Dec. 5, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Senior running back Noah Herron (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan), and junior linebacker Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./Saint Patrick) were tabbed the Wildcats' 2004 Most Valuable Players at Sunday's Northwestern Gridiron Network Football Banquet. The event was held in front of a capacity crowd at The Hotel Orrington in Evanston.
Finishing the year with the fifth-best rushing performance in school history, Herron earned consensus second-team All-Big Ten honors and was named the Chicago Tribune's Big Ten Back of the Year. He ranked 14th nationally in rushing average (115.1 ypg) and 23rd nationally in all-purpose yardage (144.3 ypg).
Herron, who was the Wildcats' third-leading receiver with 36 catches, averaged 5.5 yards per carry for his career, the best yards per carry average by a top-10 NU rusher. He also scored a touchdown in 10 games this year, which equaled a school record.
Herron scored four game-winning touchdowns--all against Big Ten foes--and finished his career with 2,524 rushing yards, 781 receiving yards and 3,536 all-purpose yards--the fifth-best mark in school history.
On the defensive side of the ball, McGarigle became NU's first player since 2000 to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors, earning first-team laurels from the media. He earned second-team honors from the coaches.
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, McGarigle led the country in solo tackles and ranked third in total hits. He led the Big Ten in both categories and finished with 151 total tackles. His 21-tackle effort against Purdue earned him national defensive player of the week honors and landed him a spot on the Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
With one year to play, McGarigle ranks sixth on NU's all-time tackle list with 389 hits. He is on pace to become NU's all-time leader in that category.
Sophomore Nick Roach (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran) was named the recipient of the NGN Defensive Newcomer of the Year award. At linebacker, Roach finished 25th in the Big Ten and fourth on the team in tackles per game with nearly seven per outing. He was a team co-leader in sacks with five, and was second on the team with 7.5 TFL's. His top career performance came against Illinois when he notched a career-high 15 tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. He also had nine tackles, three TFL's, a pass breakup and a hurry vs. Kansas.
Other awards that were handed out included: the Rashidi Wheeler Award (given to a player that best represents the spirit and enthusiasm of Wheeler): senior wide receiver Ashton Aikens (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day), the George W. Ballantine Award (given for enthusiasm and leadership): junior quarterback Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator); the Thomas Airth Spirit Award: senior defensive back Dominique Price (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual); the Carnig Minasian Citizenship Award: senior defensive back Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt); the Wildcat Warrior Awards (for work ethic, toughness and attitude of a warrior): senior defensive lineman Luis Castillo (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) and junior offensive lineman Zach Strief (Milford, Ohio/Milford), and the Marcel Price Award (given to a player who best exemplifies the enthusiasm and dedication to the Wildcat program and is symbolic of Price's desire): junior wide receiver Mark Philmore (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg).
Senior defensive lineman Colby Clark (Austin, Texas/Westlake) was honored with a special Achievement Award. Colby was the Wildcats' "Ironman," never missing a game or a practice due to injury. He closed his career by starting an NU-record 47 games, and finishing with 230 tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss.
Co-captains Luis Castillo, Noah Herron, John Pickens (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) and Matt Ulrich (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood) also were recognized and honored.
Northwestern finished the season with a 6-6 record and 5-3 mark (fourth place) in the Big Ten. NU's five conference wins are the most since 2000, when NU won a share of the BigTen title.