Aug. 30, 2010

Northwestern (8-5 in 2009) at Vanderbilt (2-10 in 2009)
6:30 p.m. CT • Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010
Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773) • Nashville, Tenn.
Television: Comcast SportsNet Plus or CLTV (in Chicago, depending on cable system). Click here to find the channel from your TV provider.
Internet: ESPN3.com
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Next Home Game: vs. Illinois State, Saturday, Sept. 11 • 11 a.m.
Ticket Information: Season tickets, as well as single-game tickets remain on sale for all NU home games (you must be a season ticketholder to purchase tickets for the Nov. 20 game at Wrigley Field); tickets can be purchased on NUsports.com or by calling 847-491-2287 (CATS).

NU Football Game Notes (vs. Vanderbilt)

FOR OPENERS
• Northwestern kicks off its 123rd season of intercollegiate football competition this Saturday against the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Wildcats are 74-44-4 (.623) in season-opening contests. In the last 15 years (since 1995), the Wildcats are 11-4 (.733) in lid-lifters. NU is seeking its sixth straight season-opening victory. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is a perfect 4-0 in season openers and 1-0 when opening on the road (2006 win at Miami (Ohio)).

• Vanderbilt represents the Wildcats' second successive game against a Southeastern Conference opponent. NU ended the 2009 season with a matchup against Auburn University in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Northwestern dropped that contest 38-35 in overtime in one of the most riveting games of the 2009-10 bowl season.

• Since 1995, the Wildcats have posted nine seasons with six or more victories, including seven in the past decade. NU also had six bowl-eligible teams in the 2000's.

• NU has won a combined 17 games the past two seasons, which ranks as the third-most wins in a two-year period in school history. Since the start of the 2008 season, only three other Big Ten teams have won more than 17 games -- Penn State (22), Ohio State (21) and Iowa (20).

• Northwestern is seeking a third consecutive bowl berth this season after playing in the Valero Alamo Bowl (2008 season) and the Outback Bowl (2009 season) the past two years.

• Northwestern, which is returning a school-record 56 letterwinners, has a young but experienced squad in 2010. The Wildcats plan to start just five seniors against Vandy -- four on defense (tackle Corbin Bryant, linebacker Quentin Davie, linebacker Nate Williams and cornerback Justan Vaughn) and one on offense (wide receiver Sidney Stewart). Northwestern, however, expects to start 12 juniors, 11 of whom are fourth-year players. That gives the Wildcats 17 upperclass starters on their offensive and defensive units.

• The Wildcats are returning 16 starters this season (eight on offense, six on defense, two on special teams), but overall, have 31 players returning who have started at least one college game. Jeremy Ebert (9 starts), Josh Rooks (8 starts) and Brian Peters (7 starts) lead NU's group of returning letterwinners with the most starts.

THE BROADCASTS
Radio -- WGN Radio (720 AM, wgnradio.com) will carry the game live with the pregame show starting at 6 p.m. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student station, also will carry the game. Game is also on satellite radio: Sirius (Ch. 90), XM (Ch. 196).

Television -- Comcast SportsNet Southeast will televise the game, with Chicagoland coverage by Comcast SportsNet (Comcast SportsNet Plus or CLTV will televise depending on cable system). Click here to find the channel from your TV provider. Matt Stewart (play-by-play), Chris Doering (analyst) and Allison Williams (sideline) will call the action. ESPN3.com also will stream the game live.

TICKET INFORMATION/NEXT GAME
• Season tickets for the 2010 Northwestern football season are still available. Ticket information can be found on NUsports.com or by calling NU's ticket office at 847-491-2287 (CATS). In addition to season tickets, NU is also selling its three-pack plans and single-game tickets.
• Tickets for the Sept. 11 home opener against Illinois State (Heroes' Day, 11 a.m. kickoff) are on sale, with prices at $35 (reserved seats), $25 (end zone), $30 (corner adult reserved) and $15 (corner youth reserved.)

For a complete set of game notes, see the PDF link at the top of this page.)

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