Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1169907
He also has his eyes on the all-time record for career sacks at Northwestern, which currently stands at 28, set by Casey Dailey in 1997. Joe, who sits in third place in school history with 21 sacks going into the 2019 season, will need another big year to surpass Dailey's mark, but he's gunning for that top spot. In the offseason, he dedicated himself like never before to reaching those milestones, working on improving things like his first-step quickness, his flexibility, and the way he uses his hands to fight through blocks. But he also points out that there's more to the game than simply being bigger, faster, and stronger than the guy across from him. "Reading an offensive set and knowing how to react to different blocks can only get you so far," says Joe. "But if you can anticipate what the offense is doing and narrow down what plays they can run out of certain sets, it gives you an advantage." To that end, he spends hours in the film room examining opposing teams, looking for tendencies and subtle tells. Coach Fitzgerald has praised him for playing mistake-free football, one of the highest compliments you can give an athlete, and it's because Joe does his homework. This year, that cerebral approach will be as important as ever, especially with younger players looking up to him for leadership and guidance. It's only when he starts talking about that – the other guys in the locker room and being a leader among them – that you detect the slightest hint of ambivalence in his voice concerning the season ahead. Sure, Joe is anxious to break records and win ballgames. He knows this team has a good shot at getting back to the Big Ten Championship Game and he expects to play a vital role in whatever success the Wildcats achieve in 2019. Beyond that, he's excited about the possibility of playing in the NFL next year, which would be a dream come true. But he's also painfully aware that once his time in Evanston comes to an end, he'll likely never again have the same kind of close camaraderie with teammates and coaches, not to mention the same amount of fun playing the game he loves, that he's enjoyed here. Joe says he now understands what his coaches meant when they said "do it for the seniors" in so many pregame speeches over the past few years. This is it, his last hurrah. He knows the victories will taste sweeter and any losses will sting all the more. As he talks about these things, one starts to wonder if he ever finds it overwhelming. After all, the planning and practices and workouts and film study and the weight of expectations, not to mention the bitter-sweet goodbye to college life that's just around the corner, sound like heady stuff for a young guy to handle. Joe, however, swears that's not the case. student-athlete spotlight DID YOU KNOW? Gaziano is second nationally among active players with 22.5 career sacks