3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
Additional Information
Coaching Staff
Head Coach:
Official School Bio - Pat Fitzgerald
Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Randy Bates - Linebackers Coach
Jerry Brown - Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach
Reed Case - Recruiting Assistant
Greg Colby - Defensive Coordinator
Adam Cushing - Tight Ends/H-Backs Coach
Eric Evans - Offensive Graduate Assistant
Bret Ingalls - Offensive Line Coach
Kevin Johns - Wide Receivers Coach / Recruiting Coord.
Nolan Jones - Director of Football Operations
Matt MacPherson - Running Backs Coach
Garrick McGee - Offensive Coordinator
Eric Washington - Defensive Line Coach
Chris Bowers - Defensive Graduate Assistant
Ryan Kessenich - Operations Assistant
Jamie Walker - Asst. Director of Football Operations
Official School Bio - Pat Fitzgerald
Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Randy Bates - Linebackers Coach
Jerry Brown - Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach
Reed Case - Recruiting Assistant
Greg Colby - Defensive Coordinator
Adam Cushing - Tight Ends/H-Backs Coach
Eric Evans - Offensive Graduate Assistant
Bret Ingalls - Offensive Line Coach
Kevin Johns - Wide Receivers Coach / Recruiting Coord.
Nolan Jones - Director of Football Operations
Matt MacPherson - Running Backs Coach
Garrick McGee - Offensive Coordinator
Eric Washington - Defensive Line Coach
Chris Bowers - Defensive Graduate Assistant
Ryan Kessenich - Operations Assistant
Jamie Walker - Asst. Director of Football Operations
Recruiting
Starters Returning: 17 (Offense 8, Defense 8, Special Teams 1)
Letterman Returning: 46 (Offense 23, Defense 22, Special Teams 1)
Notable Returners:
RB Tyrell Sutton
Starters Lost: 8 (Offense 4, Defense 3, Special Teams 1)
Letterman Lost: 15 (Offense 7, Defense 7, Special Teams 1)
Notable Losses:
QB Brett Basanez, T Zach Strief, LB Tim McGarigle, DB Marquice Cole, DL Barry Cofield, WR Mark Philmore
Incoming Recruits:
Letterman Returning: 46 (Offense 23, Defense 22, Special Teams 1)
Notable Returners:
RB Tyrell Sutton
Starters Lost: 8 (Offense 4, Defense 3, Special Teams 1)
Letterman Lost: 15 (Offense 7, Defense 7, Special Teams 1)
Notable Losses:
QB Brett Basanez, T Zach Strief, LB Tim McGarigle, DB Marquice Cole, DL Barry Cofield, WR Mark Philmore
Incoming Recruits:
Despite a certain other school's claims to the contrary, Northwestern is the Harvard of the Big Ten. Being a renowned academic institution first and a Division I-A athletic program second, Northwestern (like Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Stanford) recruits a different kind of prospect, the true student-athlete. Despite Northwestern's academic restrictions, the Wildcats still managed to sign a middle-of-the-road class last in 2005, which was ranked 52nd in the nation by Rivals, and 51st by Scout. At least the Wildcats rarely have to worry about academic attrition.
Of course, starting tailback Tyrell Sutton was the headliner of the Wildcats class of 2005, but six other recruits cracked the two-deep as true freshmen: wide receivers Eric Peterman and Rasheed Ward; offensive tackle Kurt Mattes; defensive tackles Keegan Kennedy and John Gill; and linebacker Mike Dinard. Peterman and Gill are starters this season.
Of course, starting tailback Tyrell Sutton was the headliner of the Wildcats class of 2005, but six other recruits cracked the two-deep as true freshmen: wide receivers Eric Peterman and Rasheed Ward; offensive tackle Kurt Mattes; defensive tackles Keegan Kennedy and John Gill; and linebacker Mike Dinard. Peterman and Gill are starters this season.
The Northwestern Wildcats Class of 2005
LB Malcolm Arrington, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 2", 218 lbs, 4.65 forty); Rivals 2* (#15 in Michigan); Scout 3*
[strike]OL Thomas Bemenderfer, Mishawaka (Indiana) Penn (6' 5", 245 lbs, 5.17 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
QB Andrew Brewer, Jenks, Oklahoma (6' 2", 205 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (#11 in Oklahoma); Scout 2*
[strike]OL Tyler Compton, Humble, Texas (6' 5", 270 lbs, 5.25 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
RB Omar Conteh, Cypress (Texas) Fair (6' 0", 195 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 2*
OL Ramon Diaz, Morris, Illinois (6' 4", 280 lbs); Rivals 3* (#21 in Illinois); Scout 3*
LB Mike Dinard, Parma Padua (6' 2", 222 lbs, 4.54 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 3*
OL John Gill, San Jose (California) Bellarmine (6' 3", 285 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
DE Adam Hahn, Hartford, Wisconsin (6' 4", 245 lbs); Rivals 2* (#10 in Wisconsin); Scout 3*
LB Chris Jeske, Joliet (Illinois) Catholic (6' 1", 225 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#12 in Illinois); Scout 3*
QB Mike Kafka, Chicago St. Rita (6' 3", 190 lbs); Rivals 3* (#20 in Illinois); Scout 3*
DE Keegan Kennedy, West Palm Beach (Florida) Cardinal Newman (6' 3", 240 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
LB Prince Kwateng, Munster, Indiana (6' 1", 215 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Kurt Mattes, Plymouth (Pennsylvania) Wyoming Valley West (6' 6", 265 lbs, 4.85 forty); Rivals 3* (#29 in Pennsylvania); Scout 3*
WR Eric Peterman, Springfield (Illinois) Sacred Heart Griffin (6' 0", 199 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#18 in Illinois); Scout 3*
DB Brendan Smith, New Hampton, New Hampshire (6' 0", 203 lbs, 4.57 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
RB Tyrell Sutton, Akron Archbishop Hoban (5' 8", 186 lbs, 4.59 forty); Rivals 3* (#32 in Ohio); Scout 3*
DT Desmond Taylor, Los Angeles Loyola (6' 2", 259 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 1*
WR Rasheed Ward, Chicago Harper (5' 10", 159 lbs); Rivals 3* (#27 in Illinois); Scout 2*
OL Corey Wootton, Ramsey (New Jersey) Don Bosco (6' 7", 255 lbs, 5.0 forty); Rivals 3* (#29 in New Jersey); Scout 2*
Fast Fact: Linebacker Mike Dinard from Parma Padua had a higher high school GPA (4.68) than forty time (4.54).
Fast Fact: Linebacker Prince Kwateng is a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from the African nation of Ghana (you remember - the country that knocked the United States out of the 2006 World Cup).
Fast Fact: The father of defensive back Brendan Smith (also named Brendan) played football (safety) and baseball for the Miami Hurricanes. The younger Brendan has three interceptions on the season, which leads Northwestern.
The Wildcats' 2006 recruiting class was somewhat below average, even by the undemanding standards of Northwestern. According to Scout, Northwestern's incoming class was ranked as the 71st in the nation, while Rivals was even more uncharitable, pegging it as the 81st overall. Unlike the previous class, which was highlighted by Tyrell Sutton, last year's group of signees did not include a single marquee player. Wide receiver Carl Fisher (Bolingbrook High School) was rated by Rivals as the 12th best player in the state of Illinois, but he is currently red-shirting and will have to wait until next year to show his stuff. In fact, most of Northwestern's incoming recruits will have to wait for an opportunity to see the field, as only three true freshmen are in the two-deep. Defensive back Sherrick McManis from Peoria Richwood is a second-string cornerback, and the team's leading kick returner (24 returns, 535 yards, 22.3 average). Brad Phillips from Export, Pennsylvania, is listed as a back-up saftey, and Marshall Thomas from Miami Belen Jesuit is a reserve defensive tackle.
The Northwestern Wildcats Class of 2006
OL Mike Boyle, Princeton (New Jersey) The Hun School (6' 7", 255 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 2*
TE Corbin Bryant, Chicago Morgan Park (6' 4", 240 lbs); Rivals 2* (#27 in Illinois); Scout 2*
WR Lee Coleman, Gainesville (Georgia) East Hall (6' 0", 170 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
LB Quentin Davie, St. Louis Cardinal Ritter (6' 4", 192 lbs, 4.65 forty); Rivals 3* (#14 in Missouri); Scout 3*
PK Stefan Demos, Scottsdale (Arizona) Horizon (5' 10", 190 lbs); Rivals 2* (#9 kicker); Scout 2*
WR Carl Fisher, Bolingbrook, Illinois (6' 2", 205 lbs); Rivals 3* (#12 in Illinois); Scout 2*
DL Kendal Mason, Delray Beach (Florida) Boca Raton (6' 1", 270 lbs, 4.96 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
QB Joe Mauro, Bedford (Texas) L.D. Bell (6' 4", 199 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 3*
DB Sherrick McManis, Peoria (Illinois) Richwood (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.45 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
TE Brendan Mitchell, Hudson (Ohio) Western Reserve Academy (6' 2", 223 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 3*
ATH Brad Phillips, Export (Pennsylvania) Franklin Regional (6' 3", 202 lbs, 4.65 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
RB Stephen Simmons, St. Louis University School (5' 8", 170 lbs, 4.44 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Connor Smith, Spring Branch (Texas) Smithson Valley (6' 4", 285 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR Sidney Stewart, Farmington (Michigan) Harrison (6' 0", 165 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 2* (#17 in Michigan); Scout 2*
DL Marshall Thomas, Miami Belen Jesuit Prep (6' 3", 270 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
DB Justan Vaughn, Pearland, Texas (6' 0", 164 lbs, 4.44 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 2*
[strike]LB Nate Williams, Pittsburgh Central Catholic (6' 1", 220 4.45 forty); Rivals 2* (#43 in Pennsylvania); Scout 2*[/strike]
Fast fact: In 2006, both Ohio State and Northwestern signed a guard named Connor Smith. The Buckeyes' version was the highly-touted recruit from Cincinnati Colerain (Rivals 4*; #55 in nation; #3 in Ohio; #4 offensive guard; Scout 5*; #4 offensive lineman), while the Wildcats' signee was a 2-star prospect from Spring Branch, Texas. Each player is red-shirting for his respective team.
Fast Fact: As a senior, linebacker Nate Williams led Pittsburgh Central Catholic to a perfect 15-0 record and a state championship. Although Williams signed with Northwestern last February, he is not currently with the team.
So far, Northwestern is putting together an excellent recruiting class for 2007. The Widlcats already have 14 verbal commitments, including pledges from three of the top prospects in the state of Ohio: defensive back David Arnold from Copley (#24 in the state according to BuckeyeSports.com); defensive lineman Vincent Browne from Lisbon David Anderson (#14 in Ohio); and athlete Jordan Mabin from Nordonia (#15 in Ohio). Each of the three recruits received some serious attention from Ohio State, but ultimately none earned a Buckeye offer. Another highly-regarded recruit who has verballed to Northwestern is Minnesota linebacker Bryce McNaul, the number ten prospect in the state according to Rivals. To date, Rivals believes that Northwestern has the 32nd-best class in the country, which is good omen for rookie head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and a considerable improvement over last year's unimpressive effort.
The Northwestern Wildcats Class of 2007
OL Colin Armstrong, Lisle (Illinois) Benet Academy (6' 5", 270 lbs); Rivals 3* (#17 in Illinois); Scout
DB David Arnold, Copley, Ohio (6' 0", 185 lbs, 4.47 forty); Rivals 3* (#24 in Ohio); Scout
DB Michael Bolden, Evanston (Illinois) Township (6' 1", 175 lbs); Rivals 3* (#13 in Illinois); Scout
WR Charles Brown, Chicago Robeson (5' 11", 175 lbs); Rivals 3* (#23 in Illinois): Scout
DL Vincent Browne, Lisbon (Ohio) David Anderson (6' 5", 239 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 3* (#14 in Ohio); Scout
RB Scott Concannon, Columbia (Missouri) Rock Bridge (5' 10", 185 lbs, 4.49 forty); Rivals 2* (#30 in Missouri); Scout
TE Drake Dunsmore, Overland Park (Kansas) St. Thomas Aquinas (6' 3", 209 lbs); Rivals 2* (#12 in Kansas); Scout
TE Cameron Joplin, Ann Arbor (Michigan) Pioneer (6' 4", 247 lbs, 4.81 forty); Rivals 3* (#21 in Michigan); Scout
DB Jordan Mabin, Macedonia (Ohio) Nordonia (5' 10", 178 lbs, 4.45 forty); Rivals 3* (#15 in Ohio); Scout
OL Niko Mafuli, St. Louis University School (6' 3", 293 lbs); Rivals 3* (#16 in Missouri); Scout
LB Bryce McNaul, Eden Prairie, Minnesota (6' 2", 242 lbs, 4.87 forty); Rivals 3* (#10 in Minnesota); Scout
QB Dan Persa, Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) Liberty (6' 2", 201 lbs, 4.58 forty); Rivals 3* (#27 in Pennsylvania); Scout
TE Josh Rooks, Holland (Michigan) Christian (6' 6", 250 lbs, 4.95 forty); Rivals 3* (#17 in Michigan); Scout
DE Kevin Watt, Glen Ellyn (Illinois) Glenbard West (6' 4", 225 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 3* (#21 in Illinois); Scout
Everyone knows that "football factory" Ohio State and "academic ivory tower" Northwestern don't recruit the same players. Of course, every rule has its exceptions, and in this case, the exceptions have been exceptional for Northwestern. Consider, for example, Tyrell Sutton, who was named Ohio's Mr. Football after his incredible 2004 season, during which he rushed for 3,232 yards (9.1 average) and scored 38 touchdowns overall. For his career, Sutton posted numbers that were simply ridiculous - 9,426 yards rushing - the most ever by an Ohio high school player - and 117 total touchdowns; when his 455 receiving yards and 1,038 return yards are added into the mix, Tyrell's career all-purpose yardage amounted to a staggering 10,919 yards. Throw in a 3.7 GPA and a 21 ACT and not even a hint of any off the field problems, and Sutton was the perfect Tressel recruit, right? Well, not exactly.... Instead of courting Sutton, who was thought to be a step slow for Big Ten football, the Buckeyes became enamored with Florida speedster Maurice Wells. At 5' 9", 177 pounds, and with an equally impressive high school resume (including a 3,079-yard, 31-TD season as a junior), Wells seemed to be a carbon copy of Sutton, with that "extra gear" necessary for big play potential. So Wells signed with Ohio State, and Sutton (who was never offered by the Bucks) went to Northwestern. Of course, the Buckeye nation were outraged that yet another Mr. Football would be toting the rock for an "enemy" program because he was unjustly snubbed by the Ohio State University (remember Ryan Brewer?). Well, the caterwauling got even louder when Sutton performed like an All American (he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year) and (gasp!) a future heisman candidate as a true freshman (250 carries; 1,474 yards; 5.90 yards per carry; 122.8 yards per game, which was 8th best in the nation; 16 TD's; 200-yard efforts against Northern Illinois, Illinois, and Wisconsin; along with 44 receptions for 396 yards and 2 TD's). On the other hand, Maurice Wells amassed only 199 yards (3.3 average) and just one touchdown in very limited action. Based on the numbers, certain commentators re-hashed Sutton's recruitment ad nauseum, and claimed that the Buckeye brain trust had once again allowed a great player to leave the state of Ohio without so much as a fight (did anyone mention Javon Ringer....). They wondered what Sutton would have accomplished in the Buckeyes' offense - if Tyrell rushed for nearly 1,500 yards for Northwestern, what could he have done behind Ohio State's superior offensive line? But, alas, we would never know, because Tressel let another great one get away (in favor of a super blue chip out-of-state prospect, the kind of kid that JT supposedly can't recruit....). Well, I suppose that the doubters' viewpoint has some merit, but I prefer to ask these questions: How would the faster, stronger, more athletic Mo Wells fare getting 25 touches per game in Northwestern's wide-open offense? And, playing behind Antonio Pittman, would Tyrell Sutton have gotten one-tenth of the carries that he received last season? With Pittman, Wells, and Erik Haw (remember him?), would Tyrell have even seen the field for the Buckeyes in 2005? In the long run, does it really matter? Ohio State's offense - with Troy and Teddy, Gonzo and Robo, and a couple of other kids from Akron - is doing just fine without Sutton. (And by the way, Tyrell has only 883 yards and 4 touchdowns rushing, 180 yards and 1 touchdown receiving, through 10 games this season).
For the class of 2007, Northwestern has already locked up RB/DB Jordan Mabin, one of the leading candidates for Ohio's Mr. Football this year. Mabin has led Nordonia to a 10-1 record in 2006, and the Knights are currently the second-ranked team in the state (Division II). On the season, Jordan has 1,975 yards rushing and 26 total touchdowns. Mabin is also a top defensive back prospect, and he will probably play cornerback in college. However, Jordan is "only" 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, which is thought to be "too small" for Buckeye football (see Tyrell Sutton, above). But Jordan Mabin is a football player, and a good one, so be prepared to add his name to the list of the "ones who got away"....
Lest we close on a positive note, I should remind everyone that one other exception was running back Jeff Backes from Upper Arlington, who was named Ohio's Mr. Football for the 2000 season after rushing for 3,353 yards and 44 touchdowns. Backes signed with Northwestern, where he was a starting cornerback and dangerous return man on special teams in 2003 and 2004; he was also named an Academic All-American for both seasons. Backes would have been a senior last year, but a shoulder injury cut short his career. He will continue his academics at the Northwestern School of Medicine.
LB Malcolm Arrington, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 2", 218 lbs, 4.65 forty); Rivals 2* (#15 in Michigan); Scout 3*
[strike]OL Thomas Bemenderfer, Mishawaka (Indiana) Penn (6' 5", 245 lbs, 5.17 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
QB Andrew Brewer, Jenks, Oklahoma (6' 2", 205 lbs, 4.4 forty); Rivals 3* (#11 in Oklahoma); Scout 2*
[strike]OL Tyler Compton, Humble, Texas (6' 5", 270 lbs, 5.25 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*[/strike]
RB Omar Conteh, Cypress (Texas) Fair (6' 0", 195 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 2*
OL Ramon Diaz, Morris, Illinois (6' 4", 280 lbs); Rivals 3* (#21 in Illinois); Scout 3*
LB Mike Dinard, Parma Padua (6' 2", 222 lbs, 4.54 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 3*
OL John Gill, San Jose (California) Bellarmine (6' 3", 285 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
DE Adam Hahn, Hartford, Wisconsin (6' 4", 245 lbs); Rivals 2* (#10 in Wisconsin); Scout 3*
LB Chris Jeske, Joliet (Illinois) Catholic (6' 1", 225 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#12 in Illinois); Scout 3*
QB Mike Kafka, Chicago St. Rita (6' 3", 190 lbs); Rivals 3* (#20 in Illinois); Scout 3*
DE Keegan Kennedy, West Palm Beach (Florida) Cardinal Newman (6' 3", 240 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
LB Prince Kwateng, Munster, Indiana (6' 1", 215 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Kurt Mattes, Plymouth (Pennsylvania) Wyoming Valley West (6' 6", 265 lbs, 4.85 forty); Rivals 3* (#29 in Pennsylvania); Scout 3*
WR Eric Peterman, Springfield (Illinois) Sacred Heart Griffin (6' 0", 199 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rivals 3* (#18 in Illinois); Scout 3*
DB Brendan Smith, New Hampton, New Hampshire (6' 0", 203 lbs, 4.57 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
RB Tyrell Sutton, Akron Archbishop Hoban (5' 8", 186 lbs, 4.59 forty); Rivals 3* (#32 in Ohio); Scout 3*
DT Desmond Taylor, Los Angeles Loyola (6' 2", 259 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 1*
WR Rasheed Ward, Chicago Harper (5' 10", 159 lbs); Rivals 3* (#27 in Illinois); Scout 2*
OL Corey Wootton, Ramsey (New Jersey) Don Bosco (6' 7", 255 lbs, 5.0 forty); Rivals 3* (#29 in New Jersey); Scout 2*
Fast Fact: Linebacker Mike Dinard from Parma Padua had a higher high school GPA (4.68) than forty time (4.54).
Fast Fact: Linebacker Prince Kwateng is a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from the African nation of Ghana (you remember - the country that knocked the United States out of the 2006 World Cup).
Fast Fact: The father of defensive back Brendan Smith (also named Brendan) played football (safety) and baseball for the Miami Hurricanes. The younger Brendan has three interceptions on the season, which leads Northwestern.
The Wildcats' 2006 recruiting class was somewhat below average, even by the undemanding standards of Northwestern. According to Scout, Northwestern's incoming class was ranked as the 71st in the nation, while Rivals was even more uncharitable, pegging it as the 81st overall. Unlike the previous class, which was highlighted by Tyrell Sutton, last year's group of signees did not include a single marquee player. Wide receiver Carl Fisher (Bolingbrook High School) was rated by Rivals as the 12th best player in the state of Illinois, but he is currently red-shirting and will have to wait until next year to show his stuff. In fact, most of Northwestern's incoming recruits will have to wait for an opportunity to see the field, as only three true freshmen are in the two-deep. Defensive back Sherrick McManis from Peoria Richwood is a second-string cornerback, and the team's leading kick returner (24 returns, 535 yards, 22.3 average). Brad Phillips from Export, Pennsylvania, is listed as a back-up saftey, and Marshall Thomas from Miami Belen Jesuit is a reserve defensive tackle.
The Northwestern Wildcats Class of 2006
OL Mike Boyle, Princeton (New Jersey) The Hun School (6' 7", 255 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 2*
TE Corbin Bryant, Chicago Morgan Park (6' 4", 240 lbs); Rivals 2* (#27 in Illinois); Scout 2*
WR Lee Coleman, Gainesville (Georgia) East Hall (6' 0", 170 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
LB Quentin Davie, St. Louis Cardinal Ritter (6' 4", 192 lbs, 4.65 forty); Rivals 3* (#14 in Missouri); Scout 3*
PK Stefan Demos, Scottsdale (Arizona) Horizon (5' 10", 190 lbs); Rivals 2* (#9 kicker); Scout 2*
WR Carl Fisher, Bolingbrook, Illinois (6' 2", 205 lbs); Rivals 3* (#12 in Illinois); Scout 2*
DL Kendal Mason, Delray Beach (Florida) Boca Raton (6' 1", 270 lbs, 4.96 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
QB Joe Mauro, Bedford (Texas) L.D. Bell (6' 4", 199 lbs, 4.7 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 3*
DB Sherrick McManis, Peoria (Illinois) Richwood (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.45 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
TE Brendan Mitchell, Hudson (Ohio) Western Reserve Academy (6' 2", 223 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 3*
ATH Brad Phillips, Export (Pennsylvania) Franklin Regional (6' 3", 202 lbs, 4.65 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
RB Stephen Simmons, St. Louis University School (5' 8", 170 lbs, 4.44 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
OL Connor Smith, Spring Branch (Texas) Smithson Valley (6' 4", 285 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
WR Sidney Stewart, Farmington (Michigan) Harrison (6' 0", 165 lbs, 4.5 forty); Rivals 2* (#17 in Michigan); Scout 2*
DL Marshall Thomas, Miami Belen Jesuit Prep (6' 3", 270 lbs); Rivals 2*; Scout 2*
DB Justan Vaughn, Pearland, Texas (6' 0", 164 lbs, 4.44 forty); Rivals 3*; Scout 2*
[strike]LB Nate Williams, Pittsburgh Central Catholic (6' 1", 220 4.45 forty); Rivals 2* (#43 in Pennsylvania); Scout 2*[/strike]
Fast fact: In 2006, both Ohio State and Northwestern signed a guard named Connor Smith. The Buckeyes' version was the highly-touted recruit from Cincinnati Colerain (Rivals 4*; #55 in nation; #3 in Ohio; #4 offensive guard; Scout 5*; #4 offensive lineman), while the Wildcats' signee was a 2-star prospect from Spring Branch, Texas. Each player is red-shirting for his respective team.
Fast Fact: As a senior, linebacker Nate Williams led Pittsburgh Central Catholic to a perfect 15-0 record and a state championship. Although Williams signed with Northwestern last February, he is not currently with the team.
So far, Northwestern is putting together an excellent recruiting class for 2007. The Widlcats already have 14 verbal commitments, including pledges from three of the top prospects in the state of Ohio: defensive back David Arnold from Copley (#24 in the state according to BuckeyeSports.com); defensive lineman Vincent Browne from Lisbon David Anderson (#14 in Ohio); and athlete Jordan Mabin from Nordonia (#15 in Ohio). Each of the three recruits received some serious attention from Ohio State, but ultimately none earned a Buckeye offer. Another highly-regarded recruit who has verballed to Northwestern is Minnesota linebacker Bryce McNaul, the number ten prospect in the state according to Rivals. To date, Rivals believes that Northwestern has the 32nd-best class in the country, which is good omen for rookie head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and a considerable improvement over last year's unimpressive effort.
The Northwestern Wildcats Class of 2007
OL Colin Armstrong, Lisle (Illinois) Benet Academy (6' 5", 270 lbs); Rivals 3* (#17 in Illinois); Scout
DB David Arnold, Copley, Ohio (6' 0", 185 lbs, 4.47 forty); Rivals 3* (#24 in Ohio); Scout
DB Michael Bolden, Evanston (Illinois) Township (6' 1", 175 lbs); Rivals 3* (#13 in Illinois); Scout
WR Charles Brown, Chicago Robeson (5' 11", 175 lbs); Rivals 3* (#23 in Illinois): Scout
DL Vincent Browne, Lisbon (Ohio) David Anderson (6' 5", 239 lbs, 4.9 forty); Rivals 3* (#14 in Ohio); Scout
RB Scott Concannon, Columbia (Missouri) Rock Bridge (5' 10", 185 lbs, 4.49 forty); Rivals 2* (#30 in Missouri); Scout
TE Drake Dunsmore, Overland Park (Kansas) St. Thomas Aquinas (6' 3", 209 lbs); Rivals 2* (#12 in Kansas); Scout
TE Cameron Joplin, Ann Arbor (Michigan) Pioneer (6' 4", 247 lbs, 4.81 forty); Rivals 3* (#21 in Michigan); Scout
DB Jordan Mabin, Macedonia (Ohio) Nordonia (5' 10", 178 lbs, 4.45 forty); Rivals 3* (#15 in Ohio); Scout
OL Niko Mafuli, St. Louis University School (6' 3", 293 lbs); Rivals 3* (#16 in Missouri); Scout
LB Bryce McNaul, Eden Prairie, Minnesota (6' 2", 242 lbs, 4.87 forty); Rivals 3* (#10 in Minnesota); Scout
QB Dan Persa, Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) Liberty (6' 2", 201 lbs, 4.58 forty); Rivals 3* (#27 in Pennsylvania); Scout
TE Josh Rooks, Holland (Michigan) Christian (6' 6", 250 lbs, 4.95 forty); Rivals 3* (#17 in Michigan); Scout
DE Kevin Watt, Glen Ellyn (Illinois) Glenbard West (6' 4", 225 lbs, 4.8 forty); Rivals 3* (#21 in Illinois); Scout
Everyone knows that "football factory" Ohio State and "academic ivory tower" Northwestern don't recruit the same players. Of course, every rule has its exceptions, and in this case, the exceptions have been exceptional for Northwestern. Consider, for example, Tyrell Sutton, who was named Ohio's Mr. Football after his incredible 2004 season, during which he rushed for 3,232 yards (9.1 average) and scored 38 touchdowns overall. For his career, Sutton posted numbers that were simply ridiculous - 9,426 yards rushing - the most ever by an Ohio high school player - and 117 total touchdowns; when his 455 receiving yards and 1,038 return yards are added into the mix, Tyrell's career all-purpose yardage amounted to a staggering 10,919 yards. Throw in a 3.7 GPA and a 21 ACT and not even a hint of any off the field problems, and Sutton was the perfect Tressel recruit, right? Well, not exactly.... Instead of courting Sutton, who was thought to be a step slow for Big Ten football, the Buckeyes became enamored with Florida speedster Maurice Wells. At 5' 9", 177 pounds, and with an equally impressive high school resume (including a 3,079-yard, 31-TD season as a junior), Wells seemed to be a carbon copy of Sutton, with that "extra gear" necessary for big play potential. So Wells signed with Ohio State, and Sutton (who was never offered by the Bucks) went to Northwestern. Of course, the Buckeye nation were outraged that yet another Mr. Football would be toting the rock for an "enemy" program because he was unjustly snubbed by the Ohio State University (remember Ryan Brewer?). Well, the caterwauling got even louder when Sutton performed like an All American (he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year) and (gasp!) a future heisman candidate as a true freshman (250 carries; 1,474 yards; 5.90 yards per carry; 122.8 yards per game, which was 8th best in the nation; 16 TD's; 200-yard efforts against Northern Illinois, Illinois, and Wisconsin; along with 44 receptions for 396 yards and 2 TD's). On the other hand, Maurice Wells amassed only 199 yards (3.3 average) and just one touchdown in very limited action. Based on the numbers, certain commentators re-hashed Sutton's recruitment ad nauseum, and claimed that the Buckeye brain trust had once again allowed a great player to leave the state of Ohio without so much as a fight (did anyone mention Javon Ringer....). They wondered what Sutton would have accomplished in the Buckeyes' offense - if Tyrell rushed for nearly 1,500 yards for Northwestern, what could he have done behind Ohio State's superior offensive line? But, alas, we would never know, because Tressel let another great one get away (in favor of a super blue chip out-of-state prospect, the kind of kid that JT supposedly can't recruit....). Well, I suppose that the doubters' viewpoint has some merit, but I prefer to ask these questions: How would the faster, stronger, more athletic Mo Wells fare getting 25 touches per game in Northwestern's wide-open offense? And, playing behind Antonio Pittman, would Tyrell Sutton have gotten one-tenth of the carries that he received last season? With Pittman, Wells, and Erik Haw (remember him?), would Tyrell have even seen the field for the Buckeyes in 2005? In the long run, does it really matter? Ohio State's offense - with Troy and Teddy, Gonzo and Robo, and a couple of other kids from Akron - is doing just fine without Sutton. (And by the way, Tyrell has only 883 yards and 4 touchdowns rushing, 180 yards and 1 touchdown receiving, through 10 games this season).
For the class of 2007, Northwestern has already locked up RB/DB Jordan Mabin, one of the leading candidates for Ohio's Mr. Football this year. Mabin has led Nordonia to a 10-1 record in 2006, and the Knights are currently the second-ranked team in the state (Division II). On the season, Jordan has 1,975 yards rushing and 26 total touchdowns. Mabin is also a top defensive back prospect, and he will probably play cornerback in college. However, Jordan is "only" 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, which is thought to be "too small" for Buckeye football (see Tyrell Sutton, above). But Jordan Mabin is a football player, and a good one, so be prepared to add his name to the list of the "ones who got away"....
Lest we close on a positive note, I should remind everyone that one other exception was running back Jeff Backes from Upper Arlington, who was named Ohio's Mr. Football for the 2000 season after rushing for 3,353 yards and 44 touchdowns. Backes signed with Northwestern, where he was a starting cornerback and dangerous return man on special teams in 2003 and 2004; he was also named an Academic All-American for both seasons. Backes would have been a senior last year, but a shoulder injury cut short his career. He will continue his academics at the Northwestern School of Medicine.
Behind the Numbers
Sometimes when a team has a horrific game they throw the game tape away, assuming there is nothing to learn from it. That's not to suggest that the Buckeyes should do that this week; there are certainly lessons that can be learned from the Illinois game. The BtN staff may want to flick the Bic[sup]TM[/sup] on last week's column however. We didn't learn anything that we didn't already know.
To wit: What are the two things that can most affect stats (especially Differential Statistical Analysis)?
- Tresselball
- Being #1
Up by 17-0 in windy conditions on the road against an agressive defense? Zip it up, there is a big picture to consider and no one does that better than Jim Tressel. It makes the BtN staff look stupid, but we're not stupid enough to wish for anything different. Tresselball is a proven commodity.
As for being #1; that's been the case all year but this was the first game where we saw an opponent truly play out-of-character as a result. Or maybe it's the first time that Tresselball allowed an opponent playing above their heads to become apparent.
Either way, Illinois did anything but fold after the teams traded turnovers. Analysis of their past games suggested that they would, but they rose above past performance and played a good game. This illuminates the biggest hole in using statistics as a basis for predictions; and that hole becomes an open man-hole cover this week.
No statistic can account for a team's psyche, and this year the Northwestern Wildcats' psyche has understandably been about as stable as the Tacoma Narrows bridge. Click HERE if that simile is lost on you.
What follows therefore can do no better than provide a general comparison of how the teams have played on average to this point in the season. While the usual DSA prediction will be provided, it should be noted that this week more than ever the prediction is for entertainment purposes only. We shall make no pretense at predicting which of Northwestern's many personalities will show up for the game.
Overall - Yards/Points
_________________|OHIO STATE||rk||Northwestern||rk
Total Offense____|398.90 ypg||21||301.33 ypg__||86
Diff. Tot. Off___|117.1%____||22||_91.4%______||84
Total Defense____|258.20 ypg||_9||368.56 ypg__||83
Diff. Tot. Def___|_66.3%____||_5||_98.9%______||72
Scoring Offense__|_34.00 ppg||10||_16.00 ppg__||102
Diff. Sc. Off____|178.8%____||_7||_73.4%______||103
Scoring Defense__|__7.60 ppg||_1||_23.33 ppg__||62
Diff. Sc. Def____|_36.0%____||_1||_98.0%______||50
Rushing Offense__|174.30 ypg||21||150.56 ypg__||41
Diff. Rush. Off__|145.7%____||12||116.1%______||35
Rushing Defense__|_92.40 ypg||16||148.00 ypg__||71
Diff. Rush. Def__|_52.9%____||_5||106.6%______||79
Passing Offense__|224.60 ypg||33||150.78 ypg__||105
Diff. Pass. Off__|101.6%____||48||_75.4%______||105
Passing Defense__|165.80 ypg||20||220.56 ypg__||79
Diff. Pass. Def__|_77.3%____||10||_94.4%______||62
NOTE: In calculating the averages and rankings above, all games between Div. I-A and Div. I-AA teams have been factored out. These numbers will therefore differ from those seen elsewhere.
Total Offense____|398.90 ypg||21||301.33 ypg__||86
Diff. Tot. Off___|117.1%____||22||_91.4%______||84
Total Defense____|258.20 ypg||_9||368.56 ypg__||83
Diff. Tot. Def___|_66.3%____||_5||_98.9%______||72
Scoring Offense__|_34.00 ppg||10||_16.00 ppg__||102
Diff. Sc. Off____|178.8%____||_7||_73.4%______||103
Scoring Defense__|__7.60 ppg||_1||_23.33 ppg__||62
Diff. Sc. Def____|_36.0%____||_1||_98.0%______||50
Rushing Offense__|174.30 ypg||21||150.56 ypg__||41
Diff. Rush. Off__|145.7%____||12||116.1%______||35
Rushing Defense__|_92.40 ypg||16||148.00 ypg__||71
Diff. Rush. Def__|_52.9%____||_5||106.6%______||79
Passing Offense__|224.60 ypg||33||150.78 ypg__||105
Diff. Pass. Off__|101.6%____||48||_75.4%______||105
Passing Defense__|165.80 ypg||20||220.56 ypg__||79
Diff. Pass. Def__|_77.3%____||10||_94.4%______||62
NOTE: In calculating the averages and rankings above, all games between Div. I-A and Div. I-AA teams have been factored out. These numbers will therefore differ from those seen elsewhere.
Been Here Before
If this match-up has a familiar feel to it, it is probably because Saturday will be the second game this year against an over-matched opponent that is coming off an upset of the disappointing Iowa Hawkeyes. What sets the Wildcats apart from the Hoosiers is that they performed this feat on the road only one week after having stayed within two touchdowns of TSUN in the Big House. Hosting the Buckeyes after that two week road-trip leaves one wondering who the Wildcats ticked-off in the Big 10 scheduling office.
The impressive road-trip tells you everything you need to know about the Wildcat defense; but their offense is a different story entirely.
The Many Faces of the Offense
If this Northwestern offense has anything in common with Ohio State's, it is surely that they might be said to have multiple personalities. Sadly, the term speaks more to the team's erratic production than to a multi-formation, multi-faceted, multi-talented attack force. The up-and-down nature of their performance is most clearly seen by examining their Differential Scoring Offense (DSO) and Differential Total Offense (DTO) over the course of the Big 10 season.
Opponent_______|__DSO__|__DTO__|
Penn St._______|_36.36%|_74.75%|
Wisconsin______|_72.00%|_86.53%|
Purdue_________|_37.56%|_58.75%|
MSU____________|134.12%|122.41%|
Michigan_______|_21.26%|_77.29%|
Iowa___________|107.01%|132.54%|
As you can see, NU managed only about 36% as many points as Penn State's average opponent, but the next week did twice as well against Wisconsin. Their DSO was back in the 30s vs. Purdue, but was 4 times as good against MSU (partly due to MSU's own multiple personality disorder). A season worst output in the Big House preceded a very good showing against Iowa: up one week, down the next, all season long.
It is tempting to observe that they are due for a down week. Unfortunately, teams with erratic performance patterns are never so predictable. We would be wise to recall that we are the #1 team in the nation, visiting their stadium after a relatively successful road-trip on their part. A "down" performance doesn't really seem likely at all in that context. Neither can we expect a poor performance by the Northwestern stop troops.
The Stone Face of the Defense
While the 2006 Wildcat defense will never be likened to a stone-wall, they are steady as a rock compared to their brethern on offense. The following table shows their Differential Scoring Defense (DSD) and Differential Total Defense (DTD) for the Big 10 season.
Opponent_______|__DSD__|__DTD__|
Penn St._______|194.12%|180.74%|
Wisconsin______|143.23%|141.48%|
Purdue_________|154.04%|128.06%|
MSU____________|160.43%|122.78%|
Michigan_______|_56.25%|_83.98%|
Iowa___________|_29.02%|_68.35%|
While not consistently impressive, the Northwestern defense is at least improving as the season goes along. Their last two games have been quite impressive; though to be fair it is safe to say that factors affecting TSUN and Iowa probably had a great deal to do with those numbers. Nevertheless, one must conclude that the Northwestern defense we will face on Saturday is probably better than their numbers suggest; due to their nearly monotonic improvement.
Differential Statistical Analysis
To recap: NU's offense has been erratic, but we are #1 and we can expect their best. NU's defense has been improving, and will probably play better than the number's averaged over the whole season would suggest.
For the first time this season we are left with the expectation that the opponent, rather than OSU, will out-perform the prediction provided by DSA. Of course, it would not be at all surprising to see the Buckeyes come out looking to prove something after last week's disappointing win at Illinois. The safest bet this week is that both teams will play well.
Recall that one prediction is obtained by multiplying each team's Average Offense by the other team's Differential Defense; and another prediction is obtained by multiplying each team's Differential Offense by the other team's Average Defense. The two predictions provide the following ranges for Saturday's game:
Total Yardage
Points
The impressive road-trip tells you everything you need to know about the Wildcat defense; but their offense is a different story entirely.
The Many Faces of the Offense
If this Northwestern offense has anything in common with Ohio State's, it is surely that they might be said to have multiple personalities. Sadly, the term speaks more to the team's erratic production than to a multi-formation, multi-faceted, multi-talented attack force. The up-and-down nature of their performance is most clearly seen by examining their Differential Scoring Offense (DSO) and Differential Total Offense (DTO) over the course of the Big 10 season.
Opponent_______|__DSO__|__DTO__|
Penn St._______|_36.36%|_74.75%|
Wisconsin______|_72.00%|_86.53%|
Purdue_________|_37.56%|_58.75%|
MSU____________|134.12%|122.41%|
Michigan_______|_21.26%|_77.29%|
Iowa___________|107.01%|132.54%|
As you can see, NU managed only about 36% as many points as Penn State's average opponent, but the next week did twice as well against Wisconsin. Their DSO was back in the 30s vs. Purdue, but was 4 times as good against MSU (partly due to MSU's own multiple personality disorder). A season worst output in the Big House preceded a very good showing against Iowa: up one week, down the next, all season long.
It is tempting to observe that they are due for a down week. Unfortunately, teams with erratic performance patterns are never so predictable. We would be wise to recall that we are the #1 team in the nation, visiting their stadium after a relatively successful road-trip on their part. A "down" performance doesn't really seem likely at all in that context. Neither can we expect a poor performance by the Northwestern stop troops.
The Stone Face of the Defense
While the 2006 Wildcat defense will never be likened to a stone-wall, they are steady as a rock compared to their brethern on offense. The following table shows their Differential Scoring Defense (DSD) and Differential Total Defense (DTD) for the Big 10 season.
Opponent_______|__DSD__|__DTD__|
Penn St._______|194.12%|180.74%|
Wisconsin______|143.23%|141.48%|
Purdue_________|154.04%|128.06%|
MSU____________|160.43%|122.78%|
Michigan_______|_56.25%|_83.98%|
Iowa___________|_29.02%|_68.35%|
While not consistently impressive, the Northwestern defense is at least improving as the season goes along. Their last two games have been quite impressive; though to be fair it is safe to say that factors affecting TSUN and Iowa probably had a great deal to do with those numbers. Nevertheless, one must conclude that the Northwestern defense we will face on Saturday is probably better than their numbers suggest; due to their nearly monotonic improvement.
Differential Statistical Analysis
To recap: NU's offense has been erratic, but we are #1 and we can expect their best. NU's defense has been improving, and will probably play better than the number's averaged over the whole season would suggest.
For the first time this season we are left with the expectation that the opponent, rather than OSU, will out-perform the prediction provided by DSA. Of course, it would not be at all surprising to see the Buckeyes come out looking to prove something after last week's disappointing win at Illinois. The safest bet this week is that both teams will play well.
Recall that one prediction is obtained by multiplying each team's Average Offense by the other team's Differential Defense; and another prediction is obtained by multiplying each team's Differential Offense by the other team's Average Defense. The two predictions provide the following ranges for Saturday's game:
Total Yardage
Ohio State: 395 - 432
Northwestern: 200 - 236
Yards Per RushNorthwestern: 200 - 236
Ohio State: 4.52 - 5.07
Northwestern: 3.23 - 3.67
Yards Per Pass AttemptNorthwestern: 3.23 - 3.67
Ohio State: 9.07 - 10.34
Northwestern: 5.02 - 5.10
Northwestern: 5.02 - 5.10
Points
Ohio State: 33 - 42
Northwestern: 6 (both methods predict 6 points)
Northwestern: 6 (both methods predict 6 points)
Northwestern Traditions
It's no secret that Northwestern isn't a football school. It's first and foremost an academic school ? the Ivy League school of the Big Ten (just ahead of OSU, of course!). However, Wildcat football has just as much a storied and tradition-filled program as many of the other Big Ten schools.
- Northwestern's athletic teams are nicknamed the Wildcats. Before 1924, they were known as "The Purple" and unofficially as "The Fighting Methodists." The name Wildcats was bestowed upon the university in 1924 by a writer for the Chicago Tribune who wrote that even in a loss to the University of Chicago Maroons, the Northwestern football players looked like "Wildcats [that] had come down from Evanston." The name was so popular that university board members made "wildcats" the official nickname just months later.
- The Northwestern's mascot is Willie the Wildcat. However, the team's first mascot was not Willie, but a live, caged bear cub from the Lincoln Park Zoo named Furpaw. In fall 1923, Furpaw was driven to the playing field to greet the fans before each game. After a losing season, the team decided that Furpaw was the harbinger of bad luck and banished him from campus. Poor Furpaw!
- The first Willie was designed by Alpha Delts Frank Willard, John Balch, Rog Johnson and Bill Henning for their homecoming float in 1947. They designed the head while their mothers sewed the rear section of the costume. The first Willie required two people to fill the costume; one for Willie's front and one for Willie's rear end. In 1948, two women students wore the Willie costume. Notre Dame had a standing rule forbidding women on the field, so Willie was stopped at the gates of the South Bend stadium. After a lengthy conference, the officials gave the women special permission to appear. The fate of Willie did not improve in 1949, when Purdue male cheerleaders, not realizing that Willie was two women, picked up the wildcat and threw it into their boilermaker mascot. Apologies were made after hearing feminine shrieks.
- "Go U Northwestern", the Northwestern fight song, is played after scoring and at the end of games. A secondary fight song is "Rise Northwestern (Push On Song)," the final four measures (ending with a shouted "Go, 'Cats!") of which is often played after first downs.
- The "official" cheer at Northwestern sporting events is the chant "Go U! NU!" Students also commonly taunt opposing sports teams with "State-school, state-school," referencing that all institutions of the Big Ten conference, except for Northwestern, are public universities.
- NU students painting The Rock to show their school spirit.
- Fans jingle their car keys at the games. This began as an arrogant taunt; Big Ten rivals often bested Northwestern at football, and the keys implied "while your school may win the football game, in a few years your school's graduates will be parking Northwestern graduates' cars."
- The Wildcat Growl is done when NU is on defense to show support and distract the other teams. Students extend their arms, make a claw with their hands, and growl.
- For many years, students would throw marshmallows at the kick-off of football games. Northwestern archivist Patrick Quinn says that students were likely "trying to get them into the tubas, and then started throwing them at each other," leading to the tradition of throwing marshmallows at the field. While Gary Barnett was football coach, he banned marshmallows because they supposedly detracted from the serious level of football that he wanted for the school.
- The Clock Tower glows purple after a winning game. The Tower remains purple until a loss or the end of the sports season.
- The Northwestern student section is led in their cheers by Northwestern University Marching Band (NUMB). NUMB performs on the field and in the stands at all home games and follows the team to one Big Ten away game per season.
- NUMB's pregame consists of Northwestern's traditional "Pre-game Fanfare" and "Push on" fight song. After a "Patrotic Medley", followed by the National Anthem, NUMB performs the visiting team's fight song to the visiting fans. NUMB performs "Go U Northwestern!" while forming a sculpted 'N', and the pre-game show ends with the band forming a tunnel for the football team to run through as it enters the field.
The Lighter Side
Prairie State Safari 2006 continues this week as the Buckeyes travel to the noth side of Chicago to grapple with the Purple clad Smarties. I think we can agree that week one of the two week safari didn't go as well as we would have hoped. An uninspired 17 - 10 victory over the Fighting Carrots leaves us Buckeye fans wondering what's wrong with Ohio State all of a sudden? Did the offensive line forget how to block? Can Troy no longer find any open wide receivers? Can the receivers even get open any more? But, even as close as the score was, as the length of my fingernails attest, this game was never seriously in doubt. In fact, what happened in the Champaign wind tunnel was little more than confirmation that every team, no matter how superior, every year has at least one game that doesn't go according to the script. In 1997, Nebraska needed a lucky kick of an otherwise incomplete pass to beat outmanned Missouri. In 1998 eventual champion Tennessee won against Arkansas when Arkansas fumbled a QB snap while running out the clock. Miami struggled against Boston College in 2001, needing a 85 yard INT for TD to secure the win. The number of close shaves in 2002 for Ohio State makes Norelco envious. Even Texas had all they could handle with Texas A&M last year. It happens and it's nothing to be overly concerned about. One game does not a trend make.
The important part is that the Buckeyes improved to 10 - 0. It could have been a lot worse. Consider the Vulvarines. Playing in their own beloved stadium, the world's largest outdoor toilet bowl, the Vulvarines were a blown pass interference call in the end zone away from going to OT against Ball State. Ball friggin State? Yes, it could have been a lot worse. While the lackluster win over Illinois leaves open the possibility that the Mensa Boys from North Chicago might give Ohio State another scare, the reality is, this game won't be close. In fact, the win against the Fighting Carrots - because it came in the manner it did - stands as a challenge to the Buckeyes to go out and prove they are still the same team we all got used to during the first 9 weeks of the year. The Carrot game affords the players with a reason to get "up" for the last game before Michigan - to head in to The Game strong.
As a fan, though, it is difficult to get "up" for week two of Prairie State Safari 2006. I mean, how amped up can you be when you're waiting for the Buckeyes to play a team which has beaten Ohio State a mere two times in your entire life? How excited can you be when you realize that according to the numbers, Ohio State is more likely to shut Northwestern out (17 times since 1913) than lose (14 times since 1913). My first memory of Northwestern was them getting poleaxed 70 - 6 to the Buckeyes in 1981. That destruction primed me to never really worry too much about the Mildcats. While I am, of course, aware that the last time the Buckeyes went to Evanston, they came away with a loss, I am more likely to recall that last time Ohio State went to Northwestern with the #1 team. The last time that happened was October 24, 1998, and the Buckeyes coasted to a 36 - 10 victory. Interestingly, that Wildcat club - like this one - played the Vulvarines to a relatively tight game. (1998 in Evanston lost 12 - 6. 2006, in Ann Arbor, lost 17 - 3). Making it harder is that there really isn't anything particularly funny or even interesting about Northwestern football these days. The fans I've seen on message boards seem to realize they're in for a beating this Saturday, even if there is some hope beyond hope that the Buckeyes are overlooking them to get to November 18. In short though, they seem to realize the only chance they have to win is if everything goes right for them, and wrong for the Buckeyes. So, the lighter side is left with a distinct lack of material this week.
That being so, I'm going to take a little bit of time to talk about some of the goings on in the national scene.
Louisville beats West Virginia and, as I expected, the talking heads are now tripping over themselves to discuss the same tired story we get every year at about this time. Will the undefeated Cardinals get screwed out of a trip to Glendale by the BCS? Wait a second, folks. Wait a second. Louisville hasn't been screwed out of anything yet. Louisville hasn't finished the season undefeated yet. And, actually, in line with what typically happens once the media begins talking about the future as if it's current fact, Louisville won't even end up undefeated. Yes, the football Gods (who hate the media) are smiling on Rutgers. After this coming Thursday, the parade of horribles regarding an undefeated Louisville being jumped by a one loss team will no longer exist. Now, I understand talking heads get paid to yammer on about things and there aren't that many interesting things to yammer on about right now. I recognize that Trev Alberts is contractually bound to hype Iowa even at the cost of his own reputation. I know that Mark May stays on the air because people hate his shtick enough to talk about him constantly (the Howard Stern phenomenon) I'm just sick of the yearly premature creation of BCS controversy. Don't mistake that as a suggestion that I'm a fan of the BCS. I'm not. However, I also think the BCS does precisely what it is designed to do. And while I'm on the topic of Louisville, if you're the Harris Poll voter who put Louisville at number 1, you need to be institutionalized.
As much as manufactured controversy annoys me, I have noticed that the media is less and less complimentary of Charlie Weis and Notre Dame. The complaining about getting jumped by a team with a bye, the continual reminders of how many NFL jobs he's turning down, the self absorbed personality, has seemingly convinced many in the media to take a closer look at their general assumptions about Notre Dame football and Heavy C's "genius." Some writers and talking heads have been observed taking notice of the fact that Notre Dame has not beat any elite team in Charlie's tenure, and in fact have been completely blown out in 2 out of 3 of these matchups. (Ohio State in the Fiesta and Michigan this season). Some commentators, typically googly-eyed about offense, have even remarked that Notre Dame might benefit from becoming at least mildly interested in fielding a defense. It is saying something when the media types even mention defense. It is rarer still that they use a lack of defense as a knock on a team which can move the ball. This tells me that Heavy C is quickly burning up Notre Dame's good will (deserved or not).
How excited do you think ACC brass are right now? If the season ended today, the ACC Championship game would feature Wake Forest against Georgia Tech. Wake Forest is literally the second worst team of all time (based on winning percentage), and yet they are the pride of the conference at the moment. Georgia Tech has a legitimate football pedigree, but they're still no better than 28th all time, putting them in the company of Southern Miss and Army. Meanwhile, Florida State and Miami stand a combined 10-8. In an odd twist of fate, the Big East - the league the ACC raided - is regarded as a better conference this year. Don't misunderstand, of course. The Big East still isn't very good. Speaking of which....
How bad is the Big XII North? Combined, the North has an overall record of 29-31. The South, lead by Texas, on the other hand is a combined 39 - 19. Three loss Nebraska has the inside track to the Big XII championship game at the moment, marking the 11th straight season that one of the Big XII Championship game participants will end the season with at least 3 losses. Assuming Texas beats Nebraska (or Missouri (also with three losses currently) it will be the 8th time in 11 years that one of the Big XII championship game participants ends up with at least 4 losses in the season. Power conference? I think not.
I'm told they still play football - or at least a close approximation to it - out on the west coast. I'm skeptical. Still, now that USC has lost it's hard to get any information from the left side of the US. Is it coincidence that the week USC lost, the College Game Day Wrap-up show moved away from Corso and Herbie revealing their Top 5, and instead have them reveal their Top 5 with 1 loss? Who cares who the best 1 loss team is. Regardless, whoever it is will be self evident if you rank your Top 5 like you used to. Ohio State 1, Michigan 2, maybe Louisville 3.. then you have 2 spots for 1 loss clubs remaining. Whoever is the first team you list (3rd or 4th overall depending on what you do with Louisville), that's your Top 1 loss team. Neat trick, eh? I don't know. I digress, but I'll tell you what, if USC loses to Oregon and they start giving their rankings of the Top 2 loss teams in the nation, I'm writing a letter. Not sure to who, or what it'll say. Hell, I'm not even sure that the US Mail even still exists. But, I'm not afraid to find out.
Lastly, I'm no Hog fan. In fact, I can't say I like anything about Ourkansas. But, can someone explain to me how #11 Arkansas (5 - 0 in the SEC West) is rated 6 spots behind #5 Auburn (5 - 1), a team they more or less dismantled? We get it voters. Auburn was really, really good in 2004 and maybe should have played for the title. Can we move on now, please? Imagine a team made up of Auburn's offense and Notre Dame's defense. Ugly, aint it?
The important part is that the Buckeyes improved to 10 - 0. It could have been a lot worse. Consider the Vulvarines. Playing in their own beloved stadium, the world's largest outdoor toilet bowl, the Vulvarines were a blown pass interference call in the end zone away from going to OT against Ball State. Ball friggin State? Yes, it could have been a lot worse. While the lackluster win over Illinois leaves open the possibility that the Mensa Boys from North Chicago might give Ohio State another scare, the reality is, this game won't be close. In fact, the win against the Fighting Carrots - because it came in the manner it did - stands as a challenge to the Buckeyes to go out and prove they are still the same team we all got used to during the first 9 weeks of the year. The Carrot game affords the players with a reason to get "up" for the last game before Michigan - to head in to The Game strong.
As a fan, though, it is difficult to get "up" for week two of Prairie State Safari 2006. I mean, how amped up can you be when you're waiting for the Buckeyes to play a team which has beaten Ohio State a mere two times in your entire life? How excited can you be when you realize that according to the numbers, Ohio State is more likely to shut Northwestern out (17 times since 1913) than lose (14 times since 1913). My first memory of Northwestern was them getting poleaxed 70 - 6 to the Buckeyes in 1981. That destruction primed me to never really worry too much about the Mildcats. While I am, of course, aware that the last time the Buckeyes went to Evanston, they came away with a loss, I am more likely to recall that last time Ohio State went to Northwestern with the #1 team. The last time that happened was October 24, 1998, and the Buckeyes coasted to a 36 - 10 victory. Interestingly, that Wildcat club - like this one - played the Vulvarines to a relatively tight game. (1998 in Evanston lost 12 - 6. 2006, in Ann Arbor, lost 17 - 3). Making it harder is that there really isn't anything particularly funny or even interesting about Northwestern football these days. The fans I've seen on message boards seem to realize they're in for a beating this Saturday, even if there is some hope beyond hope that the Buckeyes are overlooking them to get to November 18. In short though, they seem to realize the only chance they have to win is if everything goes right for them, and wrong for the Buckeyes. So, the lighter side is left with a distinct lack of material this week.
That being so, I'm going to take a little bit of time to talk about some of the goings on in the national scene.
Louisville beats West Virginia and, as I expected, the talking heads are now tripping over themselves to discuss the same tired story we get every year at about this time. Will the undefeated Cardinals get screwed out of a trip to Glendale by the BCS? Wait a second, folks. Wait a second. Louisville hasn't been screwed out of anything yet. Louisville hasn't finished the season undefeated yet. And, actually, in line with what typically happens once the media begins talking about the future as if it's current fact, Louisville won't even end up undefeated. Yes, the football Gods (who hate the media) are smiling on Rutgers. After this coming Thursday, the parade of horribles regarding an undefeated Louisville being jumped by a one loss team will no longer exist. Now, I understand talking heads get paid to yammer on about things and there aren't that many interesting things to yammer on about right now. I recognize that Trev Alberts is contractually bound to hype Iowa even at the cost of his own reputation. I know that Mark May stays on the air because people hate his shtick enough to talk about him constantly (the Howard Stern phenomenon) I'm just sick of the yearly premature creation of BCS controversy. Don't mistake that as a suggestion that I'm a fan of the BCS. I'm not. However, I also think the BCS does precisely what it is designed to do. And while I'm on the topic of Louisville, if you're the Harris Poll voter who put Louisville at number 1, you need to be institutionalized.
As much as manufactured controversy annoys me, I have noticed that the media is less and less complimentary of Charlie Weis and Notre Dame. The complaining about getting jumped by a team with a bye, the continual reminders of how many NFL jobs he's turning down, the self absorbed personality, has seemingly convinced many in the media to take a closer look at their general assumptions about Notre Dame football and Heavy C's "genius." Some writers and talking heads have been observed taking notice of the fact that Notre Dame has not beat any elite team in Charlie's tenure, and in fact have been completely blown out in 2 out of 3 of these matchups. (Ohio State in the Fiesta and Michigan this season). Some commentators, typically googly-eyed about offense, have even remarked that Notre Dame might benefit from becoming at least mildly interested in fielding a defense. It is saying something when the media types even mention defense. It is rarer still that they use a lack of defense as a knock on a team which can move the ball. This tells me that Heavy C is quickly burning up Notre Dame's good will (deserved or not).
How excited do you think ACC brass are right now? If the season ended today, the ACC Championship game would feature Wake Forest against Georgia Tech. Wake Forest is literally the second worst team of all time (based on winning percentage), and yet they are the pride of the conference at the moment. Georgia Tech has a legitimate football pedigree, but they're still no better than 28th all time, putting them in the company of Southern Miss and Army. Meanwhile, Florida State and Miami stand a combined 10-8. In an odd twist of fate, the Big East - the league the ACC raided - is regarded as a better conference this year. Don't misunderstand, of course. The Big East still isn't very good. Speaking of which....
How bad is the Big XII North? Combined, the North has an overall record of 29-31. The South, lead by Texas, on the other hand is a combined 39 - 19. Three loss Nebraska has the inside track to the Big XII championship game at the moment, marking the 11th straight season that one of the Big XII Championship game participants will end the season with at least 3 losses. Assuming Texas beats Nebraska (or Missouri (also with three losses currently) it will be the 8th time in 11 years that one of the Big XII championship game participants ends up with at least 4 losses in the season. Power conference? I think not.
I'm told they still play football - or at least a close approximation to it - out on the west coast. I'm skeptical. Still, now that USC has lost it's hard to get any information from the left side of the US. Is it coincidence that the week USC lost, the College Game Day Wrap-up show moved away from Corso and Herbie revealing their Top 5, and instead have them reveal their Top 5 with 1 loss? Who cares who the best 1 loss team is. Regardless, whoever it is will be self evident if you rank your Top 5 like you used to. Ohio State 1, Michigan 2, maybe Louisville 3.. then you have 2 spots for 1 loss clubs remaining. Whoever is the first team you list (3rd or 4th overall depending on what you do with Louisville), that's your Top 1 loss team. Neat trick, eh? I don't know. I digress, but I'll tell you what, if USC loses to Oregon and they start giving their rankings of the Top 2 loss teams in the nation, I'm writing a letter. Not sure to who, or what it'll say. Hell, I'm not even sure that the US Mail even still exists. But, I'm not afraid to find out.
Lastly, I'm no Hog fan. In fact, I can't say I like anything about Ourkansas. But, can someone explain to me how #11 Arkansas (5 - 0 in the SEC West) is rated 6 spots behind #5 Auburn (5 - 1), a team they more or less dismantled? We get it voters. Auburn was really, really good in 2004 and maybe should have played for the title. Can we move on now, please? Imagine a team made up of Auburn's offense and Notre Dame's defense. Ugly, aint it?
Historical Data
Northwestern Wildcats (Evanston, Illinois) Founded in 1851
Football 1st Season: 1875
Stadium: Ryan Field-Originally Dyche Stadium, renovated 1997 (Evanston, IL)
Constructed: 1926 (Renovated 1997)
Seating Capacity: 49,256
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
Conference: Big Ten Conference (since 1896, charter member)
Colors: Purple & White
Mascot: Wildcats (Willie the Wildcat)
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 8 Big Ten Titles: 1903*, 1926*, 1930*, 1931*, 1936, 1995, 1996*, 2000* (*=Co-Champions)
Consensus All-Americans: 13 (13 different players as of 2004)
College Hall-of-Famers: 13
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 2 (John "Paddy" Driscoll, Otto Graham)
Award Winners: 2 Bednarik, 2 Nagurski, 2 AFCA COY, 2 Bryant COY, 2 Robinson COY, 1 Dodd COY, 1 Walter Camp COY, 1 George Munger COY
National Championships: None recognized, 1 unrecognized in 1936 (Bill Libby)
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-8 years, Coaches-4 years
Stadium: Ryan Field-Originally Dyche Stadium, renovated 1997 (Evanston, IL)
Constructed: 1926 (Renovated 1997)
Seating Capacity: 49,256
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
Conference: Big Ten Conference (since 1896, charter member)
Colors: Purple & White
Mascot: Wildcats (Willie the Wildcat)
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 8 Big Ten Titles: 1903*, 1926*, 1930*, 1931*, 1936, 1995, 1996*, 2000* (*=Co-Champions)
Consensus All-Americans: 13 (13 different players as of 2004)
College Hall-of-Famers: 13
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 2 (John "Paddy" Driscoll, Otto Graham)
Award Winners: 2 Bednarik, 2 Nagurski, 2 AFCA COY, 2 Bryant COY, 2 Robinson COY, 1 Dodd COY, 1 Walter Camp COY, 1 George Munger COY
National Championships: None recognized, 1 unrecognized in 1936 (Bill Libby)
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-8 years, Coaches-4 years
Records
All Time: 449-596-44 (.433)
Bowl Games: 1-5-0 (.166) Most recently a 50-38 loss to UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl
All Time vs the BigTen: 233-435-21 (.353) versus teams with conference membership at time of game.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 14-56-1 (.204) Most recently a 48-7 loss to the Buckeyes in 2005 in Columbus.
Coach's Reord: Randy Walker, 1999-2005, 37-46-0 (.446), 16 year career mark of 96-81-5 (.541)
Last Season: 7-5-0 (.583)
W - Ohio (38-14)
W - Northern Illinois (38-37)
L - Arizona St. (21-52)
L - Penn St. (29-34)
W - Wisconsin (51-48)
W - Purdue (IN) (34-29)
W - Michigan St. (49-14)
L - Michigan (17-33)
W - Iowa (28-27)
L - Ohio St. (7-48)
W - Illinois (38-21)
L - UCLA (38-50) Sun Bowl
Last 5 Years: 26-34-0 (.433)
Last 10 Years: 54-65-0 (.454)
Bowl Games: 1-5-0 (.166) Most recently a 50-38 loss to UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl
All Time vs the BigTen: 233-435-21 (.353) versus teams with conference membership at time of game.
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 14-56-1 (.204) Most recently a 48-7 loss to the Buckeyes in 2005 in Columbus.
Coach's Reord: Randy Walker, 1999-2005, 37-46-0 (.446), 16 year career mark of 96-81-5 (.541)
Last Season: 7-5-0 (.583)
W - Ohio (38-14)
W - Northern Illinois (38-37)
L - Arizona St. (21-52)
L - Penn St. (29-34)
W - Wisconsin (51-48)
W - Purdue (IN) (34-29)
W - Michigan St. (49-14)
L - Michigan (17-33)
W - Iowa (28-27)
L - Ohio St. (7-48)
W - Illinois (38-21)
L - UCLA (38-50) Sun Bowl
Last 5 Years: 26-34-0 (.433)
Last 10 Years: 54-65-0 (.454)
Links
Official Sites:
Official School Site - Northwestern University
Official Alumni Site - Northwestern University - Alumni
Student Newspaper - Daily Northwestern
Official Athletic Site - NU Sports
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Purple Reign (Scout)
Message Boards - Wildcat Report(Rivals)
Message Boards - Hail to Purple (Independent)
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CFN
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Local News Sources:
Chicago Tribune - Local News
Chicago Sun Times - Local News
Daily Northwestern - Local News
Team Previews and Breakdowns:
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (01/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (02/03/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (03/24/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (04/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (04/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/02/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (06/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (06/27/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (06/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (07/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (07/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/06/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/14/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/19/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/26/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/01/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/15/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/19/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/24/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/31/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (11/01/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (11/02/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (11/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
Prospectus, Rosters & Other Info.:
2006 Roster - NU Sports
2006 Prospectus (PDF) - NU Sports
2006 News Releases - NU Sports
2006 Big Ten Spring Looks - CFN
2006 Big Ten Spring Storylines - CFN
2006 Preview - CFN
2006 Preview - Offense - CFN
2006 Preview - Defense - CFN
2006 Preview - Further Analysis - CFN
2006 Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2006 Preview - Football.com
2006 Preview - Athlon
2006 Preview - CNN/SI
2006 Preview - The Ozone
Travel:
Travel Information - NU Sports.com
Directions & Parking - NU Sports.com
ake the Train - NU Sports.com
Campus Shuttle - NU Sports.com
Gameday Information (PDF) - NU Sports.com
Travel Information - NU Sports.com
Big Ten:
2006 Big Ten Spring Prospectus (PDF) - Big Ten
2006 Big Ten Composite Schedule (PDF) - Big Ten
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Rivals
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Terry Bowden
Big Ten Preview - CFN
Big Ten Preview - CFN All-Big Ten Team
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Unit Rankings
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Five Best
Big Ten Preview - CSTV
Big Ten Preview - College Football Poll
Big Ten Preview - Football.com
Big Ten Preview - The Sports Network
Big Ten Preview - Just College Football
Big Ten Preview - The Sporting News
Big Ten Preview - The Ozone
Official School Site - Northwestern University
Official Alumni Site - Northwestern University - Alumni
Student Newspaper - Daily Northwestern
Official Athletic Site - NU Sports
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Purple Reign (Scout)
Message Boards - Wildcat Report(Rivals)
Message Boards - Hail to Purple (Independent)
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CFN
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Local News Sources:
Chicago Tribune - Local News
Chicago Sun Times - Local News
Daily Northwestern - Local News
Team Previews and Breakdowns:
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (01/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (02/03/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (03/24/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (04/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (04/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/02/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (05/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (06/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (06/27/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (06/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (07/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (07/25/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (08/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/06/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/11/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/13/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/14/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/19/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (09/26/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/01/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/04/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/08/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/10/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/15/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/17/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/19/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/22/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/24/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/30/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (10/31/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (11/01/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (11/02/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
NORTHWESTERN Team Report (11/05/06) - CSTV (The Sports Xchange)
Prospectus, Rosters & Other Info.:
2006 Roster - NU Sports
2006 Prospectus (PDF) - NU Sports
2006 News Releases - NU Sports
2006 Big Ten Spring Looks - CFN
2006 Big Ten Spring Storylines - CFN
2006 Preview - CFN
2006 Preview - Offense - CFN
2006 Preview - Defense - CFN
2006 Preview - Further Analysis - CFN
2006 Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2006 Preview - Football.com
2006 Preview - Athlon
2006 Preview - CNN/SI
2006 Preview - The Ozone
Travel:
Travel Information - NU Sports.com
Directions & Parking - NU Sports.com
ake the Train - NU Sports.com
Campus Shuttle - NU Sports.com
Gameday Information (PDF) - NU Sports.com
Travel Information - NU Sports.com
Big Ten:
2006 Big Ten Spring Prospectus (PDF) - Big Ten
2006 Big Ten Composite Schedule (PDF) - Big Ten
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Rivals
Big Ten Preview - Yahoo / Terry Bowden
Big Ten Preview - CFN
Big Ten Preview - CFN All-Big Ten Team
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Unit Rankings
Big Ten Preview - CFN Big Ten Five Best
Big Ten Preview - CSTV
Big Ten Preview - College Football Poll
Big Ten Preview - Football.com
Big Ten Preview - The Sports Network
Big Ten Preview - Just College Football
Big Ten Preview - The Sporting News
Big Ten Preview - The Ozone
Preseason Rankings
None
Preseason Watch Lists
2006 Ted Hendricks Award - Watch List (Ted Hendricks Foundation)
Kevin Mims
2006 Jim Thorpe Award - Watch List (Jim Thorpe Association)
Marquice Cole
2006 Maxwell Award - Watch List (Maxwell Football Club)
Tyrell L Sutton
2006 Walter Camp Player of the Year - Watch List (Walter Camp Foundation)
Tyrell Sutton
2006 Biletnikoff Award - Watch List (Tallahassee Quarterback Club)
Shaun Herbert
2006 Doak Walker Award - Watch List (SMU Athletic Forum)
Tyrell Sutton
Kevin Mims
2006 Jim Thorpe Award - Watch List (Jim Thorpe Association)
Marquice Cole
2006 Maxwell Award - Watch List (Maxwell Football Club)
Tyrell L Sutton
2006 Walter Camp Player of the Year - Watch List (Walter Camp Foundation)
Tyrell Sutton
2006 Biletnikoff Award - Watch List (Tallahassee Quarterback Club)
Shaun Herbert
2006 Doak Walker Award - Watch List (SMU Athletic Forum)
Tyrell Sutton
Big Ten Conference Players of the Week
Sept. 2, 2006 (Week 1)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Alex Daniels, Minnesota, and QB Troy Smith, Ohio State
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: TE/FB - Erryn Cobb, Northwestern, and LB - Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
Sept. 9, 2006 (Week 2)
OFFENSE: WR - Matt Trannon, Michigan State
DEFENSE: LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
Sept. 16, 2006 (Week 3)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: LB - Prescott Burgess, Michigan
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State
Sept. 23, 2006 (Week 4)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State & P - Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
Sept. 30, 2006 (Week 5)
OFFENSE: QB - John Stocco, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Jason Reda, Illinois
Oct. 7, 2006 (Week 6)
OFFENSE: QB - Troy Smith, Ohio State and RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Mike Sherels, Minnesota
SPECIAL TEAMS: RB - Marcus Thigpen, Indiana
Oct. 14, 2006 (Week 7)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana & QB - Curtis Painter, Purdue
DEFENSE: DE - LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR - Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State
Oct. 21, 2006 (Week 8)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Drew Stanton, Michigan State & QB - Troy Smith, Ohio State
CO-DEFENSE: CB - Antonio Smith, Ohio State & LB - Paul Posluszny, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State
Oct. 28, 2006 (Week 9)
OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Taylor Mehlhaff, Wisconsin
Nov. 4, 2006 (Week 10)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Bryan Cupito, Minnesota and RB Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
DEFENSE: LB - J Leman, Illinois
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Garrett Rivas, Michigan
Nov. 11, 2006 (Week 11)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 18, 2006 (Week 12)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 25, 2006 (Week 13)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Alex Daniels, Minnesota, and QB Troy Smith, Ohio State
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: TE/FB - Erryn Cobb, Northwestern, and LB - Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
Sept. 9, 2006 (Week 2)
OFFENSE: WR - Matt Trannon, Michigan State
DEFENSE: LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
Sept. 16, 2006 (Week 3)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: LB - Prescott Burgess, Michigan
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State
Sept. 23, 2006 (Week 4)
OFFENSE: WR - Mario Manningham, Michigan
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State & P - Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
Sept. 30, 2006 (Week 5)
OFFENSE: QB - John Stocco, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: DE - Anthony Spencer, Purdue
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Jason Reda, Illinois
Oct. 7, 2006 (Week 6)
OFFENSE: QB - Troy Smith, Ohio State and RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Mike Sherels, Minnesota
SPECIAL TEAMS: RB - Marcus Thigpen, Indiana
Oct. 14, 2006 (Week 7)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana & QB - Curtis Painter, Purdue
DEFENSE: DE - LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR - Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State
Oct. 21, 2006 (Week 8)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Drew Stanton, Michigan State & QB - Troy Smith, Ohio State
CO-DEFENSE: CB - Antonio Smith, Ohio State & LB - Paul Posluszny, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State
Oct. 28, 2006 (Week 9)
OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Taylor Mehlhaff, Wisconsin
Nov. 4, 2006 (Week 10)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Bryan Cupito, Minnesota and RB Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
DEFENSE: LB - J Leman, Illinois
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK - Garrett Rivas, Michigan
Nov. 11, 2006 (Week 11)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 18, 2006 (Week 12)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 25, 2006 (Week 13)
OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
Two Cousins College Football Emporium - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data