Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Seek Season's Third Road Win at Indiana
10/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 6, 2003
NU Game Notes vs. Indiana
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The Game
Having won two of its three road games this season, Northwestern travels to Bloomington, Ind., in search of its first 2003 Big Ten Conference victory. Indiana, which has played two ranked Big Ten teams in the league's first two weeks like Northwestern, is also seeking its first conference win. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CDT (EST) at Memorial Stadium. ESPN Plus is televising the game to a regional audience. Locally, WBBM-TV (Channel 2, CBS) will televise the contest. For a complete set of clearances, visit the Big Ten web site at Big Ten television clearances for Northwestern-Indiana. The game also will be available on ESPN's GamePlan package.
Indiana opened up its Big Ten season with back-to-back road games with the two Michigan schools. The Hoosiers lost to Michigan 31-17 two weekends ago before suffering a 31-3 setback at Michigan State this past Saturday. Indiana's lone season win came Sept. 13 against Indiana State, 33-3. Indiana is shooting for its first Big Ten win since opening the 2002 home conference season with a 32-29 victory over Wisconsin.
Notre Dame transfer Matt Lovecchio is directing the Hoosier offense this year, and has thrown for 182.8 yards per game and completed 50.6 (88-of-174) of his passes. Senior split end Glenn Johnson (21 rec. for 249 yds., 1 TD) and junior flanker Courtney Roby (17 rec. for 193 yds.) are Lovecchio's favorite targets. Tight end Aaron Halterman also contributes in the passing game, having caught 15 passes for 169 yards. IU's running game, which averages 132.2 yards per outing, is led by a trio of running backs: Brian Lewis (62.5 ypg, 4.2 ypc), Benjarvus Green-Ellis (45.2 ypg, 3.5 ypc) and Chris Taylor (47.3 ypg, 4.1 ypc). Each has scored two rushing touchdowns. Defensively, the Hoosiers are allowing 411.5 yards per game, including 255.0 passing yards per game. Indiana has forced 12 turnovers in six games, including seven fumble recoveries. Outside linebacker Josh Moore is IU's top tackler (56).
The Series With Indiana
Series Record: Northwestern leads 39-33-1
At Evanston: Northwestern leads 25-16-1
At Bloomington: Indiana leads 17-14
Last Result: 41-37, Northwestern (in Evanston)
Series Streak: 1, Northwestern (dating to 2002)
Series Notes: The teams have traded home-field victories the past four years. In those four years, the winning team has averaged 45.8 points per game ... A Northwestern victory will give the Wildcats their 40th series win against the Hoosiers, equaling NU's high-water mark (40 vs. Illinois) for series victories ... In last year's 41-37 triumph at Ryan Field, Jason Wright rushed for a career-high 196 yards and scoring the winning touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
'Northwestern Head Coach Randy Walker
Randy Walker's passion for excellence continues to be the driving force in his mission to return Northwestern's football program to the top of the Big Ten Conference, and among the nation's elite. A 27-year coaching veteran who has been associated with some of the game's greatest mentors, Walker places a high value on a student-athlete not only excelling on the field, but also in the classroom and in the community.
In his fifth season with the Wildcats, Walker has produced a 20-32 record, highlighted by an 8-4 mark in 2000. That season, the Wildcats won a share of the Big Ten title-NU's third conference crown since 1995. Overall, in his 14th year as a college head coach, Walker is 79-67-5. He spent his first nine years at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Walker departed his alma mater as the program's winningest coach with a 59-35-5 (.621) record.
The Northwestern-Minnesota Recap
It was a tale of two games in the Wildcats' Big Ten home opener. For the first 20 minutes, Northwestern dominated all phases of the games, leading in total offensive yards (154 to 8), first downs (10 to 0) and most importantly, points (14 to 0). It was the first deficit the nationally ranked Gophers had faced this season. The Wildcats scored on their first two possessions, with the first drive capped by a 12-yard scoring run from Jason Wright (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) and the second, a 2-yard run from Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator). The first drive was a 10-play, 63-yard march while the second went 13 plays and 62 yards.
The play that changed the game, however, came with just under 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Faced with a third-and-seven play on its own 4-yard line, Minnesota quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq dropped back and fired a 96-yard touchdown pass to Jared Ellerson, who was wide open after NU cornerback Jeff Backes (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) had slipped on the play. Minnesota then went on to score touchdowns on its next two series for a 21-14 lead. Northwestern received a 39-yard field goal from Slade Larscheid (Spearfish, S.D./Spearfish) with four seconds left to cut the halftime margin to 21-17, but that would be as close as the 'Cats would get.
Minnesota totaled 373 of its 572 yards of total offense on just nine plays.
NU Receives Academic Recognition From the AFCA ... Again
Once again, Northwestern's football program was lauded for its exemplary graduation rates by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 2003. Since the Wildcats have been eligible for the award (starting in 1998), they have either won the award (1998 and 2002) or received honorable mention recognition (for a graduation rate of 90 percent or better). Northwestern was one of six schools with a 90 percent or better graduation rate (for its freshman class from the 1997-98 academic year), joining Boston College, Connecticut, Rice, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. Duke won the 2003 title with a 100 percent graduation rate. Northwestern or Duke have held the title all but two years since 1993.
Big Ten schools became eligible for the award in 1998.
NU Picks Up a Pair of Early-Season Big Ten Honors
In the season's first two weeks, Northwestern players were honored by the Big Ten Conference for their performances against Kansas and Air Force. For his performance in the season-opening victory over Kansas, senior running back Jason Wright earned his fourth career Big Ten Player-of-the-Week. In that game, Wright equaled a career high in rushing yards (196) and rushing touchdowns (4). He also set a personal best with 41 rushing attempts. The 196 yards were the second-most on college football's opening weekend.
The following week against Air Force, and for the first time since the 2000 season, a member of Northwestern's defensive unit picked up Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Junior safety Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt), who was a late replacement in the starting lineup for the ailing Louis Ayeni (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury), shared the honor with Ohio State's Will Allen. Ward collected a career-high 17 tackles (11 solos) and a key fumble recovery in the Air Force game. He played a key role in helping contain the Falcons' vaunted option attack. Only three of Air Force's 53 rushing plays went for distances of 10 or more yards. Ward is seventh on Northwestern's tackle chart with 31 hits.
Wright Nominated for NFF Postgraduate Scholarship
Northwestern running back Jason Wright is the Wildcats' nominee for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame postgraduate fellowship. To be eligible for the award, the nominee must be a senior or graduate student in his final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have shown superior academic application and performance, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Return of the Return
Last year, Northwestern's kickoff return unit ranked as one of the country's best, averaging 24.1 yards per return-sixth-best in I-A football. On Saturday against Minnesota, NU returned to last year's form, averaging 24.9 yards per return (7 for 174 yards). Three of those returns, including two from Jason Wright, went for more than 30 yards. Jeff Backes added a 37-yard return. NU came into the game averaging just 14.8 yards per return, last in the Big Ten and 116th nationally.
The Wright Stuff
The 2002 season was a breakout year for running back Jason Wright. After toiling as a reserve receiver in 2001 (7 catches for 48 yards), Wright finished 2002 by being named an honorable mention all-Big Ten running back. On a day that Northwestern remembered its All-America halfback Ron Burton, Wright scored his 21st career touchdown against Minnesota, tying him for fourth place on NU's all-time rushing TD list with Burton.
He also continues to climb NU's all-time rushing list (see chart to the lower left), moving closer to seventh place. Wright, who has 10 100-yard games in has last 16 outings. is third in Big Ten rushing, third in Big Ten scoring, and fourth in Big Ten all-purpose yardage.
Wright is one of 39 preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award, awarded annually to the nation's top running back. He is one of four Big Ten running backs on the list.
An update on some other notable items/numbers for Wright:
* Owns a string of 329 consecutive carries without a fumble (fumbled once in 2002).
* Needs 24 rushing yards to move into seventh place on NU's all-time rushing list; 130 yards to move into sixth place; and 199 yards to move into fifth place.
* Needs 49 all-purpose yards to crack NU's top-10 career list.
* Averaging 110.0 rushing ypg in his last 16 outings.
* Missed NU's preseason scrimmage (Aug. 16) in order to take the medical school entrance exam (MCAT).
* Delivered the players' keynote address at the 2003 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon.
* Sang the national anthem prior to an NU men's basketball game (vs. Ohio State) and prior to a 2003 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament session at the United Center.
Playing the Best
Several publications noted that Northwestern's 2003 schedule would be one of the toughest in the country, and midway through the season, the facts support that claim. According to the NCAA statistics service, Northwestern's 12-game schedule presently ranks as the 11th-toughest slate in Division I-A football. NU's 12 opponents presently have a combined record of 43-24 (.642). Northwestern's first six opponents sport a 26-6 (.813) mark, making that the second-toughest schedule played to date. The Wildcats are the only team in the country that has played six opponents with 26 victories. Eight of NU's 12 opponents are ranked or receiving votes nationally.
In the latest Anderson and Hester computer ranking (one of the computer rankings used in the BCS formula), NU's strength of schedule is ranked second nationally.
Defensive Upgrades
Northwestern has significantly upgraded its defense from a year ago. With six games under its belt, the improvements can be backed up with statistics. Some notable items on the defense:
* NU has sliced more nearly 50 percent off its rushing yards allowed figure. Last year, the Wildcats gave up 313 yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry. This year, the figure has dropped to 162.2 ypg and 4.2 ypc.
* In five games, the 'Cats have totaled 10 pass sacks, including six three weeks ago against Duke. Last year, NU accumulated just six sacks all season.
* Northwestern held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing for the first time in four years when it limited Duke to 90 yards last month. The 'Cats have held four of their first six opponents to 147 rushing yards or less.
Baz in the Top 10
In just 13 career games, sophomore quarterback Brett Basanez moved into the Wildcats' No. 10 spot on the school's career passing yardage list. He nearly recorded his ninth 200-yard game against Minnesota, finishing with 196 yards. Basanez now has 3,220 yards (16 career games).
After suffering a broken fibula midway through the 2002 season, Basanez came back to play the final three games and lead all freshman quarterbacks nationally in passing yardage (220.4 ypg). He concluded his season with a career-best 368-yard effort vs. Illinois.
Ball Security
Holding on to the football has been one of Randy Walker's credos for years. Thus far in 2003, the Wildcats have done a solid job of keeping possession of the ball. Although Northwestern has been credited with 10 fumbles, it has only lost two-those coming against Duke and Ohio State.
'Cat Tails
* Led by sophomore Loren Howard (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro), Northwestern has three blocked kicks this year. Howard has two of those blocks-one on a field goal attempt and the other on a PAT attempt. Northwestern did not block any kicks in 2002, and just two in 2001.
* Punter/kicker Brian Huffman (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg), a Ray Guy Award candidate, now has booted 11 of his 37 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Another three punts have found the end zone for touchbacks. Huffman is currently 38th nationally with a 42.0 ypp average.
* Northwestern's opponents have only returned seven kickoffs (out of 22) this year (for a total of 115 yards and a 16.4 ypr average).
* Kunle Patrick's high school coach at Brooklyn Poly Prep, Dino Mangiero, is Indiana's director of football operations.
* Northwestern's defense likes playing on the road. Away from Ryan Field, NU is allowing 321.3 yards of total offense, 105.0 rushing yards and 16.7 points per game. NU also has notched eight of its 10 takeaways on the road. At home, the 'Cats have surrendered 498.7 yards and 36.0 points per game.
