Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Back In Action Saturday vs. Western Illinois
9/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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| 2014 Northwestern Football -- Game Three |
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| Northwestern (0-2, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Western Illinois (2-1, 0-0 MVFC) |
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| Date | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 11 a.m. CT |
| Location | Ryan Field (47,330) | Evanston, Ill. |
| TV: | ESPNEWS | WatchESPN |
| Gametracker | NUsports.com |
| Radio | 87.7 FM The Game | WNUR Online |
| Game Notes | Northwestern  | Western Illinois
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| Social Media | @NU_SportsLIVE  | @NUFBFamily | Facebook  |
| Buy 2014 Season Tickets |
888-GO-PURPLE | Online Ticket Office |
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- With one week remaining before Northwestern's start of Big Ten play, the Wildcats return to Ryan Field Saturday to entertain FCS opponent Western Illinois. The 'Cats are aiming for a victory in their first-ever matchup with the Leathernecks, looking to steer clear of their first 0-3 start to a campaign since 1992.
The game will be carried live to a national audience on ESPNEWS, and fans can also choose to watch the game online or on their mobile devices via WatchESPN. On the radio, the game can be found on 87.7 FM The Game in Chicago or TheGameChicago.com, with the veteran tandem of Dave Eanet and Ted Albrecht in the Ryan Field radio booth and Jordan Bernfield on sideline.
Get Ready for Gameday with 'Kits, 'Cats & Kids Block Party
Featuring six food trucks, specials at World of Beer and activities for the entire family, Evanston and Northwestern's 'Kits, 'Cats and Kids Block Party will be held Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5-7:45 p.m. in downtown Evanston. Sherman Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Church and Davis Streets to allow children, teens and adults to participate in games, activities and crafts, while listening to live music and a DJ. The Northwestern University and Evanston Township High School Marching Bands will perform at about 5:45 p.m. There will be a limited supply of free hotdogs.
The Block Party is sponsored by the City of Evanston, Northwestern University, Downtown Evanston, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Evanston Township High School and Evanston/Skokie School District 65. For more information, please visit cityofevanston.org/kitsandcats, or call or text 847-448-4311.
Father/Daughter Day
Northwestern Football would like to invite all area Fathers and Daughters to experience Northwestern Football at Ryan Field with family and friends. All Fathers/Daughters that purchase through this special offer will have the opportunity to take the field following the game for post-game catch, and photo opportunities.
Welcome New Wildcats
• Head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats would like to extend a special welcome to all members of Northwestern's Class of 2018 who are experiencing Northwestern Football at Ryan Field for the first time on Saturday. The freshman class is progressing Wildcat Welcome Week, which included such activities as the annual March Through the Arch, the Purple Pride at Millennium Park event, advising meetings, and much more. On Saturday, all members of the Class of 2018 are invited to participate in the "Running of the Freshmen" tradition, a 100-yard dash on Ryan Field prior to kickoff.
Northwestern Game Notes
• Northwestern has won seven straight meetings with FCS foes, doing so by a combined score of 259-73. Western Illinois is the fourth different school in the Missouri Valley Football Conference to visit Ryan Field since 2008, following Southern Illinois (2008), Illinois State (2010) and South Dakota (2012). Pat Fitzgerald is 27-7 all-time in regular-season nonconference games (FBS or FCS) as head coach of the Wildcats.
• Entering the 2013 season, Fitzgerald claimed an impressive 21-10 record in games decided by seven points or less during his head coaching tenure at Northwestern. But the outcomes in recent close games have gone against the `Cats, who have played seven one-score games in their last eight outings and won one of those seven (at Illinois; Nov. 30, 2013).
• Against Northern Illinois last week, the Wildcats offense was operating without its top two returning receivers from a year ago, Christian Jones (out for season with a knee injury) and Tony Jones (ruled out for NIU game with a lower body injury). Senior Kyle Prater filled the void in their absence, recording career-best totals of seven catches for 87 yards against the Huskies. The 6-foot-5 Prater also haueld in his first collegiate touchdown reception on a 19-yard third-quarter toss from Trevor Siemian. Five of Prater's seven receptions were good for NU first downs.
• Two other Wildcats, junior QB Zack Oliver and junior WR Pierre Youngblood-Ary, achieved notable firsts late in NU's loss vs. Northern Illinois. After Siemian was forced to exit the game with an injury, Oliver and Youngblood-Ary hooked up for a 54-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that cut Northwestern's deficit to a single score. The play represented just the sixth career pass attempt by Oliver and the fourth career reception for Youngblood-Ary, and the first scoring play for both.
• On defense, Northwestern kept Northern Illinois off the scoreboard for the duration of the first half, the first time the Wildcats had blanked an opponent in a half since doing so in the third and fourth quarters at Iowa last season (Oct. 26). Before NIU converted a field goal early in the third quarter, Northwestern had gone 11 consecutive defensive series without surrendering a point, dating back to week one.
Western Illinois Notes
• Western Illinois is entering a Big Ten stadium as the visiting team for the second time in three weeks after also traveling to Camp Randall Stadium for a date with Wisconsin on Sept. 6. The Leathernecks caused problems for the Badgers early before the hosts were able to gain momentum and ultimately record a 37-3 victory.
• Head coach Bob Nielson, who arrived at WIU prior to last season after 10 years leading the program at Minnesota-Duluth, has seen his team record gaudy point totals in their two wins this season, thanks in part to a balanced run-pass attack. On the ground, senior J.C. Baker has led the charge with a 5.5-yards-per-attempt average on 59 carries, while sophomore QB Trenton Norvell is throwing the ball with an efficient 67.6 percent completion percentage and with five touchdown tosses to his credit.
• What is a Fighting Leatherneck? Western Illinois holds the distinction of being the only non-military institution to officially have its nickname derived from a branch of the military service. The school began use of the Marine Corps' official nickname, "The Fighting Leathernecks," in 1927 when then-athletic director and head baseball, basketball and football coach Ray "Rock" Hanson was granted permission by the U.S. Navy, based on his status as a Marine hero, to use the Marine's official seal, bulldog mascot and nickname.
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