Nov. 8, 2010

No. 13 Iowa (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) at Northwestern (6-3, 2-3 Big Ten)
11 a.m. CT • Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010
Ryan Field (47,130) • Evanston, Ill.

Television: ESPN
Radio: WGN (720 AM), WNUR (89.3 FM), Westwood One National Radio
Internet: ESPN3.com, wgnradio.com, wnur.org
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Next Home Game: vs. Illinois (at Wrigley Field), Saturday, Nov. 20 • 2:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU
Ticket Information: NU's final home game on Nov. 20 vs. Illinois (at Wrigley Field) is sold out.

NU Football Game Notes (vs. Iowa)

For Openers
• After dropping its first road game in more than a year last Saturday at Penn State, Northwestern (6-3) returns home to play its final 2010 Ryan Field game against the 13th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT. This game is a sellout. All fans are urged to arrive early to minimize traffic and pedestrian congestion, etc.

• The Wildcats had their six-game road winning streak snapped with the 35-21 loss at Penn State. NU fell one road win shy of tying the school mark for consecutive road wins that was set from 1929 through 1931. NU went 385 successive days without a road loss.

• With its 20-17 win at Indiana on Oct. 30, Northwestern became bowl-eligible for a fourth consecutive season, and the fifth time in the last six years. (Note: NU was bowl-eligible in 2007 with a 6-6 record, but did not play in a bowl game due to the fact that there were a Big Ten-record 10 bowl-eligible teams.) Since 1995, NU has posted 10 seasons with six or more victories. One more victory this fall will assure the Wildcats a third consecutive winning season.

• Although the Wildcats opened November with a loss last week, the month has been a good one for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats. Since taking over as NU's head coach in 2006, the Wildcats have posted a 9-5 record in November, which includes a 6-2 record since 2008. Three of those six wins came against top-25 clubs. This year's slate of November foes may be the most challenging yet for Fitzgerald's 'Cats: NU's four Novembers foes own a combined record of 26-10. Two of those teams (Iowa and Wisconsin) are ranked in the top-15.

• For the fourth consecutive year, the American Football Coaches Foundation (AFCF) will be donating $10,000 to the Randy Walker Memorial Fund. Mike Taylor, representing the AFCF, and Dennis Grapenthin, chairman of the Randy Walker Power of Influence Golf Outing, made a presentation at the end of Pat Fitzgerald's Monday news conference. The Walker Memorial Fund helps supports the Randy Walker recruiting assistant staff position in the football office.

Senior Day
NU is honoring 12 student-athletes who are playing at Ryan Field for the final time. (Note: Next week's home game vs. Illinois is being played at Wrigley Field.) The seniors are: DT Corbin Bryant, WR Lee Coleman, LB Quentin Davie, PK Stefan Demos, OG Keegan Grant, LS John Henry Pace, SB Josh Rooks, RB Stephen Simmons, WR Sidney Stewart (interviewed above), DT Andrew Struckmeyer, CB Justan Vaughn and LB Nate Williams. Some of their class highlights (last five years) include:
• Totaled 33 wins in their career (last five years).That figure is one victory shy of last year's class, which won more games than any senior class since the early 1900s. (NU has three or four more games left to play.)
• Been a part of four bowl-eligible teams (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), equaling last year's senior class)
• Posted a .500 or better record in four of five seasons.
• Defeated three nationally ranked teams.
• Posted a 10-9 record in Big Ten road games.
• Defeated rival Illinois three of last four years.

Fitz Named a Semifinalist for the Inaugural Paterno Award
Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald is one of 15 semifinalists for the inaugural Joseph V. Paterno Coach of the Year Award. The award, which is being presented by the Maxwell Football Club, honors the spirit of Coach Paterno and is based on the coach's success on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. The three finalists will be announced on Monday, Dec. 6, with the winner chosen on Saturday, Dec. 18. Fitzgerald is joined by Big Ten colleagues Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Bret Bielema (Wisconsin) and Jim Tressel (Ohio State) on the list.

The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN Radio (720 AM, wgnradio.com) will carry the game live with the pregame show starting at 10:30 a.m. Dave Eanet (play-by-play), Ted Albrecht (analyst) and Sam Valenzisi (sideline) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student station, also will carry the game. The game can also be heard on the Westwood Radio Network (Bob Sham and Eddie George) and on satellite radio: Sirius (Ch. 122), XM Satellite (Ch. 143).
Television -- ESPN is televising the game to a national audience. Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Bob Griese (analyst) and Chris Spielman (analyst) call the action.

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

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