The team meeting aimed at turning a season around can be a trite, clichéd experience that provides little in the way of meaningful change. But in the case of Northwestern's football team, one Monday morning gathering following a humbling loss to FCS foe Illinois State in early September might have been the spark the Wildcats needed.
After Northwestern dropped to 0-2, with losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State, the group participated in an open locker room forum to share whatever was on their mind. The discussion helped re-establish team goals and offer a greater emphasis on focusing on the details in preparation for each game.