October 26, 1998
NORTHWESTERN (2-6, 0-5) at Michigan State (3-4, 1-2)
Date/Time: Oct. 31, 1998/11:10 a.m. CT
Site/Capacity: Spartan Stadium/72,027
Television: ESPN2
Radio: WGN (720 AM)
The Wildcat defense and the special teams provided Northwestern with several golden opportunities last Saturday against the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. However, each time the offense stalled. With the loss, Northwestern dropped to 2-6 overall, 0-5 in Big Ten play.
The following scenarios typified the 'Cats day. Down 17-10 with under five minutes left in the first half, Gavin Hoffman's pass was tipped and intercepted at the Northwestern 29-yard line. The 'Cat defense denied OSU's fourth-down conversion attempt only to see Hoffman's pass slip off of D'Wayne Bates' fingers and fall into the hands of another Buckeye defender on the very next play. Fast forward to midpoint of the third quarter, NU trailing 23-10. The 'Cats take over at the 50-yard line and go three and out. In the early stages of the fourth quarter, Preston Letts recovers a fumble on the OSU 39. Again, the offense failed to move the ball.
The offense did have some bright spots. Hoffman and Bates hooked up for a 60-yard score in the first quarter to cut the OSU lead to three points. That touchdown was the longest of the season against the Buckeyes. Bates had seven catches on the day and continues to lead the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0).
The defense kept the game in reach until late in the third quarter. They allowed OSU to convert just three of its 18 third-down conversion attempts; intercepted a Joe Germaine pass (Mike Nelson); picked off a two-point conversion attempt (Mycal Jones) and held them to 40-yards below their rushing average.
All-America candidate Barry Gardner led the defense with 18 tackles. Gardner, who also had one TFL versus Ohio State, has now recorded double-figure tackles in 17 of his last 20 games and leads the Big Ten in tackles with 131.
The 'Cats travel to East Lansing this Saturday to take on Michigan State. Northwestern beat MSU last year, 19-17, at Ryan Field. The Spartans are currently 3-4, 1-2 in Big Ten play.
Michigan State SeriesSeries Record: MSU leads, 29-11
First Meeting: 1905, NU won, 37-11
Last MSU Win at MSU: 1993, 31-29
Last NU Win at MSU: 1991, 16-13
Current Series Streak: NU, 1 game
MSU's Largest Margin of Victory: 62 pts., 76-14 in 1989
NU's Largest Margin of Victory: 33 pts., 39-6 in 1917
Head Coach Gary Barnett
Gary Barnett is in his seventh season at the helm of the Northwestern Wildcats after overseeing one of the most masterful program turnarounds in college football history. Hired in 1992, he took a school which hadn't enjoyed a winning season in 20 years, and in just four years had it sitting on top of the world as Big Ten champs. The following year, Barnett proved to the naysayers that 1995 wasn't a fluke by repeating as Big Ten champions. The 52-year-old native of Lakeland, Fla., has won every major "Coach of the Year" award, and has compiled a 34-42-1 record at Northwestern.
Prior to eight seasons as an assistant at the University of Colorado, Barnett served as the head coach for Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., for two years beginning in 1982.
Barnett graduated from the University of Missouri in 1969 with a degree in social studies, and later earned a master's degree in education from his alma mater. At Missouri, he played wide receiver and participated in the 1966 Sugar Bowl and the 1968 Gator Bowl while with the Tigers.
Facts and Firsts Following Ohio State
* Barry Gardner's 18 tackles on Saturday marked the 17th time in his last 20 games that he has recorded double-figures in stops.
* Gardner upped his Big Ten-leading tackle total to 131. He now leads in tackles per game as well (16.4).
* With his 18-stop performance vs. Ohio State, Gardner upped his career tackle total to 424.
* Bates has caught a pass in his last 29-consecutive games, extending his NU record.
* Bates has now caught at least one TD in 18 games, one shy of the NU record held by Richard Buchanan.
* Two of Bates' seven receptions went for first downs. This brings his career total to 115 of 183 (63%).
* Bates continues to lead the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0) and now is second in receiving yards per game (98.9).
* Bates moved into the third spot in Big Ten history for career catches (182). He surpassed Purdue's duo of Dave Young (180) and Rodney Carter (181).
* Bates needs just 84 more receiving yards to become just the fifth player in Big Ten history to amass 3,000 career receiving yards.
* Bates now has 2,916 career receiving yards and remains sixth in Big Ten history. He is just 77 yards from the fifth spot held by MSU's Andre Rison (2,992).
* Brian Gowins moved into eighth place in Big Ten history in field goals made (52).
* Gowins has now made a field goal in 29 games, one shy of the NU record held by John Duvic.
* J.J. Standring's 551 yards punting is a new school record and is tied for sixth-most in the Big Ten.
* Standring's 13 punts vs. OSU is a new school record as well.
The Captains
As voted upon by their teammates and coaches, the captains for the 1998 Northwestern football team are wide receiver D'Wayne Bates, linebacker Barry Gardner, fullback Matt Hartl and offensive lineman Bryan LaBelle. All four are seniors.
Bates, who missed last season due to a broken leg suffered in the 'Cats victory over Oklahoma in the Pigskin Classic, led the Big Ten in receptions and reception yards in 1996 and was a Playboy All-American in 1997. Gardner is in his second duty as a captain, having served in the same capacity last year. The former walk-on led the Big Ten in total tackles in 1997 and was selected first-team All-Big Ten. Hartl, who was a major force in the Wildcats' drive to the Rose Bowl in 1995, will miss this season while undergoing chemotherapy to fight Hodgkin's Disease. This is his second bout with this form of cancer. LaBelle, a roommate of Hartl's, started in all 12 games last year at tight tackle.
First Time In Prime Time
A large number of Wildcats are seeing the field for the first time on offense and defense. A look by the numbers follows:
18 have logged playing time for the first time (12 Off., 6 Def.).
14 players have started for their first time this season.
13 redshirt or true freshman have taken the field in 1998.
7 offensive linemen are lining up for their first time.
6 redshirt or true freshman have earned starts, thus far.
Big Ten Tackle Leader
Two-time captain Barry Gardner finished 1997 first in the Big Ten in total tackles (174). He also led the conference in solo stops (112) and tackles per game (14.5). Gardner started the 1998 season off by leading the Wildcat defense to a smothering attack against UNLV. NU limited the Rebels to just 35 yards rushing and only eight first downs. Versus Duke, Gardner tallied 19 total tackles (15 solo stops) to lead NU. At Rice, the senior led all players with 20 tackles, 13 of which were solo efforts. In Madison, he again led both teams, tallying 14 total tackles (10 solo). Versus Illinois, Gardner again led the field, this time with 12 stops. At Iowa, he was everywhere, racking up 22 tackles (14 solo), two TFLs and one interception. In the rain storm versus Michigan, Gardner again led all players, tallying 20 stops (11 solo). Versus the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes, he racked up 18 tackles, the largest number that day as well. He has now produced double-figure tackle games in 17 of the last 20 contests.
The 1997 GTE Second-Team Academic All-American currently has 424 career stops, good for third place on NUs career tackle list. Ed Sutter holds down the second spot with 429 tackles (1988-91).
The All-American candidate's tackle line in 1998: UNLV (6), Duke (19), Rice (20), Wisconsin (14), Illinois (12), Iowa (22), Michigan (20) and Ohio State (18).
Big Ten's Top Receiver
All-Big Ten receiver D'Wayne Bates returned to the Wildcat lineup in dramatic fashion after missing most of 1997 with a broken leg. Against UNLV, he caught nine passes for 156 yards and scored two touchdowns. In the process, he became the first Wildcat to record 11 games of 100 or more yards in receiving. He added to that record by going over the 100-yard mark at Iowa (127) and versus Michigan (112). The Big Ten Conference tabbed him the Offensive Player of the Week for his play against UNLV. Also this season, he became NU's all-time career receiving yards leader when he caught seven passes for 96 yards at Wisconsin.
He currently leads the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0) and is second in receiving yards per game (98.9 ypg). Below are a list of some of Bates' accomplishments as a Wildcat.
Bates has made at least one reception in his last 29-straight contests (an NU record) and 32 of 33 in his NU career.
* Bates has made at least four receptions in 21 of his last 25 games.
* 115 of his career 183 catches have been for first downs (63%).
* Bates now has 183 catches in his NU career. This tally ranks second-best in NU history. The career record of 197 is held by Richard Buchanan (1988-90).
* Bates is in first place on the all-time NU receiving list with 2,916 yards.
* Bates set the NU single-season receiving mark in 1996 with 1,196 yards.
* Although Bates has an NU record 13 career 100-yard receiving games, he also has recorded seven other games where he has recorded between 90-99 yards receiving.
* Bates ranks third in Big Ten history in career catches (183) and is 14 receptions away from the second spot held by Buchanan (197).
* Bates' 2,916 career receiving yards ranks sixth in Big Ten history.
Gowins Kicks His Way Into Record Book
Brian Gowins, who led the Big Ten in field goals made last year (20), is methodically kicking his way to the top of a lot of the charts in the NU record book. Below are the records the first-team All-Big Ten performer holds or is close to breaking:
* Career scoring: 238 points, first place.
* Most points scored by a kicker: 238 points, first place.
* Career field goals made: 52, first place.
* Career field goals attempted: 75, first place.
* Most field goals in a season: 20, first place.
* Most games making a field goal in a career: 29, second place, one shy of record.
* Most consecutive games making a field goal: nine-consecutive games in 1997, first place.
* Two or more field goals in a game: nine (season), 19 (career), first place.
* Most field goals 40-yards or more: 18, first place.
* Longest field goal: 52 yards, second on NU list, two yards shy of Nick Mirkopulos's 54 yarder in 1975.
Biletnikoff Award
D'Wayne Bates has been named to the initial "Watch List" for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the nations best college football receiver. A selection committee will pare down the list to 10 semifinalists in late October.
Thorpe Award
Mike Nelson is one of 44 prospects for the 1998 Jim Thorpe Award given annually to the nation's best defensive back in college football. Three finalists will be invited to ESPNs College Football Awards Show, broadcast December 10 from Disney World.
Best Conditioned Athletes
Strength coach Larry Lilja is legendary at NU for the grueling workouts that he puts the Wildcats through. His top five conditioned players with their bench and 40-yard dash statistics are:
1) LB Barry Gardner: Bench (435), 40 Yard Dash (4.68)
2) DL Jeff Dyra: Bench (425), 40 Yard Dash (4.88)
3) FB Sean Bennett: Bench (375), 40 Yard Dash (4.51)
4) TE John Cerasani: Bench (404), 40 Yard Dash (4.97)
5) FS Rashad Morton: Bench (335), 40 Yard Dash (4.54)
Youth Movement
True freshmen who have played this season are Kevin Bentley, a linebacker from Van Nuys, Calif., Blake Henry, an offensive tackle from Towson, Md., Wayne Lucier, a tight end/offensive tackle from Salem, N.H., Billy Silva, a linebacker from San Diego, Calif., Sam Simmons, a wide receiver from Kansas City, Mo. and Rashidi Wheeler, a defensive back from Ontario, Calif.
A Star Is Born
True freshman Sam Simmons is the brightest star of the 1998 recruiting class, thus far. Simmons, who is ranked fourth in the nation in kickoff returns, has turned quite a few heads in the 'Cats first eight games. Of the 13 offensive plays he has held the ball this season (eight rushes, five receptions), eight have gone for first downs, including all five receptions. In addition, Simmons made a remarkable 46-yard TD grab at Wisconsin and had a 67-yard kick return at Rice. Below is a look at the wide receivers statistics:
Kick Returns: 14 for 454 yards, 32.4 average, long of 67
Receiving: five for 132 yards, 26.4 average, one TD, long of 46
Rushing: eight for 39 yards, 4.9 average, long of 11
Wildcats On The Tube
Since 1995, 40 of NU's 44 contests have been televised. In 1997, 11 of NUs games were selected for broadcast: Thus far this season, the Duke (ESPN Regional), Wisconsin (ESPN Regional), Illinois (ESPN Regional), Iowa (ESPN2) Michigan (ESPN), Ohio State (ESPN2) and Michigan State (ESPN2) games have been selected for broadcast. The UNLV (Las Vegas T.V. 33) game was televised in its market only, while the Rice contest was not televised.
Since NU football was first televised on October 27, 1951, when the 'Cats entertained the Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern, the Wildcats have been featured on 90 occasions.
Award Winners
Below is a list award winners, thus far, for the 1998 season:
D'Wayne Bates, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week -- 9/7
Brian Gowins, Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week -- 9/21
Nationally Ranked
The following Wildcats were ranked among the national leaders (Big Ten ranking in parenthesis) in the following categories:
Kickoff Return: Sam Simmons, 32.43 ypr -- 4th (1st)
Pass Receptions: D'Wayne Bates, 7.00 cpg -- 12th (1st)
Receiving Yards: D'Wayne Bates, 98.89 ypg -- 20th (2nd)
Punting: J.J. Standring, 42.31 avg. -- 31st (3rd)
Field Goals: Brian Gowins, 1.38 fgpg -- (t) 21st (3rd)
As a team the Wildcats were ranked in the top 25 in the following categories:
Kickoff Returns: 25.6 avg. -- 8th
Total Defense: 345.1 ypg -- 47th
Net Punting: 41.5 net avg. -- 29th
The Champions
After the Ohio State contest, the NU coaching staff named the following players as plaque winners of the weekly "Champion Club." O-Line: none; O-Back: none; D-Line: none; D-Back: Mike Nelson, Jr.; Kick: J.J. Standring Rookie: Chris Jones; Scout: Jason Brown.
The Gary Barnett Show
Look for The Gary Barnett Show Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Chicago. The show will be repeated at 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 and 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 22. Dave Eanet, the voice of Wildcat Football on WGN Radio, serves as the host.
A new feature this year is "Ask the Coach." Fans can send in their questions to Coach Barnett at nusports.com and if their question is read on the show, they'll receive an Northwestern football cap courtesy of adidas and NU.
Lost In (Cyber) Space
Head coach Gary Barnett will take part in a live chat session each Wednesday from 7 to 7:15 p.m. during the football season. Fans can log on at nusports.com and go to the football page. The feature, which began on Wednesday, Sept. 9, was the most highly attended chat session that fansonly.com (nusports.coms web server) has ever had. Barnett was also the featured guest on America On-Line's Athlete Direct Prime last month.
Up Next
Following the Michigan State contest, the Wildcats entertain Purdue at Ryan Field. Game time for the November 7 matchup is set for 11:10 a.m. CST and will be televised by ESPN Regional Television.