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Northwestern Wildcats
Oct. 6.
East Lansing, MI.
2007 Record: 6-6/3-5
TV: BTN
Tickets: link here for tickets!

2007 Schedule

9/1 N'EASTERN
W, 27-0
9/8 NEVADA
W, 36-31
9/15 DUKE
L, 14-20
9/22 at Ohio St
L, 7-58
9/29 scUM
L, 16-28
10/6 at Mich St
W, 48-41
ot
10/13 MINNY
W, 49-48
2ot
10/19 vs EMU (Detroit)
W, 26-14
10/27 at Purdue
L, 17-35
11/3 IOWA
L, 17-28
11/10 INDIANA
W, 31-28
11/17 at Illinois
L, 22-41

2006 Schedule (4-8/2-6)

8/31 at Miami-OH
W, 21-3
9/9 N. HAMPSHIRE
L, 17-34
9/16 E. MICHIGAN
W, 14-6
9/22 at Nevada
L, 21-31
9/30 at Joe Pa*
L, 7-33
10/7 at Wisky*
L, 9-41
10/14 PURDUE*
L, 10-31
10/21 MICH ST*
L, 38-41
10/28 at scUM*
L, 3-17
11/4 at Iowa*
W, 21-7
11/11 OHIO ST*
L, 10-54
11/18 ILLINOIS*
W, 27-16
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
* Big Ten Conference Game
ALL TIMES EASTERN

2005 Schedule (7-5/5-3)

9/3 OHIO
W, 38-14
9/10 N ILLINOIS
W, 38-37
9/17 at Arizona St
L, 21-52
9/24 JOEPA*
L, 29-34
10/8 WISKY*
W, 51-48
10/15 at Purdue*
W, 34-29
10/22 at MSU*
W, 49-14
10/29 MICHIGAN*
L, 17-33
11/5 IOWA*
W, 28-27
11/12 at Ohio St*
L, 7-48
11/19 at Illinois*
W, 38-21
12/30 vs UCLA
Sun Bowl
L, 38-50
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
* Big Ten Conference Game
ALL TIMES EASTERN

2004 Results (6-6/5-3)

9/2 at TCU
L, 45-48
9/11 ARIZONA ST
L, 21-30
9/18 KANSAS
W, 20-17
9/25 at Minny*
L, 17-43
10/2 OHIO ST*
W, 33-27 (ot)
10/9 INDIANA*
W, 31-24 (2ot)
10/23 at Wisky*
L, 12-24
10/30 PURDUE*
W, 13-10
11/6 at JoePa*
W, 14-7
11/13 at Michigan*
L, 20-42
11/20 ILLINOIS*
W, 28-21 (ot)
11/27 at Hawaii
L, 41-49
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
* Big Ten Conference Game

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Strengths/Weaknesses

OFFENSE: 7 returning starters
DEFENSE: 8 returning starters

Rating Scale
(5 = strong, 1 = weak)

POSITION
RATING
OL
2
WR/TE
3
QB
3
RB
4
DL
2
LB
2
DB
3
K/P
3/3
K/P RET
3
COACH
2

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History vs. Northwestern

MSU leads, 33-14-0 (.702)

Year
W/L/T
MSU
Opp
H/A
1905
L
11
Northwestern
37
A
1917
L
6
Northwestern
39
A
1924
L
9
Northwestern
13
A
1959
W
15
Northwestern
10
H
1960
W
21
Northwestern
18
A
1961
W
21
Northwestern
13
H
1962
W
31
Northwestern
7
A
1963
W
15
Northwestern
7
A
1964
W
24
Northwestern
6
H
1965
W
49
Northwestern
7
H
1966
W
22
Northwestern
0
A
1967
W
41
Northwestern
27
H
1968
W
31
Northwestern
14
A
1969
W
39
Northwestern
7
A
1970
L
20
Northwestern
23
H
1971
L
7
Northwestern
28
A
1972
W
24
Northwestern
14
H
1973
L
10
Northwestern
14
A
1974
W
41
Northwestern
7
H
1975
W
47
Northwestern
14
H
1976
L
21
Northwestern
42
A
1977
W
44
Northwestern
3
H
1978
W
52
Northwestern
3
A
1979
W
42
Northwestern
7
A
1980
W
42
Northwestern
10
H
1981
W
61
Northwestern
14
A
1982
L
24
Northwestern
28
H
1983
W
9
Northwestern
3
A
1984
W
27
Northwestern
10
H
1985
W
32
Northwestern
0
H
1986
L
21
Northwestern
24
A
1987
W
38
Northwestern
0
A
1988
W
36
Northwestern
3
H
1989
W
76
Northwestern
14
H
1990
W
29
Northwestern
22
A
1991
L
13
Northwestern
16
H
1992
W
27
Northwestern
26
A
1993
W
31
Northwestern
29
H
1994
W
35
Northwestern
17
A
1997
L
17
Northwestern
19
A
1998
W
29
Northwestern
5
H
1999
W
34
Northwestern
0
A
2000
L
17
Northwestern
37
H
2001
L
26
Northwestern
27
A
2002
W
39
Northwestern
24
H
2005
L
14
Northwestern
49
H
2006
W
41
Northwestern
38
H

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The Skinny on the Wildcats 2007

Phil Steele: 67th nationally/t-8th Big Ten
Sporting News: 87th nationally, 11th Big Ten
Schedule Strength: 73rd of 119
Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (4-8, 2nd year)
Series: MSU leads, 33-14-0
Website: nusports.collegesports.com/
Why NW is great to play against: The ES attended the last year's gig in Evanston - the third time in a row he has attended a NW game in Chicago dating back to the mid-90s. He ran out of the 200 "Fire John L Smith" flyers by the middle of the second quarter. Little did we know that John L would mount the biggest comeback in college football history. Best part: when a fellow Spartan senior alum came up to the ES after the game and said "he should still be fired." About the Chicago weekend, as expected from any Chicago weekend: the ES traveling with his brother, his mom, and Big Bob, puking the morning of the game, then heading to a house party literally around the corner from the stadium. He sucked down a few bloody mary's for good cause to watch the Spartan fiasco... err, victory.
Best Player: RB Tyrell Sutton (#19) is really, really good. He was damn good last year, with 172 yards on 8.2 per carry against MSU, and nearly broke MSU's back with a 64 yard run in the third quarter while the ES was taking a leak. The ES returned from the john to watch the effort be wasted as Basanez threw an INT to Spartans' Kaleb Thornhill, a key in the Spatans' rally. Nevertheless, Sutton is an outstanding player, and was named by Phil Steele as a 2nd team all conference player (but he ain't better than Ringer!)
Best 2006 win: The 21-7 win at Iowa that crushed the Hawkeyes season.
Worst 2006 loss: The 41-38 loss to MSU. Up by 35 points, you should beat any team. But, poor coaching, combined with a blocked kick, quick and efficient play for MSU, and timely turnovers led to MSU setting a record for best comeback. EVER.
2007 key game: Northwestern should have a 3-0 record heading into Big Ten play with a shameful schedule early. And, they have a gimme fourth win against Eastern Michigan midway in the season. Their season ending game at Illinois is the key game as to whether or not they go bowling.
2007 biggest creampuff(s): #108 E Michigan, #101 Duke, or D1AA Northeastern? Your pick. Shameful.
Biggest weakness(es): Northwestern OL and ST. The Cats offensive line has been a stalwart the past 10 years, and has been more than adequate with the spread offense it has installed. Last year, they gave up just 26 sacks and averaged 4.0 yards per carry and 142 yards per game. However, they lose two linemen but three return with lots of experience. Nevertheless, it should be down a notch from a year ago, which was their lowest yards per carry of the past six years. Last year, the Northwestern special teams were a disaster reminiscent of the Spartans of 2005. And, they bring in a redshirt freshmen kicker (#1 Stephan Demos) and a new punter (junior, #97 Kyle Daley).
Biggest strength(s): RB Sutton is a great back. Can he carry the entire NW team on his shoulders?
Chance to win: 4 of 5. Rating scale. We beat them in Evanston last year, with the cameras and national spotlight focused on the Spartan fans in the stands sporting "F-I-R-E-J-O-H-N-L" on their chests and spotting the Cats 35 points, 38-3, to win in the biggest comeback in the history of D1-A football. This year its at home and we don't have a cowboy clown as coach.

It will be interesting to see how the Doctor manages the Spartans at this point of the season. At game #6, midway through the season but early in the Big Ten season, at home in a must-win game against a historically inferior opponent. CAN HE GET THE TEAM TO RESPOND?

The matchups are the easy thing to talk about. Watch out for the Northwestern wideout spread offense. The dinks and ducks, and Sutton with the handoff on traps inside. At this point, if the Spartans have a healthy LB corps, they should be able to handle Sutton but plugging the holes in Narduzzi's new gap-attack scheme. The Spartan D-Line will need to put pressure on NW QB Bacher (#18) or Kafka (#13) to get them to force throws. The Spartan defensive backfield is much improved and needs to make plays here to turn the tide.

On Spartan offense, watch and see how the Offensive Line handles the Cat defensive line. Cat Nosetackle John Gill (#70) is pretty good and will be tough to handle; but Martin and Masters should be able to manage for MSU. The ES figures this may be a draw; if so, give the tie to Ringer who is as competent of a back as any in the league. Can Hoyer make things more difficult by tossing the long ball in the new pro-set offense? Will the line give him time? In this case, the ES gives the tie to Northwestern, with pressure on an already iffy-Hoyer will force him into errant throws.

The breaking point is in special teams, where MSU holds the advantage with one of the nation's best kickers in Brett Swenson, and a competent punter in freshman Ed Wagner.

While it looks closer on paper, the ES sees MSU winning this game with a clear emphasis on coaching fundamentals and sound play. MSU should be able to make some plays on defense which will put MSU in good shape for its offense to score. Make it a 31-21 win. But the ES has second thoughts after a good night's sleep, and think this game is gonna go to the wire... lets make it MSU 26, Northwestern 24.

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2006 Statistics:

MSU OFFENSE NW
302 Points 198
25.2 Points/Game 16.5
     
4281 Total Yards 3733
356.8 Total Yards/Game 169.0
     
1550 Rush Yards 1705
129.2 Rush Yds/Game 142.1
387-4.0 Attempts - Avg. 422-4.0
     
2731 Pass Yards 2028
227.6 Pass Yds/Game 169.0
417-248-13 Att-Comp-Int 332-188-17
59.5% Comp % 56.7%
     
-1 Turnover Ratio -8
     
81-672 Penalties - Yds 39-336
     
221 1st Downs 197
18.4 1st Downs/Game 16.4
     
73-173 3rd Down Conv. 57-160
42% 3rd Down % 36%
     
15-19 FG - FGA 8-12
MSU DEFENSE NW
341 Points 314
28.4 Points/Game 26.2
     
4365 Total Yards 4350
363.8 Total Yards/Game 362.5
     
1594 Rush Yards 1900
132.8 Rush Yds/Game 158.3
416-3.8 Attempts - Avg. 445-4.3
     
2771 Pass Yards 2450
363.8 Pass Yds/Game 204.2
355-206-8 Att-Comp-Int 341-210-11
58.0% Comp % 61.6%