Nov. 12, 2007
NU Football Game Notes (vs. Illinois) 
Watch NU's weekly press conference on NUSports.com All-Access.
Free Press Conference Video
Coach Fitzgerald's opening statement.
Fitzgerald talk about Illinois.
Fitzgerald discuss the final regular season game for the seniors.
Fitzgerald talk about the Big Ten having 10 bowl-eligible teams.
Fitzgerald discuss his four ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selections.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wraps up the 2007 regular season this Saturday, Nov. 17, with an 11 a.m. contest at instate rival Illinois. ESPN is televising the game -- the 101st meeting between the two schools -- to a national audience. Since 1945, NU and Illinois have been playing for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy.
Northwestern defeated Indiana 31-28 in its home finale on Saturday to become bowl-eligible for the fourth time since 2000. The Wildcats are one of 10 Big Ten schools who have won six or more games this season. With just seven Big Ten bowl tie-ins, another victory is likely needed to enhance the Wildcats' postseason chances.
Illinois registered one of the most impressive wins of the 2007 college football season on Saturday, upending top-ranked Ohio State 28-21 in Columbus. That victory pushed the Illinois (8-3) winning streak to three games and assured the Illini of finishing no worse than third in the Big Ten, their best finish since winning the league title in 2001.
Leading Illinois' ground-oriented offensive attack is quarterback "Juice" Williams and running back Rashard Mendenhall. Williams is a true dual-threat quarterback, having run for 638 yards (5.0 ypc) and thrown for 1,278 yards (116.2 ypg, 12 TD's). Williams is coming off a career-best passing day, having thrown a personal-best 4 TD passes (12-of-22 for 140 yards) in Illinois' win over Ohio State. For his efforts, he was named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week. Mendenhall became Illinois' single-season rushing leader against Ohio State and has 1,402 yards for the season (127.5 pg). He ranks eighth nationally in rushing yardage. Mendenhall has scored a team-best 14 TD's in 2007.
The Illini's favorite receiver is true freshman Arrelious Benn, who has caught 47 passes for 580 yards. Mendenhall is Illinois' second-leading receiver with 26 receptions and a pair of TD's.
Linebacker J Leman is the heart-and-soul of an Illinois defense that ranks 24th nationally in run defense (118.6 ypg) and 21st in scoring defense (19.3 ppg). Leman averages 10.4 tackles per game and is a candidate for numerous postseason awards. He ranks second on the team with 9.5 TFL's. Vontae Davis and K. Mitchell each have 4 interceptions. Will Davis leads Illinois with 11.5 TFL's (8.5 sacks).
Saturday's matchup showcases the Big Ten's number-one passing offense (Northwestern) and the number-one rushing offense (Illinois).
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) is carrying the game live. The radio broadcast also can be heard via the internet at wgnradio.com. The broadcast 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 196-199).
Television -- ESPN is televising the game to a national audience. Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Erin Andrews (sideline) call the action.