Just got off the phone with Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz, who said that McKeown is in Evanston, Ill., looking at Northwestern University and believes the McKeown family accompanied Joe on the trip. McKeown was granted permission to talk to Northwestern and McKeown has discussed the possibilty of leaving with Kvancz, Kvancz said.

McKeown has looked at other schools in the past, but Kvancz acknowledged that the conversations he had with the 52 -year old sounded different and more serious than usual. He did not know whether Northwestern would offer McKeown a contract but said if they did, it would have to be a “pretty great deal” because McKeown’s current contract with GW is already above industry standards. GW would be unwilling to improve the existing contract, Kvancz said.

McKeown declined comment, saying it was “not a good time” to talk, and assistant Director of Sports Information Jesse Hooker said he knew nothing about the situation besides what Mel Greenberg reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s blog.

More as it breaks.