Oct. 13, 2008

NU Football Game Notes (vs. Purdue)

Press Conference Video
Monday press conference archive
Fitzgerald opening statement
Fitzgerald on learning from last week's game
Fitzgerald on the play of C.J. Bachér
Fitzgerald on Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter
Fitzgerald on Purdue's spread offense
Peterman on preparing for Purdue

For Openers
•Northwestern is set to host its 98th all-time homecoming game, welcoming Purdue University to Ryan Field this Saturday, Oct. 18. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. with ESPN2 televising the game to a national cable audience. The Wildcats suffered their first 2008 setback last Saturday, falling 37-20 to nationally ranked Michigan State at home. Northwestern, which was ranked No. 22 in last week's USA Today Coaches' poll and No. 23 in the Harris poll, fell out of the top-25 with the defeat.

• Northwestern's 5-0 start was its best opening to a season since 1962, when the Wildcats went 6-0. NU's current 5-1 mark matches its starts in 2000, 1996 and 1995 -- all Big Ten championship seasons.

• Purdue is 2-4 (0-2 Big Ten) after dropping a 16-3 decision at 12th-ranked Ohio State this past weekend. All four Purdue losses have come at the hands of teams ranked in the top-25 or who are currently receiving votes: Oregon (32-26 in OT, ranked No. 16 at the time), at Notre Dame (38-21, receiving votes), Penn State (20-6, ranked No. 6 at the time) and at Ohio State (ranked No. 12). The Boilermakers' two wins came against Northern Colorado (42-10) and Central Michigan (32-25).

• Northwestern, which surrendered a season-high 37 points to MSU last week, now ranks 23rd nationally in scoring defense with a 16.5 per game average. NU is 37th nationally in both total defense (316.0 ypg) and rushing defense (114.3 ypg).

• Northwestern continues to lead the Big Ten and rank among the nation's leaders in these three categories: sacks (3.2 per game), tackles for loss (7.5 pg) and sacks allowed (0.5 pg).

• Through six games, Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bachér and Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter have totaled the exact same number of total offensive yards: 1,464 (244.0 ypg), which is tied for second in the Big Ten behind Illinois' Juice Williams.

• In addition to Painter, Purdue is led on offense by wideouts Greg Orton (6.0 rpg) and Desmond Tardy (5.0 rpg), the Big Ten's third- and fourth-leading receivers. Running back Kory Sheets (94.2 ypg) is sixth in the Big Ten in rushing and second in all-purpose yards (156.0 ypg).

•Linebacker Anthony Heygood leads Purdue's defense with 9.3 tackles per game.

• This is the final season at Purdue for head coach Joe Tiller, who is now the winningest coach in Boilermaker history with a mark of 85-58 (12 years).

•NU's players of the game against Michigan State were: Brad Phillips (defense), Tyrell Sutton (offense) and Ross Lane (offensive big play).

Gameday Promotions/Info
•Plenty of good tickets remain for Saturday's game ($50 reserved/$35 end zone) and can be purchased by calling 847-491-CATS or visiting NUsports.com.

•At the end of the first half, Northwestern will honor Pat Fitzgerald for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. In addition, the first 15,000 fans entering the stadium will receive a "Fitz Fan."

• Several members of NU's 1995 and 1996 Big Ten championship teams will be on hand at Randy Walker Terrace at halftime to autograph a special 1995-1996 poster.

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. (Channels 196-199).

Television -- ESPN2 is televising the game to a national cable audience. Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Ray Bentley (analyst) call the action. ESPN360.com is also carrying the game live via ESPN's signature broadband sports TV network.

(For a complete set of notes, download the PDF above.)