Oct. 3, 2005
NU-Wisconsin FB Game Notes
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- With an extra week to ponder the "what-ifs" from its 34-29 loss to Penn State, Northwestern anxiously awaits its next test against the unbeaten Wisconsin Badgers. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. this Saturday at Ryan Field. The game is being televised by ESPN.
In its last outing on Sept. 24, Northwestern suffered its first home loss in eight games when the Nittany Lions came from behind to beat the Wildcats with 51 seconds remaining. Northwestern now must ready itself for the Badgers, who are off to a 5-0 start this season. Wisconsin began the Big Ten season at home by upending defending co-champ Michigan 23-20 before dispatching Indiana 41-24 last Saturday. This will be just the Badgers' second road test of the year. In its only other away game, Wisconsin defeated North Carolina, 14-5.
Northwestern's offense, which is averaging 473.8 yards per game, is facing another top-ranked defense this week. In the latest Big Ten statistics, the Badgers rank fourth in total defense (336.8 ypg) and second in rushing defense (77.4 ypg). The Wildcats, behind the passing of Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) and running of Tyrell Sutton (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban), are averaging 260.3 yards in the air and 213.5 yards on the ground.
The Wildcats' primary defensive challenge will be stopping Wisconsin running Brian Calhoun and wide receiver/returner Brandon Williams. In his first season with the Badgers, Calhoun is the Big Ten's second-leading rusher with a 145.4 average. The Colorado transfer is a co-leader in Big Ten scoring (12.0 ppg) with Sutton. Over half of the Badger offense has been generated via the ground -- 212.0 of 392.8 total yards. Williams, named this week's Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, leads the league in kickoff returns (35.2 ypr), has two punt returns for TD's and leads the Badgers in receiving.
Northwestern is honoring its 1995 Rose Bowl team this weekend. The Big Ten champions will be honored at a dinner Friday evening (at the Hotel Orrington) and then feted at halftime of Saturday's game. The Wildcats went unbeaten in Big Ten play (8-0) that season and earned the school's first Rose Bowl berth since 1949. Following their halftime introduction, members of the team will be available at the LaSalle Bank Touchdown Terrace to sign autographs and mingle with fans.
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) will carry the game live with its pregame show starting at 10:30 a.m. The radio broadcast can also be heard via the internet at wgnradio.com. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student radio station, also will carry the game live. The contest is also available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Big Ten channels are 196 to 199).
Television -- ESPN, ESPN2 or another ESPN outlet will televise the game to a national audience. Pam Ward (play-by-play), David Norrie (analyst) and Jimmy Dykes (sideline) call the action.