Northwestern likes Phillips, but who doesn't?

If timing isn't everything, it's at least a large part of the thing.

And of all the times for word to leak that Northwestern is interested in NIU athletic director Jim Phillips for the same position at NU, there can't be a more difficult time than now.

Not when Phillips is driving from funeral to funeral and hospital to hospital while trying to determine precisely -- with exactly no room for perceptible error -- when to get his university's athletic department up and running again.

But an NU source says word is quickly making the rounds of Big Ten officials that the Wildcats have been talking to Phillips for a month or two, since A.D. Mark Murphy left to become Packers president.

It's no coincidence that because Phillips has been so visible of late that word is spreading, even though no decision has been made.

Phillips could not be reached for comment Wednesday night, but an NIU source indicated that the Huskies have dug deep in an attempt to keep Phillips in DeKalb.

That's a good sign for the NIU faithful who want Phillips to remain. There is great appreciation at Northern for the massive effort Phillips has undertaken to upgrade the university's athletic facilities and fund-raising ability.

It's an understatement to say that NIU was lacking in many areas when Phillips arrived, but in five years he has become a world-class fund-raiser and built world-class facilities that take a back seat to few around the country.

As for Phillips, he already had built quite a reputation for himself and a strong foundation for NIU even before last week's horrific events, but with his class and leadership since the shootings, he has displayed Giulianiesque qualities.

Still, his heart aches for those who have died, and the families that have suffered, and you have to believe job opportunities are as far away from his mind as thoughts of what life was like Feb. 13.

Nothing will ever be the same for those who have been in the middle of it, and whatever thoughts might have been on Phillips' mind before, might be quite different today.

We take no joy in pointing out during such a sad time that even if Phillips ultimately chooses to stay at NIU, it's easy to see why NU is interested in such a terrific leader, and the phone calls won't stop with the one from Northwestern.

Yes, it's an unfortunate time for it to come up, but as Phillips himself has said in the last week, time doesn't stop and life doesn't stand still.

It didn't at Virginia Tech, and it won't at Northern Illinois.

You mourn, you reflect, you heal to the degree that your body and soul allow in such a short time, and you move on to the next challenge, fighting the good fight, and fighting for what's rightfully yours.

NIU stands as one to do precisely that now.

Love them Hokies

From the uncomfortable to the sublime, we offer you the Virginia Tech student body, which turned out Monday night to the tune of 1,000 strong at a candlelight vigil in support of NIU.

Signs in Alumni Mall carried messages such as, "You will prevail'' and "We know the pain you are feeling and our hearts go out to you.''

After a short speech and "Amazing Grace,'' the crowd of young people spontaneously chanted, "Let's go Huskies!'' in place of their traditional, "Let's go Hokies!''

If that doesn't give you the chills, and hope for the future, you better check for a pulse.

Best gesture

VaTech students wore the Huskies' red and black Monday night, and the Hokies athletic department also is asking fans to replace their orange and maroon with the NIU colors again Saturday when they host Georgia Tech in hoops.

You gotta love that.

Next best gesture

The VaTech athletic department is having every player from every team in every sport sign a huge banner, which will be delivered to NIU, hopefully in time for Sunday's memorial service.

How to give

For those wishing to donate and haven't found the right place, the NIU Alumni Association and the NIU Foundation have established the February 14 Student Scholarship Fund, to honor the memory of the students who lost their lives.

For more info, contact the NIU Foundation at 877-GIV2NIU.

And finally …

Of the hundreds and hundreds of e-mails we've received in the past few days, any would have fit nicely here, but this one, from Michael Schafer, summed up the thoughts and emotions of many:

"We are all so interrelated. My son, Jimmy, knew Dan Parmenter, who died. He lived in a fraternity house two doors away. Dan's girlfriend, who survived, is a Sig Kap and is Jimmy's pledge dad's pledge daughter.

"My next-door neighbor also knew Dan's family. He works at the church that Dan attended and was involved in the funeral service …

"I am supposed to worry about my son, Kevin, who is serving in Iraq. I know he is in harm's way, but he volunteered for it and is trained to live in a battle zone. I am not supposed to worry about my other son living in a college town 30 minutes away. It's so upside down.

"Anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I, too, as an NIU alumnus, will visit the campus and make sure I pick up a few things to show our pride in the NIU colors.''

brozner@dailyherald.com