Nov. 17, 2003
NU Football Notes vs. Illinois
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The Game
In two of the last three years, the season-ending contest between Illinois and Northwestern has helped decide the Big Ten championship. While there are no conference title implications this year, there is a lot at stake for both teams, especially the Wildcats who are still in the hunt for a postseason bowl berth. Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 11 a.m. CST at Illinois' Memorial Stadium. ESPN Plus is televising the game to a regional audience (WBBM-TV in Chicago).
With a victory, Northwestern will finish the 2003 season 6-6 and become bowl-eligible. The Wildcats, however, with a .500 record, could only qualify for a bowl game that has a Big Ten tie-in, according to a 2003 NCAA clarification on teams with .500 records. With seven Big Ten teams already bowl-eligible, and the Big Ten having seven bowl tie-ins, the Conference must send two teams to the Bowl Championship Series bowls (Sugar, Rose, Fiesta, Orange) in order to create a spot for a 6-6 Northwestern team.
Since 1945, Northwestern and Illinois have played for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy. That year, the staff members of the two student newspapers conceived the idea of a wooden Indian trophy, "Sweet Sioux." Three years later, the wooden Indian was replaced by the tomahawk trophy, which is still representative of the rivalry. Since the advent of the trophy in '45, Illinois holds a 31-23-2 edge in the series. The Fighting Illini, who have been decimated by injuries this season, had an open date last weekend. In its previous outing, Illinois lost a 17-14 decision at Indiana when the Hoosiers scored a late touchdown to win the game. The Illini are trying to notch their first victory against a Division I-A opponent this season and avoid their first winless Big Ten campaign since 1997. Senior Dustin Ward is slated to start at quarterback in place of Jon Beutjer, who was lost for the season after the Oct. 11 game vs. Michigan State. Ward has filled in nicely, completing 49-of-81 passes (60.5 percent) for 555 yards and three TDs. The Illini average 225.0 passing yards per game.
The Series With Illinois
Series Record: Illinois leads 51-40-5
At Evanston: Illinois leads 27-23-3
At Champaign: Illinois leads 24-17-2
Last Result: 31-24, Illinois, in Evanston (2002)
Series Streak: 2, Illinois
Series Notes: Northwestern and Illinois have played one another every year since 1927. The two schools began playing for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy in 1945 ... Northwestern has won four of the last eight meetings, including 1995 and 1997 games at Memorial Stadium.
Northwestern Head Coach Randy Walker
Randy Walker's passion for excellence continues to be the driving force in his mission to return Northwestern's football program to the top of the Big Ten Conference, and among the nation's elite. A 27-year coaching veteran who has been associated with some of the game's greatest mentors, Walker places a high value on a student-athlete not only excelling on the field, but also in the classroom and in the community.
In his fifth season with the Wildcats, Walker has produced a 23-34 record, highlighted by an 8-4 mark in 2000. That season, the Wildcats won a share of the Big Ten title-NU's third conference crown since 1995. He is ninth on Northwestern's all-time coaching victory list.Overall, in his 14th year as a college head coach, Walker is 82-69-5. He spent his first nine years at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Walker departed his alma mater as the program's winningest coach with a 59-35-5 (.621) record.
The Northwestern-Michigan Recap
Northwestern knew it needed to play mistake-free football in order to have a chance to beat the Big Ten-leading Michigan Wolverines. Two fumbles, however, helped Michigan explode for 24 points in the second quarter and propelled the Wolverines to a 41-10 victory at Ryan Field. After Michigan went ahead 10-3 on a 23-yard field goal, the Wildcats started their ensuing series on their own 32-yard line. On the first offensive play, though, quarterback Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) lost the ball after a six-yard gain and Michigan recovered. Nine plays later, Michigan tailback Chris Perry scored his second touchdown of the day to put the Wolverines in front 17-3.
Michigan then kicked off to NU returner Derell Jenkins (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), who had already returned two kicks for a total of 69 yards. This time, however, the kick was short and as Jenkins ran to catch the ball, he misplayed it and the Wolverines came up with a second straight fumble. John Navarre then fired a 26-yard touchdown pass on the next play, and Michigan led 24-3. Unable to move downfield on its next series, Northwestern was forced to punt the ball away, only to have the Wolverines put together another touchdown drive, this one capped by a spectacular one-handed scoring catch by Jason Avant. In the second half, the Wildcats played better, but could only muster a 13-yard touchdown run on a reverse play by receiver Brandon Horn (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day).
Three Wildcats Named to Academic All-District Team
Three Northwestern players were named to the District V Academic All-District first team, announced Thursday, Nov. 13 by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Earning first-team honors were senior Jason Wright, junior Luis Castillo (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) and sophomore Jeff Backes (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington). These three players are now eligible for CoSIDA's Academic All-America team, which will be announced Dec. 1.
Loren Howard Earns NU's Third Big Ten Honor of 2003
Sophomore defensive end Loren Howard (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) earned his first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor for his performance against Penn State. Howard, who notched eight tackles, including a career-high four tackles for loss (two sacks), led a Wildcat defense that limited its second Big Ten foe in three weeks to seven points. Penn State was held to 93 rushing yards. Howard also had a forced fumble and a hurry.
With one game to play this season, Howard is ranked seventh on NU's single-season list with 14.5 tackles for loss. Last year as a true freshman, he notched 13.5 TFLs, which was ninth best. Howard now has 28 TFLs for his career, which is one shy of seventh place.
In the season's first two weeks, NU players were honored by the Big Ten Conference for their performances against Kansas and Air Force. For his performance in the season-opening victory over Kansas, Jason Wright (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) earned his fourth career Big Ten Player-of-the-Week. In that game, Wright equaled a career high in rushing yards (196) and rushing touchdowns (4). He also set a personal best with 41 rushing attempts. The following week against Air Force, and for the first time since the 2000 season, a member of Northwestern's defensive unit picked up Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Junior Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) shared the honor with Ohio State's Will Allen. Ward collected a career-high 17 tackles (11 solos) and a key fumble recovery in the Air Force game. He played a key 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. Ward is fifth on Northwestern's tackle chart with 68 hits.
The Wright Stuff
The 2002 season was a breakout year for running back Jason Wright. After toiling as a reserve receiver in 2001 (7 catches for 48 yards), Wright finished 2002 by being named an honorable mention all-Big Ten running back. In the Wildcats' outing vs. Wisconsin, when Wright totaled 150 all-purpose yards (97 rushing, 53 receiving) and scored two touchdowns, he injured his ankle. Since then, he has been playing less than 100 percent, totaling just 22 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown against Purdue, Penn State and Michigan. His six carries against Penn State were the fewest in a game since he became NU's top tailback last year.
Wright has climbed to fifth place on NU's career rushing chart (see column on next page). Wright, who has 11 100-yard games in his career, is fifth in Big Ten rushing, third in Big Ten scoring, and fourth in Big Ten all-purpose yardage. He is tied for seventh nationally with 16 TDs. Against Wisconsin, he became the sixth NU player to top the 2,000-yard mark for rushing yards.
According to a CBS Sportsline player ranking (rankings are based on a statistics and strength of schedule formula), Wright, prior to his injury, was ranked 14th nationally among running backs. He was the second-ranked RB in the Big Ten behind Michigan's Chris Perry.
Wright is one of 43 candidates for the Doak Walker Award, awarded annually to the nation's top running back. He is one of four Big Ten running backs on the list.
An update on some other notable items/numbers for Wright:
* Had a string of 383 consecutive carries without a fumble (streak spanned 18 games and came to an end vs. Purdue on Nov. 1, 2003).
* Needs 328 rushing yards to move into fourth place on NU's career rushing list.
* Needs 27 all-purpose yards to move into sixth place on NU's all-time list.
* Averaging 99.0 rushing ypg in his last 21 outings.
* Missed NU's preseason scrimmage (Aug. 16) in order to take the medical school entrance exam (MCAT).
* Delivered the players' keynote address at the 2003 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon.
* Sang the national anthem prior to an NU men's basketball game (vs. Ohio State) and prior to a 2003 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament session at the United Center.
What They're Saying About Jason Wright
* "He runs with power. He breaks a lot of tackles. He runs with great leverage. He's a guy who can catch the football. Anytime you have a guy like that, it's hard to hone in on just one part of what he does." - Michigan coach Lloyd Carr
* "He can do some damage. He catches the ball out of the backfield very well and he is really a fine player."-Kansas coach Mark Mangino
* "Jason Wright is a very underrated back in this league. He's got great vision. If you're out of position, he finds it."- Minnesota coach Glen Mason
* "He's terrific. He's an extraordinary individual in all aspects of his life. He's got a lot of things going for him." - Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo
* "He's a productive player, and one of the better running backs, I believe, in the Big Ten."-Ohio State defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio
* "Their running back (Wright) is obviously a great player. He's really improved since last year." - Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk
* "A lot of backs, you say 'block' and they don't understand English. Jason is willing to do whatever it takes, whether it's being good in the passing game, being a good blocker ... He's really a complete player and takes pride in being that. And as good a football player he is, he's an even better person off the field. They don't come any better than him." - Northwestern coach Randy Walker
Red-Zone Figures
Although the Wildcat defense is still surrendering more yards than they would like, they are stiffening when the opposition gets inside the 20-yard line. After spending much of the season atop the Big Ten statistics, Northwestern dropped to second in the league in red-zone defense after Michigan became just the second NU opponent (Ohio State was the other) to score every time it moved inside the Wildcats' 20-yard line. The opposition has been inside the 20-yard line 43 times, but only 28 times have they come away with points-19 touchdowns and nine field goals. Conversely, NU has gone inside the opponents' 20-yard line 37 times and scored 27 times (22 TDs, 5 FGs) for a .730 percentage.
Heavy Stuff
With the losses of offensive linemen Austin King and Jeff Roehl to graduation and the NFL, there were off-season concerns about replacing those two players. Those fears have been reduced somewhat, after Northwestern's starting offensive line, which weighs an average of 310 pounds (12th heaviest in I-A football), has helped the Wildcats total 400-plus yards on five occasions (a season-high 467 yards vs. Kansas). Zach Strief (Milford, Ohio/Milford), the Wildcats' biggest player at 6-foot-7, 335 pounds, has led the way this season with eight "championship-game" performances in 11 outings. Prior to being held to 117 rushing yards against Michigan, Northwestern had rolled up 245 rushing yards on Wisconsin, 161 yards on Purdue and 253 yards on Penn State. NU has allowed the fourth-fewest sacks (19) in the Big Ten this season.
Patrick Leads Nation in Reception String
Dating to his freshman season, receiver Kunle Patrick (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) has caught at least one pass in 45 consecutive games, which leads the nation with Texas Tech's Wes Welker and Texas' Roy Williams. USC's Kareem Kelly set the NCAA Division I-A record last year, concluding his career with a 47-game streak.
Patrick caught a pass vs. Michigan, and ranks third and fourth, respectively, on NU's career receiving and yardage lists.
'Cats' "D" Turning in Some Top Efforts
For the first time since Northwestern's 1995 Big Ten championship season, the Wildcats have held two Big Ten opponents to seven points or less. NU limited Penn State to seven points and just 93 rushing yards in its 17-7 win on Nov. 8. On Oct. 25, with two of its top defensive players in the lineup for the first time this year-Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) and Louis Ayeni (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) -Northwestern defeated Wisconsin 16-7. The Wildcats held the Badgers to 135 rushing yards (3.6 ypc) and limited Wisconsin to just two plays of 20 or more yards-a 28-yard run by Anthony Davis and a 30-yard reception by Lee Evans.
Durr's Return Helps Spark Defense
Senior Pat Durr (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles), who tore every major ligament in his right knee in the 2002 season-opening game at Air Force, has come back to help lead NU's defensive revival. Durr has registered some solid play in the 2003 season, totaling 15 tackles at Ohio State on Sept. 27 before eclipsing that previous personal best with 22 tackles at Indiana (Oct. 11). After 11 games, Durr is first on the team's tackle chart with 119 hits and third in sacks with two. He now has 292 career tackles.
Injury Shelves Third Wideout
After losing Mark Philmore (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/ Reynoldsburg) and Ashton Aikens (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) to knee injuries, leading wideout Roger Jordan (League City, Texas/League City) suffered a bruised sternum at Purdue and is questionable for Illinois. The trio has a combined 68 catches for 775 yards. Jordan, who has sat out the last two games, is NU's leading receiver with 30 catches for 436 yards (14.5 ypr).
The Bubble Bursts
Entering its Nov. 1 game at Purdue, Northwestern was tied for the national lead in fumbles lost with two. In addition, it was the only Division I-A program without a lost fumble by its offensive backfield (quarterbacks/running backs). That claim quickly crumbled as the Wildcats suffered four lost fumbles at Purdue (three by Brett Basanez and a fourth by Jason Wright). NU, which had suffered just 10 turnovers in its first seven games, has 12 miscues (eight fumbles, four interceptions) in its last four games.
A Closer Look at the Ground Game
One trait of Randy Walker-coached football teams is rushing the football. (In 27 years of coaching, he has had a 1,000-yard rusher 22 times.) Conversely, Walker knows that to win on a consistent basis, his teams must stop the run as well.
Northwestern has improved both aspects of its game from a year ago, especially its run defense. Last year, the Wildcats surrendered 300-plus yards on the ground. That number has been sliced nearly in half this year.
Northwestern has allowed only three opponents, Indiana, Purdue and Michigan, to rush for more yards than its season averages. NU has held six of its 11 opponents to 147 rushing yards or less.
Offensively, NU is averaging 20-plus more yards per game on the ground while rushing against some of the country's top run defenses, including Ohio State's top-ranked run defense. NU's rushing total vs. Ohio State was more than the combined total of OSU's first four opponents (Washington, San Diego State, N.C. State, Bowling Green)-76 yards. NU rushed for 245 yards vs. Wisconsin-more than Wisconsin had allowed in its first four Big Ten games (Penn State, Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue) combined-244 yards. NU is 5-1 when rushing for 190 or more yards in a game.
What's Next? The "Forkball?"
NU coach Randy Walker went to his bag of trick plays and pulled out "Fastball"-Walker's version of the fumblerooski-in the Wisconsin win. The play was dubbed ESPN's college football "play of the day." With its field goal unit running the play, the ball is snapped to the holder, who appears to spin around to begin an option play, but instead, places the ball between the legs of another player who pretends to be a blocker. That player holds the ball for two to three seconds before taking off to his right around the right end. Against Penn State, Walker ran "Change-up," a variation of "Fastball." Instead of giving up the ball, the holder keeps it and runs around left end.
That's More Like It
Throughout his coaching career, Randy Walker has proven to be nearly unbeatable when his teams carry a lead into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats added to that impressive mark when they carried a 16-7 lead into the final frame vs. Wisconsin. In his 14 years as a head coach, Walker's teams have compiled a 65-3-1 record when leading at the end of the third quarter. At NU, he is 16-2.
Playing the Best
Several publications noted that NU's 2003 schedule would be one of the toughest in the country, and 11 games into the season, the facts support that claim. NU's first 11 opponents sport a 72-49 (.595) mark, making that the ninth-toughest schedule played to date. In the latest Anderson and Hester computer ranking (one of the computer rankings used in the BCS formula), NU's strength of schedule is ranked ninth nationally; the Sagarin rating ranks it the eighth-most difficult, the toughest in the Big Ten.
Northwestern's six losses have come to teams with a combined record of 52-14 (.788). Air Force, at 7-4, has the worst record of the six teams who have beaten Northwestern this year.
Ball Hogs
Besides its run defense, one of the major statistical improvements for Northwestern is time of possession. Running primarily out of a no-huddle offense last year, the Wildcats' average offensive time of possession was 25:46, which ranked last in the Big Ten by two-plus minutes. This year, operating out of a huddle offense much of the season, the Wildcats rank seventh in the Big Ten with a possession time of 30:26.
'Cats in the NFL
Northwestern has 10 former players competing in the NFL:
* Damien Anderson-Arizona Cardinals
* D'Wayne Bates-Minnesota Vikings
* Kevin Bentley-Cleveland Browns
* Javiar Collins-Dallas Cowboys
* Barry Gardner-Cleveland Browns
* Napoleon Harris-Oakland Raiders
* Austin King-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Matt O'Dwyer-Cincinnati Bengals
* Jeff Roehl-New York Giants
* Sam Simmons-Miami Dolphins
Baz on Three Top-10 Lists
Sophomore quarterback Brett Basanez needed just 13 games to move into the Wildcats' No. 10 spot on the school's career passing yardage list. Against Michigan, Basanez became the eighth NU player to eclipse the 4,000-yard mark. He now has 4,038 career yards. "Baz" is seventh on NU's all-time total offense list (4,331 yards) and seventh in career pass completions (342).
After suffering a broken fibula midway through the 2002 season, Basanez came back to play the final three games and lead all freshman quarterbacks nationally in passing yardage (220.4 ypg). He concluded his season with a career-best 368-yard effort vs. Illinois.
'Cat Tails
* With three roads win in 2003, NU has equaled its road victory total of 2000, when it won the Big Ten championship. NU has not won four road games in a season since 1996, when it went 9-3.
* With three receivers sidelined with injuries, redshirt freshman Shaun Herbert (Oxen Hill, Md./Bishop McNamara) is stepping up. He had seven catches for 63 yards vs. Penn State and two receptions for 33 yards against Michigan. He came into the Penn State game with one career catch.
* Helping pick up some of the slack left with the absence of Jason Wright vs. Purdue, sophomore Terrell Jordan ran for a career-high 87 yards on 16 carries (5.4 ypc) at Purdue. He shared the game's leading rusher honors with Purdue's Jerod Void, although Jordan had a better yards per carry average. His 87 yards were the second-most allowed by a Purdue defense this season. (Wisconsin's Anthony Davis rushed for 96 yards vs. Purdue).
* Led by Loren Howard, NU has three blocked kicks this year. Howard has two of those blocks-one on a field goal attempt and the other on a PAT attempt. Northwestern did not block any kicks in 2002, and just two in 2001.
* Northwestern's opponents have only returned 18 kickoffs (out of 42) this year (for a total of 283 yards and a 15.7 ypr average). That is the second best kickoff coverage mark in the Big Ten.