2012 NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL @NU_Sports #B1GCATS GAME INFORMATION CaRDIAC ’CATS SQUARE OFF WITH COMMODORES IN PRIMETIME Sept. 3, 2012 For Openers week’s season-opener, Northwestern begins a four-game • Looking to build off its dramatic one-point win in last- Northwestern (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. day night vs. Vanderbilt (7 p.m. CT, BTN). The occasion VanderbiltGame Facts (0-1, 0-1 SEC) homestand and makes its 2012 Ryan Field debut Satur host a night game (6 p.m. start or later) for their home- 7 p.m. CT marksopener. the first time since 2000 that the Wildcats will RyanSaturday, Field Sept. 8, 2012 in the same season, as it is prepared to do this month, •was The in last 1934 time (Oct. NU 27-Nov. played four17). consecutive home games Broadcast(47,130, Natural Info: Grass) ChicagolandEvanston, Ill. Radio— Pat Fitzgerald has his squad •the Northwestern helm of his alma head mater. coach The Wildcats have won 11 of • ESPN 1000 offtheir to lasta 1-0 13 start season-openers, for the seventh including time in threeseven straight seasons in at Sophomore QB TREVOR SIEMIAN came on in relief for Play-by-Play: Dave Eanet road games against BCS-conference opponents (Vander- the Wildcats and engineered a 75-yard game-winning Analyst: Ted Albrecht drive, capped by a 25-yard laser to DEMETRIUS FIELDS • WNUR (NU Student Radio, 89.3 FM) in the corner of the end zone. •Television Sirius (92)— and XM Satellite (190) bilt, 2010; Boston College, 2011; Syracuse, 2012). - tive of his teams’ overall achievements against nonconference opponents in his tenure as head •coach. Fitzgerald’s Fitzgerald’s record victory of success over onSyracuse opening improved day is reflec his record vs. non-Big Ten foes in the regular • Big Ten Network Play-by-Play: Eric Collins Analyst: Derek Rackley season to 20-5. OnlineSideline:— Lisa Byington • Northwestern’s penchant for pulling out close games was on full display in its season-opener at •2012 BTN2Go Schedule and Results Syracuse as NU rallied from six points down with less than three minutes remaining to knock off (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) thepoint Orange, contests. 42-41. The Wildcats are 32-12 since 2004 in games decided by seven points or less and 22-10 since Fitzgerald took the reins in 2006. Fitzgerald’s mark includes a 4-0 ledger in one- e Dat Opponent (TV) Time (CT)/Result Sept. ...........................W, 42-41 Sept. 8 Vanderbilt (BTN) ...............................7 p.m. 1 at Syracuse (ESPN2) • Northwestern’s run of four consecutive bowl appearances has been keyed by its ability to win Sept. 15 Boston College (BTN) .................2:30 p.m. away from Ryan Field. The Wildcats own a record of 15-8 in true road games since 2008, a stretch Sept. 22 South Dakota ...........................................TBA that included six consecutive road victories from Nov. 7, 2009 through Oct. 30, 2010. Sept. 29 Indiana * ...................................................TBA Mark Tabbed Co-Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week Oct. 6 at Penn State * .......................................... 11 a.m. Venric Mark had a day to remember against Syracuse, and not only because it was his . Oct 13 at Minnesota * F ..................................... 11 a.m. Oct. 20 Nebraska * F ...........................................TBA •his Junior second career Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honor (sharing the accolade this week Oct. 27 Iowa * F ...............................................11 a.m. first career start as a Wildcat. Mark dazzled in his role as NU’s punt and kick returner en route to F .............................................. TBA Lee Gissendaner vs. Stanford, 1992) Nov. 17 at Michigan State * F ................................... TBA with Iowa kicker Mike Meyer). A look at some of Mark’s achievements from the week one victory: Nov. 2410 Illinoisat Michig *an ..................................................... * TBA • Single-game school record 134 punt return yards (previous record: 121, Dec. 1 Big Ten Championship (FOX) ................7 p.m. • 82-yard return for a touchdown, the fourth-longest punt return in school history • First punt return for a TD since Marquice Cole against Northern Illinois on Sept. 10, 2005 * Big Ten game F Divisional (Legends) Game • Became NU’s all-time leader in kickoff return yardage with 1,513 (previous record: 1,499, Ricky Edwards USA Today/BCS) the week (1979-83)) • (wSethen a car heeer notched high with 274 82 kickoff rushing return yards, yards). including That is46 the yards second-highest on four carries single-game to set up NU’s total fifth in the touchdown country Rankings reflect polls (AP/ • Compiled 281 all-purpose yards, tying his career best set in the 2010 regular-season finale at Wisconsin Northwesternof the game • Home games Wildcats in bold Staff Head Coach.. Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern ’97) ON this DECK season. FOR NU’s sing NORTHWESTERN:le-game record for all-purpose yards is 336 set by Jason Wright (2003). NU & Career Record ..... 41-36, Seventh Year Big Ten Record ........................................ 21-27 Next Opponent: Boston College Television: Big Ten Network Assistant Coaches: Date: Last Meeting: Jerry Brown (Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Location: Of Note: Backs), Mike Hankwitz (Defensive Stadium: Saturday, Sept. 15 NU 24, Boston College 17 (2011) Coordinator), Mick McCall (Offensive Kickoff: Evanston, Ill. season playing Boston for College the Wildcats. makes its first trip to Coordinator), Randy Bates (Linebackers), Ryan Field (47,130) Evanston since 1993, Pat Fitzgerald’s freshman Adam Cushing (Offensive Line), Bob Heffner NORTHWESTERN 2:30 p.m. CT ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION (Superbacks), Marty Long (Defensive Line), Matt MacPherson (Running Backs), Dennis Springer (Wide Receivers) Director/Football Contact: Office Phone: (847) 491-7503 • Office Fax: (847) 491-8818 Assistant Director/Asst. Football Paul Kennedy Contact: • (847) 467-2028 (direct office) • (312) 497-5990 (cell) • Email Address: [email protected] Scott Hammer • (847) 491-3688 (direct office) • 2012 NORTHWESTERN(847) 791-4651 FOOTBALL (cell) • •CHICAGO’S Email Address: BIG [email protected] TEAM • PAGE 1 Northwestern-Vanderbilt Series Information NATIONAL RANKINGS All-Time Series Record: Tied, 1-1-1 Series in Evanston: USA Today Coaches Poll (Preseason) Last Meeting: ............................. ............... Northwestern 23, VanderbiltVanderbilt 21 leads, 1-0-1 ................... ...............1399 Sept. 4, 2010 3.1. USCLSU (18)(19) ............................. 0-0 ...............1403 4.2. OklahomaAlabama (20) .......................... 0-0 ...............1276 ................................ 0-0 ...............1388 • Northwestern and Vanderbilt, two of the top academic institutions in major college football, 6. Georgia................................ 0-0 ............... renewed acquaintances on the gridiron in 2010 for the first time in 58 years. Prior to that 7.5. FloridaOregon State ..................... 0-0 ...............1258 season-opening matchup two years ago, the ’Cats and ’Dores hadn’t met since Oct. 4, 1952 in 8. Michigan ........................ 0-0 ............10231061 Evanston, a game that resulted in a 20-20 tie. The Commodores won the only other contest in 9. South Carolina ................. 0-0 ..................1055 the series, a 3-0 outcome in 1947 at Northwestern. TALE OF THE TAPE ............................ .................. 11th time in school history that NU has 11. West Virginia .................... 0-0 ..................981 •faced Saturday’s an opponent contest from marks the just Southeast the (2012 STATISTICS) 12.10. WisconsinArkansas .......................... 0-0 ..................743948 Conference. The last two times were 13. Michigan State ............. 0-0 .............. 717833 Northwestern Vanderbilt 14. Clemson .............................. 0-0 .................. played in succession, when the Wildcats ..............................Scoring Per Game .......................... .................................... .................. faced Auburn in the Outback Bowl (Jan. .....................Scoring Defense Per Game ................. 16. Nebraska ....................... 0-0 .............. 501598 42.0 .........................First Downs Per Game .....................13.0 CU17.15. Texas ....................................... 0-0 ..................499549 41.0 .....................Rushing Yards Per Game ...................17.0 .............................. ..................497 1, 2009) followed by Vanderbilt in the 3.121.0 .................................Average Per Rush .............................11.01.7 19. Oklahoma State ............... 0-0 ..................476 LAST2010 season-opener.TIME THEY MET 1124.0 .................................Rushing Touchdowns ............................62.0 18. Stanford .................... 0-0 ..................461 Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 • Vanderbilt 213 ........................ Passing Yards Per Game ................ 3 ................................. Passing Touchdowns ............................ 10 21. Kansas State ..................... 0-0 .................. Stadium • Nashville, Tenn. 337 .........................Total Offense Per Game ................. 214.0 22.20. BoiseVirginia State Tech ......................... 0-0 ..................271 Northwestern 23, Vanderbilt 21 16.3 ...........................Kick Return Average ....................... 23. Florida ................................. 0-0 ..................398 Northwestern took an early lead over ...........................Punt