Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats, Badgers Meet Saturday in Madison
10/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 2, 2006
NU Football Game Notes (vs. Wisconsin)
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The Game
Northwestern closes out its longest road stretch in six years -- three games -- with another challenging test this weekend. For the third consecutive week, the Wildcats are facing a 2005 bowl team on the road.
This Saturday, the Wildcats visit Camp Randall Stadium in Madison for their season's second Big Ten contest vs. Wisconsin. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT. ESPN360 is televising the game to a worldwide internet audience.
Last Saturday, it was a matchup of the nation's oldest and youngest Division I-A coaches. This week, the nation's two youngest coaches meet: NU's 31-year-old Pat Fitzgerald and Wisconsin's 36-year-old Bret Bielema. Bielema held the title of the nation's youngest coach for just over five months until Fitzgerald replaced former NU coach Randy Walker on July 7, 2006. Walker died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on June 29.
The Badgers are off to a 4-1 start under Bielema, who served as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator in 2004 and '05 for former head coach Barry Alvarez. Wisconsin won its first three nonconference games (Bowling Green, Western Illinois, San Diego State) this year before dropping a 27-13 decision at Michigan. The Badgers then rebounded with their first Big Ten win by overwhelming Indiana 52-17 in Bloomington on Saturday.
Wisconsin, which is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' polls, is led offensively by fifth-year senior quarterback John Stocco and redshirt freshman running back P.J. Hill. Stocco, who is one of the nation's most experienced quarterbacks with 30 consecutive starts, is ranked fourth among Big Ten quarterbacks with a passing efficiency of 144.3. He has thrown the fewest interceptions (one in 122 attempts) of any conference QB this season, while tossing seven TD passes. Stocco, who averages 195.2 passing ypg, was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Hill has rushed for 598 yards and eight touchdowns in his first five games as a Badger. He ranks second in Big Ten rushing (behind Michigan's Mike Hart) with a per game average of 119.6 ypg (5.3 ypc). Hill leads the Big Ten in all-purpose yards.
Defensively, the Badgers are much improved this year and rank 15th nationally in total defense (252.8 ypg), third in pass efficiency defense and 17th in scoring defense (13.6 ppg).
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN will carry the game live on 720 AM. The broadcast also can be heard live via the internet at wgnradio.com. The pregame show begins at 10:30 a.m. 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. (Channels 197-199).
Television -- ESPN360 is televising the game to a worldwide internet audience.
Kickoff Time Announced For NU-Purdue
Northwestern and Purdue will kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Ryan Field. The game is being televised by ESPN Plus.
(For a complete set of game notes, download the PDF above.)
