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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald did not need to search too far to remind his players that a loss in Week 1 does not squash their goals.He just jogged their memories.The Wildcats enter Saturdays game against FCS powerhouse Illinois State looking to rebound from a season-opening loss to MAC favorite Western Michigan and the knowledge that the team they beat in last years opener did quite well in the end: Stanford went on to win the Pac-12 championship game and the Rose Bowl after Northwestern kept the Cardinal out of the end zone in a surprising 16-6 victory.I would say we beat them a lot more than Western Michigan beat us and (I) reminded the guys what they decided to do collectively as a program is learn from it and get better, Fitzgerald said. At the end of the year, you could say they were one of the best teams in the country.The Wildcats clearly have some work to do if theyre going to match last seasons school record-tying 10 wins, let alone challenge for the Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl berth. Dominant on defense last season, they allowed Western Michigan to control the ball for 39 minutes and convert 4 of 4 fourth downs in a 22-21 loss.Quarterback Clayton Thorson also fumbled at the goal line in the closing minutes, stopping the comeback attempt. And Northwestern lost by one after going 5-0 in games decided by seven points or less a year ago.Yet as discouraging as the opener was, Northwestern can still achieve big things.Safety Kyle Queiro found inspiration in the 1983 Miami team that beat Nebraska for the national championship in the Orange Bowl after getting blasted by Florida in the season opener and Jim Valvano leading North Carolina State to the NCAA basketball title that year.That kind of just fueled me up, Queiro said. Its a long season, and theres still work to do. Im really excited about those things. Its not like were going into uncharted territory. Theres other teams that have done that before.Here are some things to look for as Northwestern tries to rebound against Illinois State:RUNNING AWAYSecond in the Big Ten to Ohio States Ezekiel Elliott last season with 1,418 yards rushing, Justin Jackson opened his junior year on a strong note. He now has 14 career 100-yard games after running for 124 yards and a career-high three touchdowns last week. He is about to face a team that forced three turnovers and gave up just 22 yards rushing while stomping Valparaiso 50-13.ABOUT ILLINOIS STATEThe Redbirds are just two years removed from the FCS championship game and are coming off a run to the quarterfinals. Quarterback Jake Kolbe threw for 166 yards and a touchdown last week, and had an interception returned for a TD. George Moreira ran for 93 yards on just seven attempts, and linebacker Alejandro Rivera returned an interception for a TD.ARMEDThe Wildcats are banking on more from Thorson now that he has a season behind him. But his sophomore year opened on a difficult note. Thorson completed 15 of 22 passes for 196 yards, but the offense basically stalled. And the goal-line fumble was a crushing blow.TAKEDOWNLinebacker Jaylen Prater set career highs against Western Michigan with nine solo and 18 total tackles, the most in a Northwestern opener since Pat Fitzgerald took over in 2006. Prater had 46 tackles as a junior last year before suffering a season-ending eye injury.SECONDARY PROBLEMNorthwesterns secondary could have its hands full with Anthony Warrum. A third-team All-American last season, he set a school record and led the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 15 touchdown catches and was second in the league with 1,290 yards receiving. Custom Baseball Jerseys Outlet . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Custom Baseball Jerseys Store . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. http://www.customjerseysbaseball.com/custom-cleveland-indians-jerseys-274x.html . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Custom Washington Nationals Jerseys . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Sydney forward Ben McGlynn plans to embrace his tortured AFL grand final past and not let it ruin a rare shot at premiership glory.McGlynn has been tantalisingly close yet agonisingly far from premiership success with Hawthorn and the Swans.He was out with a knee injury when the Hawks upset Geelong to win the first flag of the Alastair Clarkson era in 2008.He was traded at the end of the 2009 season and missed Sydneys 2012 grand final win over Hawthorn after he tore his hamstring in a qualifying final win against Adelaide.When he finally got his chance to play in a grand final in 2014, the Swans were comprehensively beaten by the Hawks - his old side claiming their third flag since 2008.Even this seasons path to the grand final has been tricky for McGlynn, who spent four weeks in the NEAFL after being dropped, only winning his senior spot back in round 22.Its mixed emotions for me, McGlynn said after the Swans 37-point preliminary final win over Geelong on Friday night.Its obviously exciting, but I also knnow that Ive had two opportunities (with Sydney) and havent won one yet.ddddddddddddHopefully its third time lucky.I think in 2014 I tried to push (that disappointment) to the side and not dwell on the past. But I didnt really enjoy the week, so I think I might try to enjoy it this week.Im getting a bit old now, so youve got to enjoy these moments and take them for what they are.At 31 and with 170 games under his belt, McGlynn knows there wont be too many more opportunities for him.But as high as the stakes are for him and his team, hes determined to take a philosophical approach.Weve got four quarters of footy left ... well give everything and it will be what it will be, he said.But Ill be a bit more relaxed this week.Weve got a lot of young guys in this team as well, so Ill try and share the experience with them to make sure theyre enjoying it and not getting too overwhelmed. ' ' '