The first play went about as well as Pat Fitzgerald and Mick McCall and, really, anyone on Northwestern, could have wanted.
Jelani Roberts came around the formation on the fly sweep. He got good blocking from his fellow wide receivers on the edge and darted for 15 yards. Every player executed his assignment. Northwestern got one of its shiftiest players into the open field, and he took advantage.
It was exactly what Northwestern had planned going into today’s tilt with Duke — usually the first dozen or so plays are scripted and put into the before kickoff — and Mick McCall’s first design had worked.