Northwestern University Athletics
Weekly Football Release
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
October 5, 1998
NORTHWESTERN (2-3, 0-2)
at Iowa (2-3, 1-1)
Date/Time: Oct. 10, 1998/11:10 a.m. CT Site/Capacity: Kinnick Stadium/70,397 Television: ESPN2 Radio: WGN (720 AM)
The Northwestern Wildcats suffered a 13-10 setback last week to the University of Illinois. The 'Cats are now 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. Once again, NU outgained and had more firstdowns than its opponent, but was unable to sustain drives.
The Wildcat defense was dominate in the early going and did not allow the Illini a first down on their first six possessions. Meanwhile, the 'Cat offense let several golden opportunities to score slip away. Gavin Hoffman threw two interceptions deep in Illini territory and Brian Gowins missed a 36-yard field goal on another drive. Still, NU led 3-0 before UI mounted a four-play 79-yard drive in 50 seconds to go up 7-3 as the half ended.
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first. The 'Cat defense would limit the Illini attack, the offense would mount a drive only to have it stall. Hoffman, however, righted himself, finishing the game 15-of-18 after starting 5-of-11. He also led the 'Cats on a nine-play 98-yard drive late in the game to draw NU to within three points. In that possession, Hoffman was eight-of-nine, capping it with a five-yard strike to John Burden.
All-America candidate D'Wayne Bates caught nine passes for 83 yards. The Biletnikoff candidate has now caught at least one pass in 26-consecutive starts, placing him first in the Wildcat record book.
Butkus Award candidate Barry Gardner led the defense with 12 tackles (seven solo), followed by Thorpe Award candidate Mike Nelson and Preston Letts who had 10 stops each. Gardner has now recorded double-figure tackles in 14 of his last 17 games and leads the Big Ten in tackles with 71.
The 'Cats will try to make it four straight over Iowa this Saturday when they travel to Iowa City. The Hawkeyes are currently 2-3 with wins over Central Michigan (38-0) and Illinois (37-14). Their losses have been to Iowa State (27-9), Arizona (35-11) and Michigan (12-9).
Iowa Series
Series Record: UI leads, 41-17-3
First Meeting: 1897, UI won, 12-6
Last UI Win at UI: 1994, 49-13
Last NU Win at UI: 1996, 40-13
Current Series Streak: NU, 3 games
UI's Largest Margin of Victory: 72 pts., 78-6 in 1913
NU's Largest Margin of Victory: 38 pts., 44-6 in 1932
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 34-39-1 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 Illinois
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.
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). This year, he is off to a great start, leading the Wildcat defense to a smothering attack against UNLV. NU limited the Rebels to just 35 yards rushing and only eight first downs. The 'Cats also only allowed UNLV to convert two of its 13 third-down conversion attempts. 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. He has now produced double figure tackle games in 14 of the last 17 contests.
The 1997 GTE Second-Team Academic All-American's 174 tackles was the fourth-best season total in NU history. Gardner currently has 364 career stops, good for fourth place on NU's career tackle list. William Bennett holds down the third spot with 418 tackles (1992-95).
Gardner's 71 tackles this year leads the Big Ten. The Butkus Award candidate's tackle line in 1998: UNLV (6), Duke (19), Rice (20), Wisconsin (14) and Illinois (12).
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)
D'Wayne Bates
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 10 games of 100 or more yards in receiving. Also this season, he became NU's all-time career receiving yards leader when he caught seven passes for 96 yards at Wisconsin. The Big Ten Conference tabbed him the Offensive Player of the Week for his play against UNLV. He currently leads the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.0). Below are a list of some of Bates' accomplishments as a Wildcat.
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:
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 semifinalist in last 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.
Butkus Award
Barry Gardner is one of 68 players on the Butkus Award's initial watch list. The Butkus Award is given annually to the nation's best collegiate linebacker. The list will be trimmed to 10 finalists on October 15 and three finalists will be announced via a national teleconference on November 12. The winner will be announced on December 11 at the Butkus Award Gala in Orlando.
Youth Movement
Traditionally, college freshmen arrive at school and are immediately given a red shirt to wear around for the whole year. Not really a "red shirt", but a redshirt year to get bigger, stronger and smarter in their new surroundings. Coach Barnett and his staff are not subscribing to the conventional wisdom this season. As many as 10 freshmen could see playing time in 1998.
True freshmen who have played this season are Kevin Bentley, a linebacker from Van Nuys, Calif., Blake Henry, a offensive tackle from Towson, Md., Wayne Lucier, a tight end/offensive tackle from Salem, N.H., and Sam Simmons, a wide receiver from Kansas City, Mo. Against Duke, Barnett utilized two more freshmen Billy Silva and Rashidi Wheeler. Silva played on special teams while Wheeler saw three plays in the defensive backfield.
Other players who might see action this season are:
Pete Chapman, defensive line, Aurora, Colo.
Raheem Covington, defensive back, Pine Hill, N.J.
Chris Jones, linebacker, Garland, Texas
A Star Is Born
True freshman Sam Simmons is the brightest star of the 1998 recruiting class, thus far. Simmons, who is ranked fourth in the nation in kick-off returns, has turned quite a few heads in the 'Cats first five games. Of the 12 offensive plays he has held the ball this season (seven 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 receivers statistics:
Kick Returns: nine for 311 yards, 34.6 average, long of 67
Receiving: five for 132 yards, 26.4 average, one TD, long of 46
Rushing: seven for 35 yards, 7.0 average, long of 11
Wildcats On The Tube
Since 1995, 37 of NU's 40 contests have been televised. In 1997, 11 of NU's games were selected for broadcast: This season the Duke (ESPN Regional), Wisconsin (ESPN Regional), Illinois (ESPN Regional), Iowa (ESPN2) and Michigan games (ESPN) have already 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 86 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 in the following categories:
Kickoff Return: Sam Simmons, 34.56 ypr -- 4th
Pass Receptions: D'Wayne Bates, 7.00 cpg -- (12th
Receiving Yards: D'Wayne Bates, 91.40 ypg -- 30th
Punting: J.J. Standring, 42.23 avg. -- 31st
Field Goals: Brian Gowins, 1.4 fgpg -- (t) 18th
As a team the Wildcats were ranked in the top 25 in the following categories:
Kickoff Returns: 26.4 avg. -- 11th
Total Defense: 321.0 ypg -- 32nd
Pass Efficiency Defense: 52.25 comp. pct. -- 43rd
Scoring Defense: 23.2 avg. -- 49th
The Champions
After the Iowa 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: Conrad Emmerich; D-Back: Mike Nelson, Jr.; Kick: J.J. Standring; Rookie: Billy Silva; Scout: Jason Brown.
The Gary Barnett Show
Look for The Gary Barnett Show Tuesday,Oct. 6, at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Chicago. The show will be repeated at 1 a.m. on Oct. 7 and 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 8. 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.
Up Next
Following the Iowa contest, the Wildcats come back home to take on defending National Champion Michigan. Game time for the ESPN broadcast is set for 6 p.m.
