Shhhhh, Northwestern players are sleeping
Northwestern is 6-1 for the first time since 2008 and players attribute the strong start to one thing — nap time.
The team has instituted nap time into its gameday regimen, which has made the players more alert and refreshed come game time.
"We'll wake up, have our pregame meal, do our mental things and then have a mandatory nap," quarterback Kain Colter said. "Those hotel beds are really comfortable and the pillows are soft. ? (Then) we'll come down refreshed and ready to kick some butt."
Coach Pat Fizgerald realized the importance of his team's snooze time during the Sept. 15 game against Boston College when his team came out sluggish. He asked his leadership council what the problem was and they said the 2:30 p.m. start impeded on their naptime.
The Wildcats also have a 2:30 p.m. start this weekend against Nebraska, so Fitzgerald has set aside some early time to make sure his team gets sufficient rest. The Wildcats usually arrive at the facility around 6:50 a.m., eat breakfast and attend meetings, but Fitzgerald made sure his team had naptime scheduled for around 9:30 a.m.
Fitzgerald wasn't exactly thrilled that he had to add naptime into his team's game day routine, but if it works, don't mess with it. He even tweeted out a photo of this week;s itinerary.
"Unbelievable," Fitzgerald said. "This is what I get paid to do. Seriously. Create naptime. It's pathetic."
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