A ‘Dub’ in Dublin

September 08, 2022 17:46

Collegiately Speaking is back! The college football season in underway, and both Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are riding high after Northwestern’s 31-28 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Dublin, Ireland. Dave and Dan get reaction from Wildcats super-fan Jay Sharman. Jay, who made the trip overseas, shares a few stories from the game itself, […]

Collegiately Speaking: Purple Family

November 26, 2021 15:30

Joe Spivak is a local product. He grew up in Dairen, and attended Montini Catholic. Just a quick conversation with him, and you can tell how much the Northwestern University football program means to him. The defensive lineman, who was voted a team captain, joined Dave Eanet and Dan Persa to talk about what drives […]

Collegiately Speaking: Friendly Confines

November 18, 2021 16:44

Northwestern fans, players, and coaches have been looking forward to this weekend’s game for quite some time. The last time the Wildcats played at Wrigley Field was way back in 2010. They return to Clark and Addison on Saturday where they’ll matchup with Big Ten West divisional rival: Purdue. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are […]

Collegiately Speaking: Rivalry Renewed

November 10, 2021 17:46

Since the Big Ten Conference switched from the “Legends and Leaders” divisions to the more traditional directional divisions in 2014, Northwestern and Wisconsin have represented the West in the championship game six out of seven times (Iowa in 2015 was the one exception). It may not be the first matchup that comes to mind when […]

Collegiately Speaking: Family Business

November 04, 2021 15:55

Northwestern University tight end, Charlie Mangieri, isn’t the first big-time athlete in his family. Two of his older brothers also played football in the Big Ten, and another was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In addition, two of his uncles played football at Northwestern in in the 90’s. Mangieri took some time after practice to […]

Collegiately Speaking: Special teams demon

October 20, 2021 18:30

In the latest edition of Collegiately Speaking, Northwestern play-by-play announcer Dave Eanet and former NU quarterback Dan Persa broke down the Wildcats’ much-needed victory over Rutgers. They talked about how important it was to get a ‘W’ following the bye week. Brian Peters, Persa’s former teammate, joined the guys to share his thoughts on Northwestern, […]

Collegiately Speaking: Bouncing back after the bye

October 13, 2021 16:24

After a forgettable trip to Nebraska, Northwestern was able to use the bye week to refocus and prepare for this Saturday’s game against Rutgers. WGN Radio’s play-by-play announcer for Wildcasts games, Dave Eanet, and former NU quarterback, Dan Persa, breakdown what went wrong in Lincoln, and how the team can right the ship going forward. […]

Collegiately Speaking: Getting into conference play

September 28, 2021 16:49

Believe it or not, we’re already in Week 5 of the college football season. Northwestern started the year with a conference matchup against Michigan State, and Illinois already has three games against Big Ten foes under their belts, but it feels like this a big week for the conference as a whole. Dave Eanet, Northwestern’s […]

Collegiately Speaking: A.J. Hampton and the Sky Team

September 21, 2021 17:29

It may be early, but glance at the leaderboard for pass breakups in the Big Ten and you’ll see Northwestern cornerback A.J. Hampton at the very top. The Arkansas native joined Dave Eanet and Dan Persa to talk about the family bond in Evanston that exists not just in the defensive secondary but throughout the […]

Collegiately Speaking: Northwestern is heading east

September 14, 2021 16:55

Northwestern was able to get back into the win column after taking care of business against the Sycamores of Indiana State. NU play-by-play-announcer Dave Eanet, and former Wildcats quarterback, Dan Persa, take a look ahead to this week’s game where Northwestern heads to Durham, N.C. for their first road game of the season against Duke. […]

Collegiately Speaking: Bouncing back from a season-opening loss

September 08, 2021 17:34

The Northwestern Wildcats struggled in the first game of the season when they lost to Michigan State 38-21. Northwestern’s play-by-play voice, Dave Eanet, and former Wildcat quarterback, Dan Persa, breakdown what went wrong against the conference rival. Former kicker, and the all-time leading point scorer in NU history, Jeff Budzien, shared his thoughts as well. […]

Collegiately Speaking: Previewing the 2021 football season

August 31, 2021 17:13

After a lengthy delay, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back at it and getting you ready for the college football season. Northwestern has won two of the last three Big Ten West division championships. The guys share their thoughts on what NU needs to do to add to that number. Dave and Dan talk […]

Collegiately Speaking | Chris Bergin describes his path to becoming a Wildcat

November 19, 2019 17:52

Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back in the studio following a Northwestern 45-6 win over UMass, snapping the Wildcats 7 game losing streak. The guys are joined by Linebacker Chris Bergin who discusses his path to becoming a Wildcat, his blocked field goal and recovery, and breaking down Minnesota’s offense ahead of their game […]

Collegiately Speaking | Dave Revsine breaks down the Big 10 this week.

November 05, 2019 18:16

This week on Collegiately Speaking, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are joined by sideline reporter Adam Hoge and Big 10 Network anchor Dave Revsine. The guys talk about the upcoming game against Purdue, updates on some other matchups in the Big 10 including the emergence of Minnesota, and how Ohio State is becoming the team […]

Collegiately Speaking | Left Tackle Rashawn Slater: “We’ve got to attack the process.”

October 29, 2019 17:20

As the Northwestern Wildcats move on to the Indiana Hoosiers, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa look back to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes and how the offense struggled to get the ball into Iowa territory. What can the Wildcats do to adjust to make it a little easier on the Quarterback? Later Dave and […]

Collegiately Speaking | Former Wildcat Safety Brian Peters discusses how to defend the Wildcat offense.

October 22, 2019 17:28

The tough loss to Ohio State leaves a sour taste in Northwestern fans’ mouths. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa discuss how the 1-5 Wildcats can push the reset button (or control-alt-delete) and preview the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. More specifically how the game could come down to special teams and turnovers to decide the […]

Collegiately Speaking | A timely bye week and special teams have been difference maker

October 15, 2019 16:49

Following a much needed bye week, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back in studio bringing you another episode of Collegiately Speaking. The guys recap the Wildcats 13-10 loss to Nebraska. How can the team get back on track? Where have been the biggest struggles? With both teams coming off bye weeks, Dave and Dan […]

Collegiately Speaking | Jared Thomas on facing Nebraska: “When you play any Big 10 team it always has the opportunity to go the distance.”

October 01, 2019 16:19

After falling to 1 and 3 on the season, the Northwestern Wildcats look ahead to try and get back into the win column against Nebraska on October 5th. Dave Eanet and Dan Persa are back in studio to break down the action. What changes should be made to the offensive game plan? Later, Dave and […]

Collegiately Speaking | Hunter Johnson on controlling the offense: “It’s like getting the keys to the car”

September 24, 2019 16:11

As the Wildcats turn the page and look ahead to Wisconsin, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa break down the Michigan State game and Hunter Johnson’s play. What were the positives from the game against the Spartans? Later, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa talk to Wildcats quarterback Hunter Johnson. Who were his favorite players growing up […]

Collegiately Speaking | Hunter Johnson improves and Sam Valenzisi discusses being inducted into the Northwestern Hall of Fame.

September 17, 2019 16:03

After a convincing 30-14 win over UNLV, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa breakdown the previous week’s game against the Rebels including the efficiency of Quartberack Hunter Johnson. Now the Wildcats look on to their next game on September 21st against Michigan State. Also joining the show is Sam Valenzisi, the Northwestern Football Hall of Famer. […]

Collegiately Speaking | Week 3 preview vs. UNLV and Joe Gaziano talks defense

September 10, 2019 17:06

Heading into week 3 of the Wildcats season, Dave Eanet and Dan Persa recap the 17-7 loss to Stanford, the QB situation and Hunter Johnson’s play, as well as previewing the Wildcats week 3 game against UNLV. How can some of the inexperience on the offensive line impact the team? Dave and Dan break it […]

Collegiately Speaking | Pat Fitzgerald previews week 1 and discusses the QB situation.

August 27, 2019 19:48

It’s getting closer to another exciting year of Northwestern Football! Dave Eanet and Dan Persa get you set for all the action, previewing the Wildcats two quarterback system, the deepest unit on defense, and looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the team heading into week 1. Dave and Dan also chat with Northwestern Head […]

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