by Sports Xchange

Updated: November 19, 2008, 2:20 AM EST

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But then came the lean and tragic years. Coach Randy Walker passed away in June 2006. Pat Fitzgerald, the nation's youngest Div. I-A coach, took over one of the nation's younger teams and directed 4-8 and 6-6 seasons. In the offseason, the large and experienced senior class dedicated itself to finishing their careers with something special.

Heading into Saturday's regular-season finale at home against Illinois, the Wildcats have done just that. Though a raft of recent injuries to key seniors (running back Tyrell Sutton, middle linebacker Malcolm Arrington, quarterback C.J. Bacher) have tried to derail the Wildcats, they find themselves with a chance to wrap the school's winningest season since 1996. Last week's win at Michigan (the school's first since 1995) gave NU its first 8-win season since 2000.

And yet, they're still not satisfied. As they started preparing for Illinois and the chance to regain the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk on Monday morning, Fitzgerald took a quick poll in the locker room.

"We didn't necessarily play our best football for four quarters up in Ann Arbor," Fitzgerald said. "When I asked the team, 'Who has got a lot to improve on today?' the entire room put their hand up. Coaches included. So I like where our attitude is at. We continue to have that improvement mentality."