Northwestern University Athletics
Football Gets Ready for Ohio State
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
October 20, 1998
NORTHWESTERN (2-5, 0-4) vs. No. 1 Ohio State (6-0, 3-0)
Date/Time: Oct. 24, 1998/11:10 a.m. CT
Site/Capacity: Ryan Field/47,130
Television: ESPN2
Radio: WGN (720 AM)
The Wildcats lost a hard-fought, rain-soaked battle to defending National Champion Michigan last Saturday at Ryan Field, 12-6. With the loss, Northwestern dropped to 2-5 overall, 0-4 in Big Ten play.
Despite the driving rain storm, Brian Gowins was perfect in his place icking duties for the 'Cats. While both teams moved into scoring position in the early going, Gowins was the only kicker who made good on both of his attempts. He got NU on the board first with a 29-yard field goal and then put the Wildcats up, 6-0, when he booted a 40 yarder with 59 seconds left in the second quarter.
However, in the blink of an eye, Northwestern's lead evaporated on a three-play, 56-yard scoring drive that ended with Tai Streets' 30-yard TD grab. That score came with 35 seconds left in the half as NU's Harold Blackmon slipped in the mud while defending Streets.
The rain did not dampen the play of All-America candidate D'Wayne Bates. He caught eight passes for 112 yards and leads the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0) and receiving yards per game (99.43). The Biletnikoff candidate also played a series at quarterback in the beginning of the third quarter and returned punts.
All-America candidate Barry Gardner led the defense with 20 tackles (11 solo), followed by Blackmon's eight stops. Gardner, who also had one TFL versus Michigan, has now recorded double-figure tackles in 16 of his last 19 games and leads the Big Ten in tackles with 113.
The 'Cats take on the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday at Ryan Field. Game time is set for 11:10 a.m. The last time Northwestern played a No. 1 team was in 1985 when the Iowa Hawkeyes paid a visit to Evanston. Ohio State is currently 6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes are averaging 38.7 ppg and holding opponents to just 9.2 ppg. In addition, OSU is averaging more than 500 yards per game in total offense.
Ohio State SeriesSeries Record: OSU leads, 51-13-1
First Meeting: 1913, OSU won, 58-0
Last OSU Win at NU: 1994, 17-15
Last NU Win at NU: 1958, 21-0
Current Series Streak: OSU, 20 games
OSUs Largest Margin of Victory: 64 pts., 70-6 in 1981
NUs Largest Margin of Victory: 21 pts., 21-0 in 1958
Ticket Availability for Ohio State Game
As of Tuesday morning (October 20), some scattered single seats were available for purchase. Call the Wildcat ticket office at (847) 491-CATS for more information.
Kickoff time for Michigan State Game Announced
Following the Ohio State contest, the Wildcats travel to Michigan State on October 31. Kickoff for the game which will be televised nationally on ESPN2 is set for 11:10 a.m. CT.
Head Coach Gary Barnett
Gary Barnett is in his seventh season at the helm of the Northwestern Wildcats after overseeing one of the most masterful program turnarounds in college football history. Hired in 1992, he took a school which hadn't enjoyed a winning season in 20 years, and in just four years had it sitting on the top of the world as Big Ten champs. The following year, Barnett proved to the naysayers that 1995 wasn't a fluke by repeating as Big Ten champions. The 52-year-old native of Lakeland, Fla., has won every major "Coach of the Year" award, and has compiled a 34-41-1 record at Northwestern.
Prior to eight seasons as an assistant at the University of Colorado, Barnett served as the head coach for Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., for two years beginning in 1982.
Barnett graduated from the University of Missouri in 1969 with a degree in social studies, and later earned a master's degree in education from his alma mater. At Missouri, he played wide receiver and participated in the 1966 Sugar Bowl and the 1968 Gator Bowl while with the Tigers.
Facts and Firsts Following Michigan
Barry Gardner's 20 tackles on Saturday marked the 16th time in his last 19 games that he has recorded double-figures in stops.
Gardner upped his Big Ten-leading tackle total to 113.
Gardner became just the fourth player in NU history to record more than 400 tackles in a career. His 20-stop performance vs. the Wolverines upped his career tackle total to 406.
Bates has caught a pass in his last 28-consecutive games, extending his NU record.
Three of Bates' eight receptions went for first downs. This brings his career total to 113 of 176 (64.2).
Bates continues to lead the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0) and now is tops in receiving yards per game (99.43) as well.
Bates moved into the fifth spot in Big Ten history for career catches (176). He surpassed OSUs Cris Carter (168), Illinois' Jason Dulick (169), PSU's Bobby Engram and Minnesota's Tutu Atwell (172).
Bates now has 2,821 career receiving yards and moved up to the sixth spot in Big Ten history. He surpassed OSU's Cris Carter (2,725) and Minnesota's Gary Williams (2,792).
With his 112-yard receiving performance against Michigan, Bates now has 13 career 100-yard receiving games.
The Captains
As voted upon by their teammates and coaches, the captains for the 1998 Northwestern football team are wide receiver D'Wayne Bates, linebacker Barry Gardner, fullback Matt Hartl and offensive lineman Bryan LaBelle. All four are seniors.
Bates, who missed last season due to a broken leg suffered in the 'Cats victory over Oklahoma in the Pigskin Classic, led the Big Ten in receptions and reception yards in 1996 and was a Playboy All-American in 1997. Gardner is in his second duty as a captain, having served in the same capacity last year. The former walk-on led the Big Ten in total tackles in 1997 and was selected first-team All-Big Ten. Hartl, who was a major force in the Wildcats' drive to the Rose Bowl in 1995, will miss this season while undergoing chemotherapy to fight Hodgkin's Disease. This is his second bout with this form of cancer. LaBelle, a roommate of Hartl's, started in all 12 games last year at tight tackle.
First Time In Prime Time
A large number of Wildcats are seeing the field for the first time on offense and defense. A look by the numbers follows:
18 have logged playing time for the first time (12 Off., 6 Def.).
13 redshirt or true freshman have taken the field in 1998.
12 players have started for their first time this season.
7 offensive linemen are lining up for their first time.
5 redshirt or true freshman have earned starts, thus far.
Big Ten Tackle Leader
Two-time captain Barry Gardner finished 1997 first in the Big Ten in total tackles (174). He also led the conference in solo stops (112) and tackles per game (14.5). Gardner started the 1998 season off by leading the Wildcat defense to a smothering attack against UNLV. NU limited the Rebels to just 35 yards rushing and only eight first downs. Versus Duke, Gardner tallied 19 total tackles (15 solo stops) to lead NU. At Rice, the senior led all players with 20 tackles, 13 of which were solo efforts. In Madison, he again led both teams, tallying 14 total tackles (10 solo). Versus Illinois, Gardner again led the field, this time with 12 stops.
At Iowa, he was everywhere, racking up 22 tackles (14 solo), two TFLs and one interception. In the rain storm versus Michigan, Gardner again led all players, tallying 20 stops (11 solo). He has now produced double figure tackle games in 16 of the last 19 contests.
The 1997 GTE Second-Team Academic All-American currently has 406 career stops, good for fourth place on NU's career tackle list. William Bennett holds down the third spot with 418 tackles (1992-95).
The All-American candidate's tackle line in 1998: UNLV (6), Duke (19), Rice (20), Wisconsin (14), Illinois (12), Iowa (22) and Michigan (20).
An Oversight?
The Butkus Award committee released its list of 10 semifinalists last week, and the name of the Big Ten's tackle leader, Barry Gardner, was nowhere to be found. While Northwestern realizes it is a daunting task for any selection committee to whittle down a list from 68 to 10, it does wonder what the criteria is for becoming a semifinalist -- especially when you study the candidates' statistics. Below is a look at the three Big Ten selections' stat lines as compared with Gardners at the time of the Butkus semifinalist release (Oct. 15):
U A TT TFL SAK INT Arrington, PSU 13 10 23 7 3 2 Katzenmoyer, OSU 22 7 30 3 0 0 Short, PSU 23 9 32 8 5 0 Gardner, NU 61 32 93 4 0 1
Big Ten's Top Receiver
All-Big Ten receiver D'Wayne Bates returned to the Wildcat lineup in dramatic fashion after missing most of 1997 with a broken leg. Against UNLV, he caught nine passes for 156 yards and scored two touchdowns. In the process, he became the first Wildcat to record 11 games of 100 or more yards in receiving. He added to that record by going over the 100-yard mark at Iowa (127) and versus Michigan (112). The Big Ten Conference tabbed him the Offensive Player of the Week for his play against UNLV. Also this season, he became NU's all-time career receiving yards leader when he caught seven passes for 96 yards at Wisconsin. He currently leads the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0) and receiving yards per game (99.43 ypg). Below are a list of some of Bates' accomplishments as a Wildcat.
Bates has made at least one reception in his last 28-straight contests (an NU record) and 31 of 32 in his NU career.
Bates has made at least four receptions in 20 of his last 24 games.
113 of his career 176 catches have been for first downs (64%).
Bates now has 176 catches in his NU career. This tally ranks second-best in NU history. The career record of 197 is held by Richard Buchanan (1988-90).
Bates is in first place on the all-time NU receiving list with 2,821 yards.
Bates set the NU single-season receiving mark in 1996 with 1,196 yards.
Although Bates has an NU record 13 career 100-yard receiving games, he also has recorded six other games where he has recorded between 90-99 yards receiving.
Bates ranks fifth in Big Ten history in career catches (176) and is just six receptions away from the third spot.
Bates' 2,802 career receiving yards ranks sixth in Big Ten history.
Gowins Kicks His Way Into Record Book
Brian Gowins, who led the Big Ten in field goals made last year (20), is methodically kicking his way to the top of a lot of the charts in the NU record book. Below are the records the first-team All-Big Ten performer holds or is close to breaking:
Career scoring: 234 points, first place.
Most points scored by a kicker: 234 points, first place.
Career field goals made: 51, first place
Career field goals attempted: 74, first place
Most field goals in a season: 20, first place.
Most consecutive games making a field goal: nine-consecutive games in 1997, first place.
Two or more field goals in a game: nine (season), 19 (career), first place.
Most field goals 40-yards or more: 18, first place.
Longest field goal: 52 yards, second on NU list, two yards shy of Nick Mirkopulos' 54 yarder in 1975
Biletnikoff Award
D'Wayne Bates has been named to the initial "Watch List" for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the nation's best college football receiver. A selection committee will pare down the list to 10 semifinalists in late October. This is the second year that Bates has been named to the Biletnikoff watch list.
Thorpe Award
Mike Nelson is one of 44 prospects for the 1998 Jim Thorpe Award given annually to the nation's best defensive back in college football. Three finalists will be invited to ESPN's College Football Awards Show, broadcast December 10 from Disney World.
Best Conditioned Athletes
Strength coach Larry Lilja is legendary at NU for the grueling workouts that he puts the Wildcats through. His top five conditioned players with their bench and 40-yard dash statistics are:
1) LB Barry Gardner: Bench (435), 40 Yard Dash (4.68)
2) DL Jeff Dyra: Bench (425), 40 Yard Dash (4.88)
3) FB Sean Bennett: Bench (375), 40 Yard Dash (4.51)
4) TE John Cerasani: Bench (404), 40 Yard Dash (4.97)
5) FS Rashad Morton: Bench (335), 40 Yard Dash (4.54)
Youth Movement
True freshmen who have played this season are Kevin Bentley, a linebacker from Van Nuys, Calif., Blake Henry, an offensive tackle from Towson, Md., Wayne Lucier, a tight end/offensive tackle from Salem, N.H., Billy Silva, a linebacker from San Diego, Calif., Sam Simmons, a wide receiver from Kansas City, Mo. and Rashidi Wheeler, a defensive back from Ontario, Calif.
Other players who might see action this season are: Pete Chapman, defensive line, Aurora, Colo., and Raheem Covington, defensive back, Pine Hill, N.J.
A Star Is Born
True freshman Sam Simmons is the brightest star of the 1998 recruiting class, thus far. Simmons, who is ranked third in the nation in kickoff returns, has turned quite a few heads in the 'Cats first seven games. Of the 13 offensive plays he has held the ball this season (eight rushes, five receptions), eight have gone for first downs, including all five receptions. In addition, Simmons made a remarkable 46-yard TD grab at Wisconsin and had a 67-yard kick return at Rice. Below is a look at the wide receiver's statistics:
Kick Returns: 12 for 415 yards, 34.6 average, long of 67
Receiving: five for 132 yards, 26.4 average, one TD, long of 46
Rushing: eight for 39 yards, 4.9 average, long of 11
Wildcats On The Tube
Since 1995, 39 of NU's 43 contests have been televised. In 1997, 11 of NU's games were selected for broadcast: Thus far this season, the Duke (ESPN Regional), Wisconsin (ESPN Regional), Illinois (ESPN Regional), Iowa (ESPN2) Michigan (ESPN), Ohio State (ESPN2) and Michigan State (ESPN2) games have been selected for broadcast. The UNLV (Las Vegas T.V. 33) game was televised in its market only, while the Rice contest was not televised.
Since NU football was first televised on October 27, 1951, when the 'Cats entertained the Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern, the Wildcats have been featured on 89 occasions.
Award Winners
Below is a list award winners, thus far, for the 1998 season:
D'Wayne Bates, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week -- 9/7
Brian Gowins, Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week -- 9/21
Nationally Ranked
The following Wildcats were ranked among the national leaders (Big Ten ranking in parenthesis) in the following categories:
Kickoff Return: Sam Simmons, 34.58 ypr -- 3rd (1st)
Pass Receptions: D'Wayne Bates, 7.00 cpg -- 12th (1st)
Receiving Yards: D'Wayne Bates, 99.43 ypg -- 20th (1st)
Punting: J.J. Standring, 42.28 avg. -- 30th (3rd)
Field Goals: Brian Gowins, 1.43 fgpg -- (t) 20th (2nd)
As a team the Wildcats were ranked in the top 25 in the following categories:
Kickoff Returns: 26.1 avg. -- 6th
Total Defense: 319.6 ypg -- 33rd
Scoring Defense: 22.0 avg. -- 41st
Net Punting: 36.9 net avg. -- 44th
The Champions
After the Michigan contest, the NU coaching staff named the following players as plaque winners of the weekly "Champion Club." O-Line: none; O-Back: D'Wayne Bates; D-Line: Jeff Dyra; D-Back: none; Kick: Brian Gowins; Rookie: Kevin Lawrence; Scout: Jeff Baer.
The Gary Barnett Show
Look for The Gary Barnett Show Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Chicago. The show will be repeated at 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 and 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 22. Dave Eanet, the voice of Wildcat Football on WGN Radio, serves as the host.
A new feature this year is "Ask the Coach." Fans can send in their questions to Coach Barnett at nusports.com and if their question is read on the show, they'll receive an Northwestern football cap courtesy of adidas and NU.
Lost In (Cyber) Space
Head coach Gary Barnett will take part in a live chat session each Wednesday from 7 to 7:15 p.m. during the football season. Fans can log on at nusports.com and go to the football page. The feature, which began on Wednesday, Sept. 9, was the most highly attended chat session that fansonly.com (nusports.com's web server) has ever had. Barnett was also the featured guest on America On-Line's Athlete Direct Prime last month.
