Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcat Football Team Gears Up For Miami
8/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 30, 1999
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (0-0) vs Miami (Ohio) University (0-0)
Date/Time: Sept. 4, 1999/11:30 a.m. Site/Capacity: Ryan Field/47,130 Television: None Radio: WGN (720 AM)
The Northwestern Wildcats open the Randy Walker Era this Saturday, Sept. 4 at Ryan Field when they take on the RedHawks of Miami University. The game pits Walker against his alma mater and the team he had coached the previous nine seasons.
HEAD COACH RANDY WALKER
Randy Walker took over the reins of the Northwestern football program on January 20, 1999 with an impressive coaching resume. The 44-year-old Walker, who had coached Miami University for nine seasons, departed Oxford as the winningest head coach in school history. His mark of 59-35-5 (.621) is even more impressive when you consider the coaching greats which Miami had produced: Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler... and the list goes on. Walker graduated from Miami in 1976 with a B.A. in social studies education and earned a master?s degree in educational administration from his alma mater in 1981. He stared for MU as a fullback, leading them to three-straight Tangerine Bowl victories. Upon graduation, Walker was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, but returned to Miami to help as a graduate assistant and the next year became a full-time assistant in charge of running backs under Dick Crum. When Coach Crum departed for North Carolina, Walker joined him and spent the next 10 seasons as a Tar Heel. He coached various positions, ending up as the offensive coordinator. From there, he spent two seasons as Northwestern?s running backs coach (1988-89) and in 1990 took over as the head coach at Miami.
THE NU-MIAMI SERIES
Series Record: MU leads, 4-1 First Meeting: 1955, MU won 25-14 Last MU win at NU: 1995, 30-28 Last NU win at NU: 1963, 37-6 Current Series Streak: MU, 3 games NU?s Largest Victory Margin: 31 pts., 37-6 in 1963 MU?s Largest Victory Margin: 14 pts., 27-13 in 1982
PRACTICE SCHEDULE CHANGE
For the next three weeks, start times for Tuesday?s and Wednesday?s practices have been changed to 11 a.m. Members of the media can still interview coaches and players on the fields upon the conclusion of practice. As a reminder, practices are closed to the public.
CHICAGO CONNECTION
Northwestern?s two-deep for the opening game of the Randy Walker Era is loaded with players from the Chicagoland area. On offense: Tight end John Cerasani (Schaumburg/Schaumburg), wide receiver Teddy Johnson (Elgin/Larkin), wide receiver Jon Schweighardt (Wheaton/Wheaton-Warrenville), fullback Mike Sherry (Griffith, Ind./Griffith), wide receiver Derrick Thompson (Harvey/Thornton Township) and offensive lineman Jon Walters (Naperville/Central). On defense: D-Back Harold Blackmon (Chicago/Leo), linebacker Pat Durr (St. Charles/St. Charles), defensive tackle Jeff Dyra (Chicago/St. Patrick), and defensive end Pete Konopka (Marengo/Marion). On special teams: Long snapper Jack Harnedy (Chicago/Mt. Carmel) and punter J.J. Standring (Chicago/St. Rita).
YOUTH MOVEMENT
True freshmen who have made their way onto the two-deep during Camp Kenosha are: Louis Ayeni, a running back from Woodbury, Minn., Austin King, a center from Cincinnati, Ohio, Derek Martinez, an offensive lineman from San Jose, Calif., and Jon Schweighardt, a wide receiver from Wheaton, Ill. Also having impressive camps were: Chris Brown, a running back from Naperville, Ill., Vince Cartaya, a linebacker from Miami, Fla., and Pat Durr, a linebacker from St. Charles, Ill.
OPENING DAY RECORD
Northwestern has a 66-39-5 (.623) record in season openers.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
According to Sports Illustrated, Northwestern has the 15th toughest schedule in Division I-A in 1999. The Wildcats play three teams currently ranked in the top 15 (Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin), four which won bowl games last season (Michigan, Purdue, TCU and Wisconsin), and Miami which went 10-1 in 1998 and returns almost intact, including the nation?s top returning rusher, Travis Prentice.
BIG'UNS
For the sixth-straight year, Northwestern boasts a roster with several players over 300 pounds. Offensive linemen and their weight are as follows: Lance Clelland (302), Joe Collins (305), Adam Fay (300) and Brian Hemmerle (300). Left tackle Javiar Collins (300) is the lone defensive player at 300 pounds or higher.
SAM SIMMONS
Last year as a true freshman, Sam Simmons made the biggest impact of the 1998 recruiting class. Simmons led the Big Ten and ranked eighth in the nation in kickoff returns (22 for 607 yards, 27.6 ypr). In addition, Simmons made a remarkable 46-yard TD grab at Wisconsin, showed great moves in a 20-yard TD run at Penn State and had a 67-yard kick return at Rice. This season, he will stay put at the wide receiver position, but will add punt returns to his kickoff return duties.
BEST CONDITIONED ATHLETES
Strength and conditioning are two of topics that Coach Walker preaches the most. His top five best conditioned players are linebacker Kevin Bentley, defensive tackle Jeff Dyra, tight end Jay Tant and linebackers Salem Simon and Conrad Emmerich. The results were based on bench, squat, clean, 40-yard dash, pro shuttle, 300-yard shuttle and vertical leap.
ON THE TV IN 1999
Since 1995, 44 of NU's 48 contests have been televised. In 1998, all 12 of NU?s games were shown on television. Thus far, this season, the TCU (ESPN Regional), Duke (Jefferson Pilot) and Iowa (ESPN Regional) games have been selected for broadcast. Other games will be selected for broadcast 10 to 12 days prior to the contest. 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 94 occasions.
OUT FOR THE SEASON
Ty Garner, a senior offensive lineman, and Scott Musso, a fifth-year senior defensive back, will both miss the 1999 season due to career-ending injuries. Garner started the first three games at center in 1998 before tearing the ACL and MCL ligaments in his left knee during practice. After undergoing surgery, he underwent extensive rehabilitation, but never was able to regain full-strength in his knee. Musso tore his left achilles tendon in the spring of 1998 and missed the entire season. After rehabbing the tendon for nearly a year, he, like Garner, was forced to take a medical redshirt.
THE RANDY WALKER SHOW
Look for The Randy Walker Show on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Chicago. The show will be repeated on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 1 a.m. and again on Friday, Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. Dave Eanet, the voice of Wildcat Football on WGN Radio, serves as the host. The show will feature an ?Ameritech Ask the Coach? segment. Fans can send in their questions to Coach Walker at nusports.com and if their question is read on the show, they?ll receive a Gift Pack, courtesy of Ameritech.
LIVE CHAT SESSIONS
Head coach Randy Walker 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 or ESPN.com to ask their questions. The feature is scheduled to begin next Wed., Sept. 8.
HARRY CARAY LUNCHEONS
Coach Walker, selected players and Wildcat fans meet at Harry Caray?s Restaurant the Friday before home football games. The festivities begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon starts at noon. Harry Caray?s is located at 33 West Kinzie in downtown Chicago. Members of the media are invited to cover the luncheon, however, if you wish to eat, please contact Jean Yale at 847-491-3694 to make a reservation. Tickets are $25 apiece.
UP NEXT
Following the Miami contest, the Wildcats host the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian. TCU is coming off an impressive 1998 campaign, having beaten USC in the Sun Bowl last December. Game time for the Sept. 11 contest is set for 11:00 a.m. CT. The game will be televised locally on ABC Channel 7.
