Career: Walk-on who earned a scholarship for his final season ... Primarily played special teams and on NU's scout teams.
2009: Played in three games ... earned a scholarship just prior to the start of the season.
2008: Notched his first career tackle against Southern Illinois ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Named team's defensive practice player of the week vs. Duke.
2007: Did not see action.
2006: Did not see action ... Named team's defensive practice player of the week twice (vs. New Hampshire and Illinois).
High School: Two-time Associated Press all-state, all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, all-metro and all-Johnson county selection ... Led Trojans in rushing, receptions, interceptions, touchdowns, scoring and passes defended ... Team captain and team MVP during senior season ... Intercepted a pass on the last play of game to defeat state champions Warren Central, 50-49 ... 11-time academic all-conference recipient and three-year honor roll member ... Four-year letterwinner at Center Grove ... Coached by Eric Moore.
Personal: Born James Timothy Nussbaum ... Son of Brenda and Tim Nussbaum ... Father played football and ran track at Wheaton College ... Economics major and business institutions minor.
The Nussbaum File
Q: Name five favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: Would You Go with Me -- Josh Turner, Go Cubs Go -- Steve Goodman, You Raise Me Up -- Josh Groban, The Way You Look Tonight -- Steve Tyrell, Fly Me to the Moon -- Frank Sinatra
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be?
A: My Grandpa Nussbaum
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: Have faith in God and everything else will take care of itself
Q: A song that best describes you?
A: Walk by Faith -- Jeremy Camp
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: I enjoy musicals
Q: My favorite place to visit is:
A: Wrigley Field
Q: My favorite thing about NU is:
A: The guys on the team
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: The guys on the team
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Intense
Q: Describe your position coach in five words or less:
A: Experienced, Wise
Q: Most humbling experience:
A: Playing Big Ten football
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
A: I was athlete of the year at my high school
Q: The best book I have ever read is:
A: It sounds cliché but the Bible; other than that I really like anything by CS Lewis
Q: The person that inspires me the most is:
A: My father
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: Walter Payton
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Just relaxing, I don't get into any superstitious stuff, I just relax and try to prepare mentally
Q: If you could have a starring role in any film already made, which movie would you pick?
A: Ocean's 11 (the old one) -- It would be awesome to hang out with the Rat Pack
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Steak
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: Singing the fight song to the fans after a win
Q: Best thing about Northwestern is:
A: The community and the people involved
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be:
A: Taking an interception to the house to win the national championship
Q: My favorite television show is:
A: Seinfeld
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: At a different college, probably Wheaton, it's a great Christian school my dad attended
Q: The three words that best describe me:
A: Passionate, authentic, consistent
Nussbaum's Career Stats
TACKLES G UA A Total TFL-Yds PD FF FR Blkd2008................ 1 0 1 1 0.0-0 0 0 0 02009................ 3 0 0 0 0.0-0 0 0 0 0TOTAL............... 4 0 1 1 0.0-0 0 0 0 0