Oct. 10, 2005
NU-Purdue Football Game Notes
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The Game
After racking up a school-record 674 yards in its 51-48 victory over previously unbeaten Wisconsin, Northwestern now turns its attention to a six-game stretch that includes four road contests. The Wildcats start their road ventures Saturday (Oct. 15) with a noon kickoff at Purdue's Ross-Ade Stadium. The game is being televised by ESPN2.
The Northwestern and Purdue offenses will be in the spotlight this Saturday. NU ranks sixth nationally in total offense (513.8 ypg), while Purdue ranks 19th (448.4 ypg). The Wildcats are averaging 280.4 yards passing and 233.4 yards rushing. The Boilermakers average 271.2 passing and 177.2 rushing. Northwestern is lighting up the scoreboard with 35.4 points per game (21st nationally), while Purdue counters at 32.0 ppg (30th nationally).
In Saturday's record-setting day against the Badgers, Northwestern totaled 361 yards passing and 313 yards rushing--just the second time in NU history that the 'Cats bettered 300-plus yards on the ground and in the air. (NU also did it against Michigan in 2000.) Senior quarterback Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator), who earned his third career Big Ten Player of the Week honor on Monday, is savoring his best season to date, averaging 319.0 yards of total offense, completing nearly 66 percent of his passes and producing a touchdown/interception ratio of 7-to-1. He has hit 14 different receivers through five games, with junior Shaun Herbert (Oxen Hill, Md./Bishop McNamara) serving as his favorite target (33 receptions, 339 yards, 4 TD's). Freshman tailback Tyrell Sutton (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) is leading the running attack with 772 yards in five games (154.4 ypg).
The Wildcat defense, led by senior linebacker Tim McGarigle (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick), this week's Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week, must contend with Purdue quarterback Brandon Kirsch, who ranks 19th nationally in total offense (283.3 ypg); wide receiver Dorien Bryant, who leads the Big Ten in receptions (8.4 pg) and ranks second in receiving yards (103.0 ypg); and the rushing tandem of Jerod Void (64.3 ypg) and Kory Sheets (63.2 ypg).
Purdue returned 20 starters (all 11 defensive starters) from last year's 7-5 team that played in the Sun Bowl.
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) will carry the game live with its pregame show starting at 11:30 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 -- ESPN2 is televising the game to a national audience. Pam Ward (play-by-play), David Norrie (analyst) and Jimmy Dykes (sideline) call the action.
(For a complete set of notes, download the PDF above.)