Wildcats, Jayhawks Set for First Meeting

Aug. 25, 2003

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The Game
With a host of returning starters, Northwestern begins the 2003 season Saturday evening Lawrence, Kan. against the Kansas Jayhawks. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CDT. The game can be viewed, for a fee, by visiting Fox Sports Webcasts.

Northwestern has a number of key offensive starters returning, including sophomore quarterback Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator), senior running back Jason Wright (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) and senior receiver Kunle Patrick (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day). The Wildcats are attempting to return to the top of the Big Ten's total offense ranking, after sitting first and second, respectively, in that category in 2000 and 2001. Defensively, nine starters and several key reserves return, including 2002 co-captain Pat Durr (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles), who missed all but six plays of last year's campaign with a knee injury.

The Jayhawks, who are guided by second-year coach Mark Mangino, are coming off a 2-10 season that included an 0-8 mark against Big 12 foes. Kansas dropped its final seven games of the year. Nearly 40 starters return for Mangino, including senior quarterback Bill Whittemore, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Despite missing three games with a knee injury, Whittemore threw for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran for 549 yards-the Jayhawks' second-leading rusher-and 11 touchdowns, giving him the KU single-season mark for most touchdowns involved in (22). 2002 leading rusher Clark Green (67.8 ypg, 4.1 ypc) is back this season, too. Defensively, six of the Jayhawks' top 10 tacklers return.

For the second straight year, Northwestern will open the season by playing four consecutive nonconference games. The Wildcats have posted a .500 or better nonleague mark the last 10 years.

For Openers
Northwestern is 68-43-4 (.609) in season-opening contests. Since 1995, the Wildcats are 5-3 in opening games. Coach Randy Walker, who is beginning his 14th season as a college head coach, is 7-5-1 in season-opening contests. Northwestern has won two of its last four season-opening games that were played on the road: 1995 at Notre Dame (17-15) and 2001 at UNLV (37-28). NU also won a neutral-site game (Soldier Field) in 1997 vs. Oklahoma (24-0).

The Series With Kansas
Series Record: First Meeting
Series Notes: This is the first gridiron meeting between the two schools. Northwestern is playing its first Big 12 opponent since facing Nebraska in the 2000 Alamo Bowl ... Against Big 12 opposition, Northwestern has a 19-10 all-time record. NU has a .500 or better record against six of the seven Big 12 schools it has faced. NU's only losing record versus Big 12 competition is a 1-3 mark against Nebraska.

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 an 18-28 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 77-63-5. 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.

Wildcats Start 2003 With a New Look
The 'Cats unveil their new uniforms this Saturday when they take the field at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. After wearing purple pants with either black or white jerseys the past five years, Northwestern will wear a combination of all white, all purple or purple and white in 2003. Against Kansas, the Wildcats will wear all white. The new uniforms have a black neck and sleeve trim with the N-Cat log on each sleeve. A small shield with the "N" logo dons the "V" in the neck of the jersey. Besides uniform colors, fans will notice a new curved stripe on the leg of the pants. Also, the narrow, vertical jersey numbers are being replaced with a font known as "Celtic."

NU Earns AFCA Academic Recognition Award ... Again
Once again, Northwestern's football program was lauded for its exemplary graduation rates by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). 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.

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 a Verizon first-team Academic All-American and an honorable mention all-Big Ten running back.

Once Wright solidified his starting position in the season's third game (vs. Duke), he put together an impressive season, one that included seven 100-yard rushing games in the final 10 games. He showed his versatility by catching 27 passes (266 yards, 9.9 ypr) and returning kickoffs an average of 28.5 yards per return-the fourth-best average nationally. Wright also ranked fourth nationally in all-purpose yardage with 2,013 yards (167.8 ypg), the third-best single-season total in NU history.

Other notables for Wright heading into the 2003 season:
* Owns a string of 197 consecutive carries without a fumble (fumbled once in 2002).
* Needs 289 rushing yards to crack NU's top-10 career list.
* Needs 864 all-purpose yards to crack NU's top-10 career list.
* Averaging 118.1 rushing ypg in his last 10 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.

Jason Wright on Doak Walker Award List
Jason Wright is one of 39 preseason candidates for the 2003 Doak Walker Award, awarded annually to the nation's top college running back. He is one of four Big Ten running backs on the list, joining Wisconsin's Anthony Davis, Michigan's Chris Perry and Iowa's Fred Russell. The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select eight semifinalists on Nov. 19, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will vote on the winner in late November. Penn State's Larry Johnson won last year's award.

Captains Named for 2003 Season
Northwestern's football players voted for its 2003 team captains last Thursday, and four seniors were bestowed the honor: safety Louis Ayeni (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury), linebacker Pat Durr, safety Torri Stuckey (Robbins, Ill./D.D. Eisenhower) and running back Jason Wright. Durr is a repeat selection while the other three are first-time captains.

The Percentages
Northwestern is returning 99.6 percent of its rushing yardage (1,877 of 1,884), 80.4 percent of its passing yardage (2,249 of 2,784) and 64.2 percent of its receiving yardage (1,787 of 2,784) this year.

Pat Durr Returns to Lead NU's Defense
Northwestern's 2002 defensive woes are well-documented, and the rough year was certainly not helped by the absence of Pat Durr, who tore every major ligament in his right knee in the season-opening game at Air Force. Durr has since completed an impressive rehabilitation process and is nearly 100 percent heading into Saturday's opener at Kansas. His return should provide an emotional lift for a defense that started primarily freshmen and sophomores last year.

"Pat's looking good," said defensive coordinator Greg Colby during preseason camp. "He's faster than he was before the injury. He was a little rusty at first, but that's understandable; he is getting more comfortable every day and he has been a good leader for us. Pat is a natural linebacker."

On Friday, the Butkus Award organization announced its preseason watch list, and Durr is one of 10 Big Ten players named to the preseason team. He was a consensus preseason all-Big Ten choice at linebacker a year ago. In 2001, Durr was the Wildcats' third-leading tackler with 103 hits.

Stiff Schedule
There is no question that Wildcats are facing one of the nation's most difficult schedules. A 12-game slate that College Football News rated the toughest in the Big Ten awaits the Wildcats this fall. Five of the Wildcats' six home foes are coming off bowl appearances in 2002 and all six had winning records. (Only Arizona, Florida State and Oregon State are playing more bowl teams [six] at home in 2003.) Overall, the 'Cats are facing seven teams that were invited to postseason play a year ago. Eight of this year's 12 opponents were ranked or received votes in both the AP and coaches' preseason polls. Five NU opponents are ranked in the coaches' top 25.

Kunle Patrick is Streaking
Dating to his freshman season, receiver Kunle Patrick has caught at least one pass in 34 consecutive games, which leads the nation with Texas Tech's Wes Welker and Texas' Roy Williams. Seven receptions in last year's season-ending game vs. Illinois gave Patrick the Northwestern consecutive record, previously held by D'Wayne Bates.

NU's 21st-Century Offense
Since 2000, when the Wildcats went to the spread offense, Northwestern has posted some pretty impressive offensive numbers-by far the most impressive three-year stretch of offense in school history. In their last 35 games, the Wildcats are averaging 433.0 yards of total offense, 29.5 points per game, 198.6 rushing yards per game and 233.3 passing yards per game.

Leading Specialist
Junior punter Brian Huffman (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) leads NU's group of special teams performers this year. The second-year punter, who ranked third in Big Ten punting average a year ago, is on the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list. He also has been annointed the nation's 19th-best punter by The Sporting News. In addition to his punting duties, Huffman also will handle the Wildcat kickoffs. Redshirt freshman Slade Larscheid (Spearfish, S.D./Spearfish) will kick Northwestern's PAT and field goal attempts. Sophomores Chris Horton (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) and Eric Batis (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic) are NU's respective long snapper and holder.

63-2-1
Throughout his coaching career, Randy Walker has proven to be nearly unbeatable when his teams carry a lead into the fourth quarter. In his previous 13 years as a head coach, Walker's teams have compiled a 63-2-1 record when leading at the end of the third quarter. At NU, he is 14-1.

Baz at the Helm
Sophomore quarterback Brett Basanez, who picked up third-team freshman all-America honors from The Sporting News in 2002, will make his 10th collegiate start at Kansas on Saturday. Despite the few number of games played (10), he is just 495 passing yards away from cracking NU's top-10 list for career passing yardage. Although he suffered a broken fibula midway through the 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.

Still Young
NU is returning a host of offensive and defensive starters (16) from a year ago, yet the Wildcats are still a young football team. Only nine of the 'Cats' 97 players are seniors. Those nine seniors, however, will play a valuable role this season as eight are in the starting lineup, and the ninth, tight end Gilles Lezi (Laval, Quebec/Cegep du Vieux), is a key reserve.

'Cat Tails
** This is only the fourth time in NU football history the Wildcats have opened their season in August. The other three times were 1997 (24-0 win over Oklahoma on Aug. 23), 2000 (35-17 win over Northern Illinois on Aug. 31) and last year (52-3 loss at Air Force on Aug. 31).
** At NU, head coach Randy Walker's teams are 8-5 versus nonconference opposition.
** Northwestern's two-deep reflects just two true freshmen-center Trevor Rees (Pearland, Texas/Pearland) and defensive lineman Trevor Schultz (Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek)-on either the first or second teams.
** The Wildcats' starting offensive line-which has no seniors-weighs in with a 317-pound average. Every starter is 310 pounds or more.

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

Wildcats, Jayhawks Set for First Meeting

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