Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Closes Out 2005 Home Season With Iowa
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 31, 2005
NU-Iowa Football Game Notes
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference race has come down to three Saturdays, and for Northwestern and Iowa, this weekend's 11 a.m. game (ESPN) at Ryan Field is a matter of survival. The winner becomes bowl-eligible and will remain a game back in the loss column behind the Penn State-Wisconsin winner. Ohio State can also join the one-loss group with a victory over Illinois. The loser of Saturday's Northwestern-Iowa game will be eliminated from the Big Ten race and will still need to win one of its final two games to earn bowl eligibility.
Saturday is Senior Day at Ryan Field, as the Wildcats close out the 2005 home portion of their schedule. Northwestern will honor 12 seniors: Brett Basanez, Vince Clarke, Barry Cofield, Jonathan Fields, Herschel Henderson, Chris Horton, Sean Mansfield, Tim McGarigle, Ryan Pederson, Mark Philmore, Zach Strief and Frederic Tarver.
Both the Hawkeyes and Wildcats are coming off home losses to Michigan. Iowa, which had an open date this past Saturday, fell to the Wolverines 23-20 in overtime on Oct. 22. NU dropped a 33-17 decision to the Wolverines this past Saturday.
Iowa is led by quarterback Drew Tate, a first-team All-Big Ten selection (coaches) in 2004 and the 2005 Big Ten Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He has completed 126-of-196 passes for 1,634 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. His 152.1 passing efficiency ranks third in the Big Ten and 18th nationally. Tate's favorite targets are tight end Scott Chandler and wideout Clinton Solomon. Chandler has a team-best 29 catches, but Solomon (28 receptions) leads Iowa in receiving average (18.2 ypr) and touchdowns (six).
Sophomore Albert Young leads the Iowa ground game (108.5 ypg), ranking fifth in the Big Ten and 18th nationally in rushing yardage. He has rushed for over 100 yards four straight games.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes' linebacking duo of Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge lead a unit that ranks 57th nationally in total defense (371.5 ypg). Greenway shares the Big Ten tackle lead (13.6 pg) with NU's Tim McGarigle. Both Greenway and McGarigle, who rank third nationally in tackles, are Butkus Award semifinalists. Hodge ranks 10th nationally in tackles per game (12.5).
Defensive back Jovon Johnson, who has 16 career interceptions -- the most by any active college player, ranks third on Iowa's tackle list with 52 hits.
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) will carry the game live with its pregame show starting at 10:30 a.m. The radio broadcast can also be heard via the internet at wgnradio.com. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student radio station, also will carry the game live. The contest is also available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Big Ten channels 196-199).
Television -- ESPN is televising the game to a national audience. Dave Barnett (play-by-play), Chris Spielman (analyst) and Rob Stone (sideline) call the action.
(For a complete set of notes, download the PDF above.)
