Sept. 8, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the first time since the 2000 season, a member of Northwestern's defensive unit has picked up Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Junior safety Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt), who was a late replacement in the starting lineup for the ailing Louis Ayeni (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury), is sharing this week's honor with Ohio State's Will Allen.
Ward collected a career-high 17 tackles (11 solos) and a key fumble recovery in Saturday's game vs. Air Force. He played an integral role in helping contain the Falcons' vaunted option attack. Only three of Air Force's 53 rushing plays went for distances of 10 or more yards.