Bacher ready to take charge

KENOSHA, Wis. -- The changes are subtle but significant, minor revisions that could produce major results this fall.

C.J. Bacher's evolution didn't involve a phone booth or a red cape. A passing glance at the Northwestern junior quarterback makes it hard to tell anything is different.

But a closer examination reveals a filled-out upper body, the result of 10 pounds added from a high-protein diet and increased time in the weight room. It reveals a pronounced zip on passes and an in-step timing with the wide receivers, fostered during summer workouts that Bacher organized.

And it reveals leadership. During water breaks in training camp, Bacher will circulate, telling each offensive player, "Push it."

"When you're not the starting quarterback, it's tough to really rally your guys," Bacher said. "When you're going with the (second-string) offense, yeah, you can be vocal with them, but to really get to all the guys, you need to be in the right position first."

For the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Bacher (pronounced buh-SHAY), getting in the right position involved patience and poise. After becoming NU's surprise starter in Week 8 last year and throwing 6 touchdown passes in the final five games, he hopes to make the most of a chance he thought might never arrive.

"He's grown up," said offensive coordinator Garrick McGee. "I can't wait to see him play."

Roller-coaster ride

Flanked by wife Susie and daughter Stephanie, K.C. Bacher sits on a hill overlooking the practice field Northwestern uses at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

K.C.'s eyes rarely drift away from his son, studying each of C.J.'s throws during the workout.

It was a much different scene the year before.

Bacher entered training camp as the favorite to claim the starting job, but just before NU left for Wisconsin-Parkside, he was inadvertently kicked in the right leg.

Originally diagnosed with a bruised shin, Bacher suffered a small stress fracture. He wasn't cleared to play until late September.

"It was hard on him," said Josh Catapano, Bacher's best friend and an offensive lineman at Nevada. "I could tell he was disappointed. Once he got his chance, once he got healthy, I knew he was going to be the man in there."

But would that chance ever come?

Northwestern's offense was sputtering, but the coaches stuck with Andrew Brewer at quarterback. Even when NU fell behind by 25 points at Wisconsin, Bacher remained on the bench.

"When he was ready and didn't get in the Wisconsin game, he was just totally devastated," K.C. Bacher recalled. "I said, 'You're going to get your chance sooner or later. Be ready.'æ"

The next week, Bacher played late in a loss to Purdue, completing 2 passes. Two days later, coach Pat Fitzgerald named Brewer the starter for the rest of the season.

But Bacher kept his cool, and after acing a written exam given to the quarterbacks, he learned he would start against Michigan State.

"It was a huge surprise," he said. "That was my shot."

Bacher said some teammates who weren't dressing for the game sent K.C. a text message the night before, telling him the news.

"He thought it was a joke," C.J. said.

Hours later, C.J. engineered a 14-play, 71-yard drive on Northwestern's first possession, capping it with a 5-yard touchdown pass.

"We scored, and I was (cheering) like everybody else," K.C. recalled. "Then I immediately sat down, just overcome."

It was a day of mixed emotions. Behind Bacher, the Wildcats built a 38-3 third-quarter lead, only to see it vanish as Michigan State staged the largest comeback in NCAA history.

Despite the outcome, Bacher gave a stagnant offense a spark.

"The offense definitely seemed to have a new demeanor," said defensive end Kevin Mims.

The natural

An 11th-hour decision gave Bacher the starting job, but he had prepared for the moment for years.

The native of Sacramento, Calif., began playing quarterback at age 8. K.C., an all-league defensive back for New Hampshire who entered college as a quarterback, coached C.J. through the eighth grade.

C.J. said his dad never pushed him into football but helped him with the intangibles of playing quarterback.

"He seemed to understand football and the psychological aspects of leadership," said K.C., who along with his wife will live in Chicago during the season to be near C.J. and Stephanie, who starts college at Loyola.

"I can't say I coached him on that. He just seems to get it."

C.J. chose to attend Jesuit High School largely because its longtime football coach, Dan Carmazzi, had a reputation for cultivating star quarterbacks. Bacher's class at Jesuit won 31 consecutive games and he finished with 6,625 passing yards and 69 touchdowns. Though he appeared headed for Oregon State, he changed his mind after visiting Northwestern.

"From the beginning, he talked about Northwestern," said Catapano, a teammate of Bacher's at Jesuit. "It was the best decision for him."

Music man

With Bacher in the backfield, the Wildcats should have no trouble hearing the snap count this fall.

Bacher is an avid singer, and his voice is familiar to his teammates, whether they like it or not.

"He sings all the time," said Mims, who lives with Bacher. "Everything from country, Bucky Covington, to Boyz II Men. It's great, but sometimes you've got to tell him to shut up."

Bacher is putting his voice to more constructive use in training camp.

"Last year, it seemed like he would read the defense and everything was going through his mind," said wide receiver Eric Peterman. "It really didn't come out of his mouth. Now he's talking to the wide receivers, talking to the line if he's seeing a blitz."

Slot receivers Peterman and Brewer, both former quarterbacks, help Bacher by relaying reads and possible blitzes. Besides eliminating turnovers, being more vocal is the junior's top priority.

"Last year, we didn't have a leader on offense," Peterman said. "We've finally got C.J. in there. We're going to be a lot more stable this year, knowing who our leader is."