Northwestern University Athletics
2001 Northwestern University Football Season Wrapup
1/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 10, 2002
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It was a tale of two seasons for the 2001 Northwestern Wildcats.
Tabbed the Big Ten preseason favorite by the league's media, Northwestern found a bullseye on its chest throughout the season. The Wildcats, who had to overcome the tragic loss of safety Rashidi Wheeler in early August, handled the tragedy as well as could be expected throughout preseason camp. Heading into the season opener at UNLV, there was a great deal of pressure and national focus on how the nationally ranked Wildcats would respond.
Northwestern passed its early-season test, posting a 37-28 win over the Rebels. Following that victory, however, another tragedy-the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast-affected all facets of life, including college football. The Wildcats' Sept. 15 home opener versus the U.S. Naval Academy was canceled, while a majority of other Division I-A and I-AA games were either postponed or canceled. Following the unexpected break, Northwestern resumed the season Sept. 22 at Duke. The Wildcats posted an easy 44-7 victory and carried a 2-0 mark into Big Ten play.
The Big Ten season began in thrilling fashion as Northwestern pulled out another "instant (ESPN) Classic" victory over Michigan State, similar to its 2000 wins over Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. The Wildcats used a 54-yard pass and then a 47-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Spartans, 27-26. That gave NU its first 3-0 start in 39 years. After NU stumbled in a nationally televised night game at Ohio State, the Wildcats came home to right the ship and post a 23-17 win against Minnesota in the fog and rain. With that win Northwestern seemed to be back on track.
Little did the Wildcats know they would not taste victory again in 2001. A last-second, heart-breaking 38-35 defeat to Penn State started the six-game losing skid. Losses to Purdue, Indiana, Iowa and Illinois sent the Wildcats to a 2-6 finish in Big Ten action.
For a complete season wrapup, click on the PDF link above.
