Oct. 9, 2006
NU Football Game Notes (vs. Purdue)
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The Game
After enduring a challenging three-game road stretch that saw the Wildcats come up short in the win column, Northwestern returns to Ryan Field this week to play four of its final six games on its home turf. The good news for the Wildcats is they have posted a 10-3 mark in their last 13 home contests.
Purdue is this week's Big Ten opponent. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m., with the game being televised across the Big Ten syndicated network by ESPN Plus.
The Boilermakers, who are playing their third straight road game this week, opened the year with four victories -- all of them at home. Purdue began the Big Ten season with a 27-21 victory over Minnesota before dropping games to a pair of top-20 teams: Notre Dame (35-21) and Iowa (47-14) in the last two weeks.
Purdue is led by its high-powered offense, a unit that is averaging 465.3 yards (307.0 passing yards per game) and 33.5 points per outing. Purdue ranks sixth nationally in total offense, fifth nationally in passing yards and 15th nationally in scoring. All three of those marks lead the Big Ten.
Quarterback Curtis Painter has stepped in at quarterback and rejuvenated Purdue's offense this year. He ranks fourth nationally in total offense (309.2 ypg) and leads the Big Ten in that category. He also leads the conference and ranks fifth nationally in passing yards per game (297.8 pg). Painter has thrown 11 touchdown passes this season, while completing 127 of 220 pass attempts.
Wide receiver Dorien Bryant, a second-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago, leads Purdue's deep wide receiving corps, with 36 receptions (13.6 ypr) and three TD's. Bryant ranks 22nd nationally in receptions per game and 24th in receiving yards per game. He is one of seven different Purdue players with a touchdown reception in 2006.
Purdue's running game is solid, too, averaging 158.3 yards per game. Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor have carried most of the rushing load, combining for 752 yards and 11 TD's. Sheets, who also has 15 receptions and 2 receiving TD's, has nine rushing TD's while averaging 73.5 yards on the ground.
Purdue's defense, which is allowing 439.3 yards and 32.8 points per game, is led by defensive end Anthony Spencer, who ranks sixth nationally with 6.5 sacks and second nationally with 14.5 TFL's. He has 50 tackles overall and three forced fumbles. Linebacker Dan Bick leads the team with 52 tackles.
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN will carry the game live on 720 AM. The broadcast also can be heard live via the internet at wgnradio.com. The pregame show begins at 10:30 a.m. 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. (Channels 197-199).
Television -- ESPN Plus is televising the game to the entire Big Ten syndicated network (visit ESPN Plus for a complete listing of clearances). Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Kelly Stouffer (analyst) call the action.
(For a complete set of game notes, download the PDF above.)