Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern's Next Challenge Comes at No. 20 Minnesota
10/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 27, 2008
NU FB Game Notes (vs. Minnesota) 
Press Conference Video
Full Monday Press Conference
For Openers
• Northwestern remains on the road, facing one of its season's stiffest challenges at 20th-ranked Minnesota. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT with ESPN2 televising the game to a national cable audience. Minnesota is ranked 17th in the BCS standings.
• The Wildcats fell out of the USA Today Coaches' poll and the BCS top-25 after dropping a 21-19 decision last Saturday at Indiana. Northwestern suffered five turnovers in the game (to Indiana's zero) and also lost its top offensive player, senior running back Tyrell Sutton, to an injury in the third quarter.
• Minnesota is riding a three-game winning streak after handing Purdue a 17-6 setback last Saturday in West Lafayette. The Golden Gophers opened the season 4-0 (winning all four non-conference games) before dropping a 34-21 decision at Ohio State. Since then, Minnesota has defeated Indiana, Illinois and Purdue, with the Illinois and Purdue wins coming on the road.
• Much like the Wildcats, the Gophers have bounced back from a disappointing 2007 season due largely to their defensive improvements. Minnesota ranks 20th nationally in scoring defense (17.1 ppg), 43rd in rushing defense (121.5 ypg), 47th in pass efficiency defense (118.4 rating) and 69th in total defense (362.8 ypg). Northwestern ranks 26th nationally in scoring defense (18.3 ppg), 34th in rushing defense (114.5 ypg), 41st in pass efficiency defense (116.5 rating) and 44th in total defense (335.1 ypg). The primary difference in the two units rests in turnover margin and takeaways. Minnesota has 24 takeaways while Northwestern has just 16.
• Northwestern continues to lead the Big Ten and rank among the nation's leaders in sacks (3.0 per game) and sacks allowed (0.88 pg). The Wildcats rank 12th and ninth, respectively, in those two categories nationally. NU is also second in the Big Ten and 18th nationally in tackles for loss (7.1 pg).
• Northwestern suffered its second major injury in as many weeks when all-everything running back Tyrell Sutton suffered a wrist injury in the third quarter of the Indiana game. Sutton is having surgery this week and is likely lost for the remainder of the regular season. Sutton is the Big Ten's second-leading active rusher (3,772 yards) and NU's second-leading all-purpose runner (4,995 yards). Against Purdue, NU lost senior middle linebacker Malcolm Arrington, the Wildcats' second-leading tackler, to a knee injury.
•Third-down conversions, both on offense and defense, have been a key to NU's success this year. The Wildcats rank second in the Big Ten in third-down conversions (48.1 percent) and second in defensive third-down conversions (30.7 percent). NU ranks behind Penn State in both categories.
•There are several interesting player and coach connections with the Minnesota program, most notably with Gophers' offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar. Dunbar was the Wildcats' OC from 2002-05 and served five years on Randy Walker's staff before assuming a similar position at California in 2006. He is in his second year at Minnesota. (For the complete list of connections, see page seven of the notes.)
• NU's players of the game against Indiana were: Corey Wootton (defense), Ben Burkett (offense), John Gill (defensive big play) and Jeravin Matthews (special teams).
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 live 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. (Channel 198).
Television -- ESPN2 is televising the game to a national cable audience. Dave Pasch (play-by-play) and Andre Ware (analyst) call the action.
(For a complete set of game notes, download the PDF above.)
